Episode III: Return of an Old Monk - Prelims and Mains

Episode III: Return

of an Old MonkA short quiz by M.V.R. Murthy

Electrical Engg. (Dual)

071602, Class of 2012

PrelimsThe usual shebang

20 questions

Star-marked questions are tie-breakers (5,10,15 and 20)

Have fun

Question 1

The villagers of Chini, a tehsil in Himachal Pradesh,

owed allegiance to the Panchen Lama in Tibet, and

were ruled by rituals administered by local priests.

These included gorasang, a religious service to

celebrate the completion of a new house; kangur

zalmo, a ceremonial visit to the Buddhist library at

Kanam; menthako, ‘where men, women and children

climb hills, dance and sing’ and others.

On 25 October 1951, they added a new ritual, becoming

the first Indians to do so. What?

Question 2

Legends say the _____ originated in South China and

became popular around 2000 years ago. There are many

stories involving it in the Chinese Imperial Court. The

Chinese, probably influenced by its heart-shape,

celebrate it even today as a symbol of romance and

love.

Another Chinese legend has it that the Emperor of the

Tang Dynasty would dispatch royal guards some 600

miles to pick _______ in an effort to woo his favourite

concubine, to entice her with the sweet, fragrant flesh

of the _____ - another symbolic example of, uh…

romance and love.

Question 3

In The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the protagonists Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect are picked up by Zaphod Bebblebrox in his stolen ship, the Heart of Gold.

The ship is powered by the Infinite Improbability Drive, a concept that means you take go to impossible places if you figure just howimpossible they are to get to.While Ford discovered this, Arthur was caught in a bit of a muddle.

“Arthur had jammed himself against the door to the cubicle, trying to hold it closed, but it was ill fitting. Tiny furry little hands were squeezing themselves through the cracks, their fingers were ink-stained; tiny voices chattered insanely.Arthur looked up."Ford!" he said, "there's an ________ ______ of _______ outside who want to talk to us about this script for Hamlet they've worked out."”

Who/what were outside, and what is this passage a reference to?

Question 4

Honore Daumier was a 19th century French painter, more famous as a caricaturist. He painted mostly on oil, and did almost 5000 caricatures, most of which appeared regularly in Parisian newspapers.

His most famous caricatures were busts he created of members of the French Parliament. In keeping with the good humour he showed, the Parliament actually retained them in the building for the course of their term!

His favourite subject, though, was the relationship between two literary characters – he’d completed 49 drawings and 29 paintings on the subjects of this famous book.

The descriptive passages in the book provided inspiration for many more famous artists, but the relationship between the two main characters took special significance in late 19th century France.

“The romantic and idealistic X, together with the pragmatic and realistic Y, represent the dual nature of the creative personality.“, reads one Daumier exhibition description. (Images on next slide)

Question 5*

In Homer’s epic poem Odyssey, Odysseus, the king of

Ithaca, leaves the kingdom for the Trojan war, and

wanders around for ten years – which, of course, gives

rise to word odyssey, a long, adventurous journey.

While he was gone, though, his young son Telemachus,

only an infant, then, had to be brought up to speed with

running a kingdom and handling the advances of the

many suitors for his mother, Penelepe’s hand.

For this task, Odysseus asked an old friend, X to help

guide the inexperienced Telemachus, and give him

advice as he needed it. Who was Telemachus’ mentor?

Question 6

Bande à part is a 1964 French New Wave movie directed by the legendary Jean-Luc Godard (poster on next slide). Released in North America as a Band of Outsiders, it was an adaptation of an American Novel, Fool’s Gold.

It is widely recalled for its many iconic scenes, and style of direction. For example, there’s a famous scene where the film’s protagonists decide to observe a moment of silence in a crowded café, and as they do so, the entire movie’s soundtrack plunges into complete silence.

Another famous scene is when the lady protagonist and one of the male heroes decide to dance shortly after the above scene. They dance to R&B/soul music, but they call it “The Madison Dance”.

What entity, active since 1991, is a tribute to this movie?

Question 7

What connects:

A salad of lettuce and croutons dressed with parmesan

cheese, lemon, olive oil, egg, garlic and black pepper.

What resulted when the Mercedonius/Intercalaris

months were abolished. (Intercalaris comes from the

Latin for “proclaimed solemnly in between”)

A type of substitution cipher where each letter is

replaced by a letter some fixed number of positions

down the alphabet from it.

Question 8

When launched in 1993, it targeted the growing youth

segment, and was the first product of its kind to be

launched in pouch packs, like potato chips.

Its unique shape is also registered under the Indian

Designs Act.

Which popular product from the 90s, whose heart

continues to beat today, is this?

Question 9

“This Chinese Millionaire Has the Most Ridiculous Business Card”, Buzzfeed declared last year. Chen Guangbiao’s card makes him out to be a multifaceted guy, to say the least.

Obviously, I’m sure you can see he needs some better publicity. And a better translator!

He shot to fame in the

US, and across the

world, when he went

around the country

giving such cards away,

in a publicity blitz.

He was in the US

attempting to take over

first, the iconic X, and

then the even more

famous, Y – 2

institutions from the

same city in a troubled

industry that has seen a

few takeovers in the

recent past. ID X and Y.

Question 10*

Double Seven Cola (pic on next slide) was manufactured by Modern Food Industries (whose other products included Modern Bread), and its concentrate’s formula was developed by Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore.

Its main competitors were the soon-to-reign Campa Cola and the current market leader, Thums Up.

A few years after its launch, a Times of India columnist said: "Campa tasted good - because we didn't have any other options. Double Seven was a __________-produced cola, and it tasted like that.”

It never really took off, and as sales slipped and profits suffered on account of a lack of backing from its owners, Modern Food Industries was taken over by Hindustan Lever Limited in 2000.

Who owned Modern Food Industries? And why did they call their drink Double Seven?

Question 11

Pontius Pilate, the judge at Jesus’ trial, gave Jesus the

title “Jesus of Nazareth, King of Jews” before his

crucifixion.

How is this title ingrained in our memories even today?

Question 12

Originating in the mid-18th century, this commonly used

word comes from the French root meaning “shop selling

provisions to soldiers” or the Italian root meaning “wine

cellar” or “vault”.

In the US and most parts of Western Europe, the word

today means a small bottle used by soldiers to carry

water or liquor on the march.

Thanks to the Brits, though, we all know it in a slightly

different context. WTGW?

Question 13

In the early parts of the second millennium in what is

modern-day Russia, a biritch was a sort of town crier.

A biritch travelled to settlements, played a bugle or a

horn in the town squares, and then made

announcements on behalf of the police chief, or tax

collector.

Heads of church and later tsars also used them for

making announcements or decrees heard to the masses.

This term is believed to have given rise to which

internationally popular game?

Question 14

“The X is one of the unique aspects of the Y,” said its managing director of communications, Chris Widmaier. “That being said, there’s pros and cons to both ways of finishing a _______ ___. The X brings its own adrenaline, kind of a very exciting moment. In the other _____, when you have to win by two, it can create its own drama. I don’t know if there is a right or a wrong answer to this but that’s the way we do it here at the Y and that’s the way we’ll continue to do it.”

This practice was created in 1965 by Jimmy Van Allen in Newport, Rhode Island to ensure his patrons weren’t kept away from their cocktails.

How is the use of this practice unique to Y among its peers?

Question 15*

Question 16

The norm established in the previous editions dictated that the bad guys have red ones, and the good guys have blue or green ones. But, a deviation was to occur, as X wanted a purple one.

“We had this big arena, this fight scene with all these ____ and they’re fightin’ or whatever. And I was like, well shit, I wanna be able to find myself in this big ol’ scene. So I said to George, “You think maybe I can get a purple __________?””

Although George pointed out that __________ traditionally only came in red or green, X responded with some pretty powerful logic: “Yeah, but I want a purple one. I’m like the second baddest mothafuckin’ ____ in the universe next to ____ (who had a green one that went well with his overall look).”

As many have taught me to ask: Put funda.

Question 17

In the mid-1950s, Giangicomo Feltrinelli established an eponymous publishing company in Milan. Later that decade, he came across the manuscript of Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak. Immediately sensing a masterpiece, he moved to correspond with Boris Pasternak.

While his allegiance to the communist party dictated that he shouldn’t condone a novel criticising the Soviet Union, he went ahead and published it anyway – the book was an instant international best-seller.

Feltrinelli’s first coup-de-grace, though, was clinching the deal to publish the autobiography of an internationally acclaimed leader of government, in 1955.

It celebrated the book for its “consistent and coherent anti-fascism” and as an authentic voice “of the countries that were emerging from colonial domination… to take their place forcefully in the global political system.”

Whose memoirs?

Question 18

The India vs. England Test at Lord’s in 1996 is fondly remembered by cricket fans all over for the “golden debuts” (as Wisden called it) of Saurav Chandidas Gangulyand Rahul Sharad Dravid.

India drew, with Ganguly hitting a stroke-filled 131, and Dravid a typically combative 95, coming in at No. 7.

The Test also went down in history, as the last of a popular cricket legend, who received a guard of honour from both teams and a standing ovation from the crowd at the start of the game. Always an emotional man, he was reduced to tears.

His Test career began in 1973 in a test between England and New Zealand at Leeds, and ended at his beloved Lord’s – all in all, 66 Tests, plus 69 ODIs. Who?

Question 19

Muntadhar al Zaidi served about nine months in prison before being released early for good behaviour, in September 2009.

A huge bronze monument in the shape of a ____ was erected in his honour in Tikrit, where it remained for a few days before local authorities called for its removal.

He received many gifts soon after, including a gold-saddled horse and a sports car, and a four-bedroom house from his former boss, the head of a TV channel.

He now lives in London, where he’s quit journalism to focus on running a humanitarian organisation helping _____ war victims.

He’s also written a book chronicling the moments before his crime, called “The Last Salute to X”, which was adapted into a play by Mahesh Bhatt in 2011.

Asked if he’d do what got him into jail again, he replied in the affirmative.

Question 20*

There’s a popular French street artist, born in 1969,

known only by the name X, that comes from his most

popular work.

In 60 cities across 30 countries, X has created little

mosaics (pics in next 3 slides) that are inspired from the

popular ‘70s pastime.

As these are popular collectibles, vandals often take

them off the walls where they exist. If X finds out, he

just puts up a little “Invaded” sign on such places.

It is rumoured that if all the locations where his works

are present are marked on a map, it forms one of those

characters again. Identify X, or put funda.

On a street in Paris

(Includes a tribute to Star Wars)

Another in Barcelona

This one’s in Manchester

Submit sheets, please.May hapless first-years be put to work!

Episode III: Return

of an Old MonkA short quiz by M.V.R. Murthy

Electrical Engg. (Dual)

071602, Class of 2012

Prelims - AnswersNo chocolates up for grabs. We still don’t have the

money.

Question 1

The villagers of Chini, a tehsil in Himachal Pradesh,

owed allegiance to the Panchen Lama in Tibet, and

were ruled by rituals administered by local priests.

These included gorasang, a religious service to

celebrate the completion of a new house; kangur

zalmo, a ceremonial visit to the Buddhist library at

Kanam; menthako, ‘where men, women and children

climb hills, dance and sing’ and others.

On 25 October 1951, they added a new ritual, becoming

the first Indians to do so. What?

Blank SlidesYou always need some.

Cast votes in a general

election

An extract from India After Gandhi, a fantastic book you all

must read.

Question 2

Legends say the _____ originated in South China and

became popular around 2000 years ago. There are many

stories involving it in the Chinese Imperial Court. The

Chinese, probably influenced by its heart-shape,

celebrate it even today as a symbol of romance and

love.

Another Chinese legend has it that the Emperor of the

Tang Dynasty would dispatch royal guards some 600

miles to pick _______ in an effort to woo his favourite

concubine, to entice her with the sweet, fragrant flesh

of the _____ - another symbolic example of, uh…

romance and love.


Litchi

Question 3

In The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the protagonists Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect are picked up by Zaphod Bebblebrox in his stolen ship, the Heart of Gold.

The ship is powered by the Infinite Improbability Drive, a concept that means you take go to impossible places if you figure just howimpossible they are to get to.While Ford discovered this, Arthur was caught in a bit of a muddle.

“Arthur had jammed himself against the door to the cubicle, trying to hold it closed, but it was ill fitting. Tiny furry little hands were squeezing themselves through the cracks, their fingers were ink-stained; tiny voices chattered insanely.Arthur looked up."Ford!" he said, "there's an ________ ______ of _______ outside who want to talk to us about this script for Hamlet they've worked out."”

Who/what were outside, and what is this passage a reference to?


The Infinite Monkey

Theorem

Question 4

Honore Daumier was a 19th century French painter, more famous as a caricaturist. He painted mostly on oil, and did almost 5000 caricatures, most of which appeared regularly in Parisian newspapers.

His most famous caricatures were busts he created of members of the French Parliament. In keeping with the good humour he showed, the Parliament actually retained them in the building for the course of their term!

His favourite subject, though, was the relationship between two literary characters – he’d completed 49 drawings and 29 paintings on the subjects of this famous book.

The descriptive passages in the book provided inspiration for many more famous artists, but the relationship between the two main characters took special significance in late 19th century France.

“The romantic and idealistic X, together with the pragmatic and realistic Y, represent the dual nature of the creative personality.“, reads one Daumier exhibition description. (Images on next slide)


Don Quixote and Sancho

Panza

Apparently, there’s a painting of these guys in the French

Parliament, too. Couldn’t confirm that, sadly.

Question 5*

In Homer’s epic poem Odyssey, Odysseus, the king of

Ithaca, leaves the kingdom for the Trojan war, and

wanders around for ten years – which, of course, gives

rise to word odyssey, a long, adventurous journey.

While he was gone, though, his young son Telemachus,

only an infant, then, had to be brought up to speed with

running a kingdom and handling the advances of the

many suitors for his mother, Penelepe’s hand.

For this task, Odysseus asked an old friend, X to help

guide the inexperienced Telemachus, and give him

advice as he needed it. Who was Telemachus’ mentor?


Mentor

This word, too, comes into English from the Odyssey.

Question 6

Bande à part is a 1964 French New Wave movie directed by the legendary Jean-Luc Godard (poster on next slide). Released in North America as a Band of Outsiders, it was an adaptation of an American Novel, Fool’s Gold.

It is widely recalled for its many iconic scenes, and style of direction. For example, there’s a famous scene where the film’s protagonists decide to observe a moment of silence in a crowded café, and as they do so, the entire movie’s soundtrack plunges into complete silence.

Another famous scene is when the lady protagonist and one of the male heroes decide to dance shortly after the above scene. They dance to R&B/soul music, but they call it “The Madison Dance”.

What entity, active since 1991, is a tribute to this movie?


A Band

Apart Films

Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez’s production

house.

The Madison Dance, by the way, inspired the dance

sequence at Jack Rabbit Slim’s in Pulp Fiction.

Question 7

A salad of lettuce and croutons dressed with parmesan

cheese, lemon, olive oil, egg, garlic and black pepper.

What resulted when the Mercedonius/Intercalaris

months were abolished. (Intercalaris comes from the

Latin for “proclaimed solemnly in between”)

A type of substitution cipher where each letter is

replaced by a letter some fixed number of positions

down the alphabet from it.


Caesar

Caesar salad (not named after the kings!)

Julian calendar

Caesar cipher (both named after Julius Caesar)

Question 8

When launched in 1993, it targeted the growing youth

segment, and was the first product of its kind to be

launched in pouch packs, like potato chips.

Its unique shape is also registered under the Indian

Designs Act.

Which popular product from the 90s, whose heart

continues to beat today, is this?


Britannia Little Hearts

Picked this straight off my Intellectual Property course

book.

Question 9

“This Chinese Millionaire Has the Most Ridiculous Business Card”, Buzzfeed declared last year. Chen Guangbiao’s card makes him out to be a multifaceted guy, to say the least.

Obviously, I’m sure you can see he needs some better publicity. And a better translator!

He shot to fame in the

US, and across the

world, when he went

around the country

giving such cards away,

in a publicity blitz.

He was in the US

attempting to take over

first, the iconic X, and

then the even more

famous, Y – 2

institutions from the

same city in a troubled

industry that has seen a

few takeovers in the

recent past. ID X and Y.


The New York Times and

The Wall Street Journal

Both bids failed, by the way.

This guy’s quite a character, though. Determined to establish his credentials, probably as China’s foremost environmentalist, he’s named his twins Chen Environmentand Chen Environmental Protection. No kidding.

Question 10*

Double Seven Cola (pic on next slide) was manufactured by Modern Food Industries (whose other products included Modern Bread), and its concentrate’s formula was developed by Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore.

Its main competitors were the soon-to-reign Campa Cola and the current market leader, Thums Up.

A few years after its launch, a Times of India columnist said: "Campa tasted good - because we didn't have any other options. Double Seven was a __________-produced cola, and it tasted like that.”

It never really took off, and as sales slipped and profits suffered on account of a lack of backing from its owners, Modern Food Industries was taken over by Hindustan Lever Limited in 2000.

Who owned Modern Food Industries? And why did they call their drink Double Seven?


The Indian government

It was named for 1977, the year India’s Morarji Desai-led

government gave Coca-Cola the choice of handing control

to its Indian subsidiary, or leaving. That would have meant

revealing Coke's secret recipe. Coke left.

Question 11

Pontius Pilate, the judge at Jesus’ trial, gave Jesus the

title “Jesus of Nazareth, King of Jews” before his

crucifixion.

How is this title ingrained in our memories even today?


The inscription

“INRI” on every

cross

“Jesus of Nazareth, King of Jews” translates into Latin as

“Iēsus Nazarēnus, Rēx Iūdaeōrum”.

Latin was the official language of the Roman Empire.

Question 12

Originating in the mid-18th century, this commonly used

word comes from the French root meaning “shop selling

provisions to soldiers” or the Italian root meaning “wine

cellar” or “vault”.

In the US and most parts of Western Europe, the word

today means a small bottle used by soldiers to carry

water or liquor on the march.

Thanks to the Brits, though, we all know it in a slightly

different context. WTGW?


Canteen

Ek half fry maggi aur ek patties bhujia.

Question 13

In the early parts of the second millennium in what is

modern-day Russia, a biritch was a sort of town crier.

A biritch travelled to settlements, played a bugle or a

horn in the town squares, and then made

announcements on behalf of the police chief, or tax

collector.

Heads of church and later tsars also used them for

making announcements or decrees heard to the masses.

This term is believed to have given rise to which

internationally popular game?


(Contract) Bridge

Question 14

“The X is one of the unique aspects of the Y,” said its managing director of communications, Chris Widmaier. “That being said, there’s pros and cons to both ways of finishing a _______ ___. The X brings its own adrenaline, kind of a very exciting moment. In the other _____, when you have to win by two, it can create its own drama. I don’t know if there is a right or a wrong answer to this but that’s the way we do it here at the Y and that’s the way we’ll continue to do it.”

This practice was created in 1965 by Jimmy Van Allen in Newport, Rhode Island to ensure his patrons weren’t kept away from their cocktails.

How is the use of this practice unique to Y among its peers?


The Fifth-Set Tiebreak

at the US Open

John Isner, of all people, when asked about applying this

rule to the other slams said: “No, I just think it shouldn’t

change”.

Question 15*


Beaches of Normandy

Band of Brothers dedication here.

Question 16

The norm established in the previous editions dictated that the bad guys have red ones, and the good guys have blue or green ones. But, a deviation was to occur, as X wanted a purple one.

“We had this big arena, this fight scene with all these ____ and they’re fightin’ or whatever. And I was like, well shit, I wanna be able to find myself in this big ol’ scene. So I said to George, “You think maybe I can get a purple __________?””

Although George pointed out that __________ traditionally only came in red or green, X responded with some pretty powerful logic: “Yeah, but I want a purple one. I’m like the second baddest mothafuckin’ ____ in the universe next to ____ (who had a green one that went well with his overall look).”

As many have taught me to ask: Put funda.


Mace Windu’s lightsaber

Because Samuel L Jackson gets what Samuel L Jackson

wants.

Question 17

In the mid-1950s, Giangicomo Feltrinelli established an eponymous publishing company in Milan. Later that decade, he came across the manuscript of Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak. Immediately sensing a masterpiece, he moved to correspond with Boris Pasternak.

While his allegiance to the communist party dictated that he shouldn’t condone a novel criticising the Soviet Union, he went ahead and published it anyway – the book was an instant international best-seller.

Feltrinelli’s first coup-de-grace, though, was clinching the deal to publish the autobiography of an internationally acclaimed leader of government, in 1955.

It celebrated the book for its “consistent and coherent anti-fascism” and as an authentic voice “of the countries that were emerging from colonial domination… to take their place forcefully in the global political system.”

Whose memoirs?


Jawaharlal Nehru

One more question inspired from India After Gandhi.

Question 18

The India vs. England Test at Lord’s in 1996 is fondly remembered by cricket fans all over for the “golden debuts” (as Wisden called it) of Saurav Chandidas Gangulyand Rahul Sharad Dravid.

India drew, with Ganguly hitting a stroke-filled 131, and Dravid a typically combative 95, coming in at No. 7.

The Test also went down in history, as the last of a popular cricket legend, who received a guard of honour from both teams and a standing ovation from the crowd at the start of the game. Always an emotional man, he was reduced to tears.

His Test career began in 1973 in a test between England and New Zealand at Leeds, and ended at his beloved Lord’s – all in all, 66 Tests, plus 69 ODIs. Who?


Dickie Bird

That’s him giving his last decision.

Question 19

Muntadhar al Zaidi served about nine months in prison before being released early for good behaviour, in September 2009.

A huge bronze monument in the shape of a ____ was erected in his honour in Tikrit, where it remained for a few days before local authorities called for its removal.

He received many gifts soon after, including a gold-saddled horse and a sports car, and a four-bedroom house from his former boss, the head of a TV channel.

He now lives in London, where he’s quit journalism to focus on running a humanitarian organisation helping _____ war victims.

He’s also written a book chronicling the moments before his crime, called “The Last Salute to X”, which was adapted into a play by Mahesh Bhatt in 2011.

Asked if he’d do what got him into jail again, he replied in the affirmative.


The guy who threw the

shoe at President Bush

Question 20*

There’s a popular French street artist, born in 1969,

known only by the name X, that comes from his most

popular work.

In 60 cities across 30 countries, X has created little

mosaics (pics in next 3 slides) that are inspired from the

popular ‘70s pastime.

As these are popular collectibles, vandals often take

them off the walls where they exist. If X finds out, he

just puts up a little “Invaded” sign on such places.

It is rumoured that if all the locations where his works

are present are marked on a map, it forms one of those

characters again. Identify X, or put funda.

On a street in Paris

(Includes a tribute to Star Wars)

Another in Barcelona

This one’s in Manchester


Invader

Inspired from Space Invaders, the video game.

On to the Finals…Top 6 qualify

Episode III: Return

of an Old MonkBecause I never did my Old Monks quiz.

Finals6 teams – pardon me for my laziness.

In keeping with the no audience tradition – the rest of you just pack yourselves in any of those six.

Dedications

What’s a Litta quiz without a few?

To my Masters and Minion – a lineage where inspiration

is a bit omnipresent

Haaris Mateen (IITR ‘12)

Abhishek Sundar a.k.a. Dela (IITR ‘10, IIMC ’15)

Saagar Sinha a.k.a. Lefty (IITR ‘09, IIMC ‘11)

Rahul Yelisetti a.k.a. Yella (IITR ‘08, IIMA ‘12)

Sriram G. (IITR ‘07, IIMA ‘09)

Keerthi Raghavan (IITR ‘06, IIMA ‘08)

To LitSecTM – for Life, the Universe and Everything.

Format1 Written Round

6 Infinite Pounce Questions Clockwise

1 Theme Round

6 Infinite Pounce Questions Anti-Clockwise

1 Basterland

What’s in a middle

name?

6 not-exactly-central characters from pop culture,

6 names central in their names.

Middling names - 1

Ronald B. Weasley

Middling names - 2

Elaine M. Benes

Middling names - 3

Sheldon L. Cooper

Middling names - 4

Chandler M. Bing

Middling names - 5

Arthur P. Dent

Middling names - 6

Leia O. Solo or Leia A. Skywalker (either one)

BTW, no character in the LOTR series has middle names.

Exchange sheets

Answers

Ronald Bilius Weasley

Elaine Marie Benes

Sheldon Lee Cooper

Chandler Muriel Bing

Arthur Phillip Dent

Leia Organa Solo or Leia Amidala Skywalker (either

one)

Infinite Pounce - 16 questions running clockwise.

+10 on the bounce, +10/-10 on the pounce.

You have 2 incorrect pounces allowed in the round.

Question 1

It was around this time that she met the guy who would become the inspiration for X. He was 10 years older than her, and he got her interested in traveling, reading fiction like Zadie Smith's White Teeth and writing poetry. "He made me an adult. He put me on the road that I'm traveling on," Y says. "Most of my life was my career, but I had this little side project that was us. And it made me feel really normal again, which is just what I needed. Because I was becoming a bit doo-lally – a bit fuckin' crazy.“

They lived together for almost a year at her place in London before things started to fizzle. Toward the end, "We'd just bicker over a cup of tea or the fact that my lighter wasn't working."

The morning after things officially ended, she was at work, sobbing while making Z.

Midway through that project, she found out her ex was engaged. “I was absolutely devastated.” She hasn’t seen anyone since it ended.


X – 21

Y – Adele

Z – Rolling in the Deep

“I love seeing Lady Gaga's boobs and bum. I love seeing

Katy Perry's boobs and bum. Love it. But that's not what my

music is about. I don't make music for eyes, I make music

for ears.”

Question 2

Like with most phrases, there is some debate as to the origin of this one.

Some allege it originated in the UK, where Girl Guides (Scouts in the USA) were called X’s, and Y’s were awarded to them when they did well. But, X should then begin with a capital letter as X in that case was a name. Also, Girl Scouts were awarded badges and not Y’s. In Scots folklore X’s were benevolent imps that performed household work while the family slept.

A more popular origin comes from across the Atlantic. Marvin Miles wrote an article in the LA Times in 1951, called “X Ys – a new measure of a husband”. He explained that X Ys were a system for a husband to assess whether he was in wife’s good books or not.

A funnier story suggested is that it derives from military slang, where _____-nosing – another term for arse-licking – was a way of moving up the ranks by being favourable to senior officers.

Still used as a measure of social currency, what phrase are we talking about?


Brownie points

You get some.

Question 3

An IIT-D alumnus, Shammi Narangaccidentally did a sound-check in the newly-built campus auditorium in 1982. One thing led to another, and he was the face of Doordarshannews-reading in the ‘80s, and is widely believed to have helped raise news-casting standards in India.

Rini Simon Khanna, an alumna of Jesus and Mary College in Delhi, was also a popular Doordarshannews anchor, beginning her career at All India Radio in 1982. She’s also anchored many specials, such as Republic and Independence Day parades.

Though neither

works for Prasar

Bharati any

more, how do

they caution

and inform

millions every

day?


Delhi Metro voices

Nachste Halt: Rajiv Chowk.

Aussteig einfahrtrichtung rechts.

Question 4

Which versatile sportsman

– an Arjuna and Padma

Shri awardee - is this a

Cricinfo profile of?


Chuni Goswami

Question 5

This word, derived from an Old French word, means

“rhombus or diamond-shaped” in English. It possibly

comes from the old Latin root lausiae or lapides

meaning “stone slabs”.

Its more common usage, though, is assumed because of

popular medicinal tablet-like products in that shape.


Lozenge

Question 6

If Pankaj, Nikhil, Shreya, Purvi, Sachin and Fredericks

are the junior members, who are the three ranked

above them?


Senior Inspector Daya

Senior Inspector

Abhijeet

ACP Pradyuman

For brownie points…

ACP Pradyuman has a boss, too – DCP Chitroley.

Who plays DCP Chitroley?

Scores?Can Manchester United score? They always score!

Theme Round

4 simple questions. +5 for each answer.

All answers to be written down.

Points for the theme on individual slides.

+15/-10

Copy-pasting most of a player’s Cricinfo profile. Identify.

X represented _____ in all of their first 25 official ODIs in a

career which lasted from 1980 to 2003. Initially an

attacking bowler who was happy to buy wickets, he evolved

into a parsimonious one-day expert. An ever-present, he

took part in the 1996, 1999 and 2003 World Cups,

captaining them in the 1999 event, and also played in the

1986, 1990, 1994 and 1997 ICC Trophies. With a good

variation of flight and length, he was consistently among

the wickets in the ______ leagues. He bowed out after

_____'s remarkable success in the 2003 World Cup, and in

their penultimate match, against Australia, he won the

Man-of-the-Match award with figures of 8.2-6-7-3. He also

captained _____ in Davis Cup tennis.

+10/-5

To mark the Football Association’s 150th anniversary in

October 2013, a match was held between Civil Service

FC and Polytechnic FC – a competitive match as part of

the Southern Amateur League.

The host of the match was the President of the FA, who

in a pre-match address said: "I cannot tell you how

excited I am that later today we will be playing football

on my ____________’s ____… One warning, though: if

anyone breaks a window, you can answer to her."

Where was this match being played?

+10/-5

+5

Chinese mythology: Peaches of immortality

Norse mythology: Iouenn’s apples

Indian mythology: Amrut/Amrit

Greek mythology: ?

Exchange sheets

+15/-10

Copy-pasting most of a player’s Cricinfo profile. Identify.

X represented _____ in all of their first 25 official ODIs in a

career which lasted from 1980 to 2003. Initially an

attacking bowler who was happy to buy wickets, he evolved

into a parsimonious one-day expert. An ever-present, he

took part in the 1996, 1999 and 2003 World Cups,

captaining them in the 1999 event, and also played in the

1986, 1990, 1994 and 1997 ICC Trophies. With a good

variation of flight and length, he was consistently among

the wickets in the ______ leagues. He bowed out after

_____'s remarkable success in the 2003 World Cup, and in

their penultimate match, against Australia, he won the

Man-of-the-Match award with figures of 8.2-6-7-3. He also

captained _____ in Davis Cup tennis.


Asif Karim

+10/-5

To mark the Football Association’s 150th anniversary in

October 2013, a match was held between Civil Service

FC and Polytechnic FC – a competitive match as part of

the Southern Amateur League.

The host of the match was the President of the FA, who

in a pre-match address said: "I cannot tell you how

excited I am that later today we will be playing football

on my ____________’s ____… One warning, though: if

anyone breaks a window, you can answer to her."

Where was this match being played?


Buckingham Palace

+10/-5


Baadshah

+5

Chinese mythology: Peaches of immortality

Norse mythology: Iouenn’s apples

Indian mythology: Amrut/Amrit

Greek mythology: ?


Ambrosia

The theme is…

Non-vegetarian restaurants in Roorkee


Infinite Pounce - 26 questions running anti-clockwise.

+10 on the bounce, +10/-10 on the pounce.

You have 2 incorrect pounces allowed in the round.

Question 7

Ikat fabric is a product of an intricate process of dyeing and weaving that

produces highly valuable sarees. Pochampalli sarees are an example of

the single ikat style.

Double ikat is an even more complex process, where the intended design and the dye are both applied on the individual threads before weaving!

A Gujarati town obtained GI Protection for sarees made by this method earlier this year.

The complexity means only about 8-10 sarees of this kind are made every year.Also, because of the skill and patience required, many have quit this family profession – only about 15 such weavers remain.

Sonia Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Nita Ambani, are a few who’ve been seen wearing these sarees.


Patan Patola

Question 8

Norma McCorvey got into trouble in Dallas, Texas, in the early 70s. She could get a solution in California, Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, and of course, nearby Mexico. She got in touch with a lawyer, and soon, a class-action suit was filed against the district attorney, Henry ____.

They won in the Dallas federal district court, but the state appealed, and the case dragged on till the Supreme Court, where in 1973, they delivered a landmark judgement with a 7-2 majority.

This judgement continues to be debated hotly today, especially every four years. Incidentally, McCorvey became a born-again Christian sometime in the early 90s, and is now a fervent activist against the very judgement she was on the winning side of! She even campaigned against Democratic Candidate, Barack Obama in 2012 as he stood for re-election.

What judgement are we talking about?


Roe vs. Wade

Question 9

I know we’ve had a Chen Guangbiao question before, but this guy is a gift that just keeps on giving! China’s most prominent philanthropist indeed.

In early 2013, like any good marketer, Chen Guangbiaodecided to solve one of Beijing residents’ most pressing problems.

Selling brightly-coloured cans emblazoned with his face for about 5 Yuan a can (that’s about ₹50), this product came in a variety of flavours, such as “pristine Tibet” and “post-industrial Taiwan”.

Chen sold this idea in the previous year as “And now we have _______ ____ ___ to sell – a benefit to everyone’s health and longevity. A Chinese paper reported that he’d sold 8 million cans in 10 days!

Images on next slide.


Canned Fresh Air

"Come on, two cans for each one -- free fresh air. Open it

and drink it and breathe it! It keeps you fresh the whole

day," Chen said to passers-by as he gave away cans of air in

Beijing, according to the Guardian.

Question 10

Some time last month, a palatial bungalow called Mehrangir(named by X as a portmanteau of his parents’ names, Meherbai and Jehangir) in the posh South Mumbai locality of Malabar Hill went up for sale. It was expected to fetch over ₹250 crores!

The custodian of the bungalow, Jamshed ______, was the brother of the more illustrious X.

Jamshed was a huge lover of art and culture, and founded the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) at Nariman Point, which is home to some of India’s best plays and dances through the year.

Jamshed’s brother, though more immortally recognised a little further away from their home, was also a music lover, and a gifted artist.

C.V. Raman once called him the “modern equivalent of Leonardo da Vinci”. Identify X.


Homi Jehangir

Bhabha

Question 11

Last week, a New Zealand-based company planned to have

its shares listed on the country’s stock exchange – a deal

that valued the firm at about $180 million. The founder

said the company provided unique technology to combat

“mass surveillance” by governments and corporations.

Founded in January 2013 as a data storage company, it

provides users with enhanced encryption to safeguard

information.

However, the company’s founder X resigned as its director

last year, to concentrate on fighting extradition to the US.

The extradition case relates to X’s previous company, which

at its peak, accounted for 4% of all internet traffic!

A bonus 5 points if you can name X’s house in New Zealand.


Kim Dotcom

Accused of masterminding the largest copyright

infringement in US history.

The companies, of course, are Mega and Megaupload.

His residence is called Mordor-on-the-Shire.

Question 12

This two-word measure of weight (say, X Y) is mostly used today only for precious metals, such as gold and silver.

Y in this unit of weight, differs from its avoirdupoiscounterpart in that 12 Ys make a _____, compared to 16 in the more commonly accepted latter system.

X, as opposed to the instinctive origin it may suggest, does not come from the historical city ravaged by an eponymous war. The market town of ______ in north-central France was home to many fairs in the 8th-9th

centuries. During trade, coins were frequently mutilated, and thus, their value was measured by weight, giving rise to the unit of weight X Y.


Troy Ounces


Basterland / A se AA tak

27 variables, all somehow forcibly connected!

2.5 points for each, and 7.5 bonus points for identifying all

correctly.

Thus, 75 points up for grabs.

Basterland / A se AA tak – 1

A is a 1960 Hindi movie, touted to be the most expensive of its time at a budget of ₹ 1.5 crores (Don’t scoff – its inflation adjusted value is anywhere between ₹ 50-200 crores).

A was directed by B, who has only fully directed one other movie, 15 years before A.

Considering A’s massive budget, many producers backed out, making A seek business tycoon, C’s help.

C’s company is the single largest shareholder in D.

D’s current chairman is E. E is C’s grandson.

One of E’s sisters is named Aloo. Aloo is married to F.

F is the half-brother of G, who was E’s predecessor as chairman of D.

G is an alumnus of the prestigious management school, H. H, after the advice of the Ford Foundation, helped in the initial academic setup of I, in 1951.


J is the current dean of H, and is also on the board of D.

K comes from the same school as E – the Cathedral and John Connon school. He’s one of the pioneers who helped promote and bring up the sport L in India. He also played for the team for 11 years.

K was the lead actor in the movie M. In the movie, banned from enacting a stinging political drama, the protagonists are forced to do a stage version of A instead, giving part of the movie’s name. Clearly, the plot of M is inspired by another cult 1983 Indian movie N.

One of the assistant directors and screenplay writers in the movie N, was O. O has directed many acclaimed movies, the most famous being P, whose title is taken from a Mirza Ghalib couplet.

P is a story about three youngsters set against the backdrop of the Indian emergency. The three protagonists are shown to be studying in the college, Q, in Delhi.


Q has many famous alumni, including the historian R. R writes

prolifically about cricket as well as politics.

R is an alumnus of the prestigious school, S. S’s alumni list includes

many Cabinet ministers and diplomats, two former Chief Ministers and

even one former Prime Minister. Said PM’s son is also an S alumnus,

although they might not really be beating their chest about it.

T is one of the most famous people to have held the chairmanship of

D. He is also recognised as the father of Indian aviation.

T was awarded one of France’s highest civilian honours – membership

to the U.

V is also a U awardee. He is widely regarded as the main man behind W

– inaugurated in 2002 as only the second of its kind after the one in

Kolkata.

V’s successor as the managing director of W is X.

X is an alumnus of the well-regarded department Y, in the college Z.

Basterland / A se AA tak -

Answers

A- Mughal-E-Azam

B- K. Asif

C- Shapoorji Pallonji Mistry

D- Tata Sons

E- Cyrus Mistry

F- Noel Tata

G- Ratan Tata

H- Harvard Business School

I- IIM Ahmedabad

J- Nitin Nohria

K- Rahul Bose

L- Rugby Union

M- Maan Gaye Mughal-e-Azam

N- Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron

O- Sudhir Mishra

P- Hazaaron Khwahishein Aisi

Q- St. Stephen’s College

R- Ramachandra Guha

S- The Doon School

T- J.R.D. Tata

U- Legion d’Honneur

V- E. Sreedharan

W- Delhi Metro

X- Mangu Singh

Y- Dept. of Civil Engg.

Z- IIT Roorkee

Basterland / A se AA tak - 4

AA is a recent alumnus of I and Z, and would like to say

thank you for sticking around till this slide.

Episode III: Return of an Old Monk - Prelims and Mains

Engineering