Landmark Quiz Chennai 2011 Prelims

Thanks to Dr. Navin for sharing the prelims questions from the Chennai Edition of the Landmark Quiz 2011.

For questions from previous editions of the Landmark Quiz. -- click here.

LQC 11 PRELIMS – THE QUESTIONS

1. The Story of My Life, an autobiography by Helen Keller is dedicated to which eminent person who helped direct her education and considered himself foremost a teacher of the deaf?

2. In the cricketing Caribbean West Indies, which country though not an island forms part of this group?

3. What list is this and whose name fills the blank: _____ ➜ Albus Dumbledore  ➜ Draco Malfoy ➜ Harry Potter

4. NASA launched which queen as the fastest manmade object in history on August 5th 2011 on a mission that will end in a high-speed crash into her husband about 630 million km away?

5. If India = Bharat and Japan = Nippon, Greece = ............?

6. It is called the Mehran in Pakistan and is the largest selling product of its type in the country. Its direct Indian equivalent is also the largest selling product of its kind in this country. What brand?

7. The Lokayukta Act 1984 was the first of its kind in India. It was the brainchild of which Chief Minister who was inspired by the successful working of the Swedish ombudsman?

8. The attacks on Krishna as a child by Putana, Trinavarta and other demons so frightened Yashodha that she insisted that the entire village move from Gokul to a more auspicious place downstream on the banks of the Yamuna next to a tulsi forest at the base of Govardhan hill. What place was this?

9. This word of Greek origin means “mound” or “built up”. It is used to describe a class of steroids that increase protein synthesis and build up cellular tissue especially in muscles. That it was a favourite ingredient in the diet of some Indian athletes came to light recently. What word is this?

10. Which river arises in the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, flows through the city of Jammu and then crosses into Pakistan to join the Chenab?

11.* 2011 saw unrest and the fall of governments in several Arab nations. The year has been compared to which year that saw revolution and overthrow of governments in several European countries starting with Paris and spreading to Munich, Berlin, Vienna, Milan and Venice? Your choices are: 1848, 1857, 1872, 1914

12. * Who uttered the famous phrase “poyekhali!” meaning “Off we go!” before embarking on a momentous journey?

13. * The H1N1 virus pandemic of 2009 influenced the world of gaming by inspiring characters in which game?

14. * According to a survey by Hohner, during the Great Depression in America, only two musical instruments saw a year-by-year increase in sales because they were inexpensive, compact and easy to learn, Which two instruments?

15. * Pierre Boulle, a Frenchman, used his wartime experiences to pen a novel which made into the film The Bridge on the River Kwai for which he won an Oscar. Another book by him proved so popular that it is now a film franchise with about seven films. Name the franchise. (explain like Harry Potter series etc)

16. * A European country has two elements in the Periodic Table named after it. Which two elements?

17. * In 2008 this country created a world first by legally recognizing Pachamama as having the “right to exist, persist, maintain and regenerate...” in their new constitution? Name the country and identify Pachamama.

18. * The winner of the British Open golf championship receives what trophy that might be useful to celebrate with? It replaced a previous trophy that was won outright in 1870 by a certain Tom Morris who won the Championship three years in a row. And what commonly worn personal object constituted that trophy?

19. * In a business or professional firm, the level of managers and other senior staff just below the topmost level of directors or partners is sometimes described by the phrase “ ______ layer” that is borrowed from cakes / confectionary. What word is this?

20. * Which district of Tamil Nadu gets its name from Sanskrit meaning “black mountain” from the numerous black granite hillocks that dot its landscape?

21. This small town on the rail route between Thirunelveli and Madras is named after a freedom fighter who shot dead Ashe, the Collector of Thirunelveli in 1911. Name the town and the freedom fighter.

22. The Prime Meridian passes through the following countries: UK, France, Spain, Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, and Ghana. Which is the only capital city through which it passes?

23. What does the Kimberley process certify? (2-keyword answer)

24. In Czechoslovakia it is called “prozvonit”. In Spanish the practice is called “dar un toque” (to give a touch). What is the common English term in India for this telecom practice?

25. Complete this classic quote: “In Italy for thirty years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had brotherly love; they had five hundred years of democracy and peace and what did they produce? _______”

26. Bhimayana is a Sanskrit epic in 21 chapters and 1700 verses written by Prof Prabhakar Joshi. Who is it about?

27. This tree has been growing in India for over 2000 years. It is considered sacred – its leaves are used on auspicious occasions and its fruit eaten. Name this tree supposed to be the abode of Kama in mythology, and images of which have been found on the Sanchi Stupa.

28. This phrase means “to be in difficulty, and faced with a choice between two unsatisfactory options.” The phrase was literally true as the title of a 2004 autobiography made into a critically acclaimed film. What phrase is this?

29. In atomic theory only two fundamental particles have been named after scientists. Name both.

30. Jakob von Uexküll sold his valuable stamp collection to create this prize. He initially tried to interest the Nobel Foundation in this prize but the foundation decided not to associate itself with the new prize after controvery over the establishment of the Prize for Economics instituted by the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Nobel's name. The prize honours those "working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges facing the world today." What is the formal name of this prize that is awarded in the Riksdag (Parliament) of Sweden the day before the Nobel prizes?

31. VISUAL: Use the picture on your right to identify the actress (B&W pic) on the left.

 

32: VISUAL: Identify the two maps in this book cover.

33. VISUAL: Identify. This small African rodent could be considered misnamed until one sees it. It’s named after its resemblance to another animal.

34. VISUAL: Identify this jewellery craftsmanship used to create elaborate necklaces of the royal courts of Rajasthan. Which company made these pieces for the film in the visual?

35. AUDIO: This music features in the end credits of which recent popular film?

Kung Fu Panda – Two

36: AUDIO: Which English indie rock band is performing this cover version of whose original?

37: AUDIO: This song to inspire team and supporters of Bangladesh for ICC World Cup 2011 was itself “inspired” from a film song. Name the original composer and film in which it appeared.

38: VIDEO (From Source Code): Identify this striking work of art in the Millennium park in Chicago.

39: VIDEO: Name the person being portrayed in this scene from a TV docudrama proving Einstein’s theory of gravity.

40: VIDEO: This is an ad for which company based on superb adaptation of which great novel?

LQC 11 PRELIMS – THE ANSWERS

1. Alexander Graham Bell

2. Guyana

3. Elder Wand owners / Gellert Grindlewald

4. Juno spacecraft mission to Jupiter.

5. Hellas

6.  Maruti 800 (both based on Suzuki Alto)

7. Ramakrishna Hegde

8. Vrindavan

9. Anabolic (or Anabolic steroids)

10. Tawi

11.* 1848

12.* Yuri Gagarin (April 12, 1961)

13. * Angry Birds. The virus causes swine flu. The swine became the enemy green pigs of the Angry Birds video game.

14. * Ukelele and Harmonica

15. * Planet of the Apes

16. * Gallium and Francium

17. * Ecuador / Nature or Environment. Pachamama is the indigenous word for all life. Chapter: Rights for Nature/Art. 1. Nature or Pachamama, where life is reproduced and exists, has the right to exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital cycles, structure, functions and its processes in evolution.

18. * Claret Jug / Belt (or Championship Belt)

19. * Marzipan. Some cakes have a layer of marzipan just below the icing.

20. * Krishnagiri

21. Maniyachi / Vanchinathan

22. London

23. Conflict (or blood) diamonds. These are diamonds that originate from a war zone and are sold to finance insurgencies, armies and warlords. The Kimberley Process ensures that diamonds originating from Angola, The Congo, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe do not finance rebel groups. Conflict diamonds without KP certification are 30% cheaper.

24. “Missed call”

25. The cuckoo clock. (Orson Welles’ film The Third Man)

26. Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar

27. Mango

28. Between a rock and a hard place (This is also the title of the autobiography of Aron Ralston, mountaineer, made into the film 127 Hours)

29. Bosons and Fermions (after Satyendranath Bose and Enrico Fermi)

30. Right Livelihood Award. Popularly known as Alternative Nobel. (Notable Indian winners include: Vandana Shiva, Rajni Kothari, Narmada Bachao Andolan, Swami Agnivesh, CHipko movement etc).

31. Jane Birkin. It is after her that the Birkin bag is named. The Birkin bag is a handmade purse by Hermès. The bag is a symbol of wealth due to its high price and elusiveness to the public. Its prices range from $9,000 to $150,000.

32. Punjab / Tamil Nadu

33. Elephant Shrew

34. Kundan / Tanishq

35. AUDIO: Kung Fu Panda – Two

36: Arctic Monkeys / Amy Winehouse (Song: You Know I’m No Good)

37: Yuvan Shankar Raja / Paiyya

38: Cloud Gate (by Anish Kapoor)

39: Arthur Eddington (He photographed stars behind the Sun during a solar eclipse and showed that the Sun’s gravity causes the light of the stars behind it to bend thus proving Einstein’s theory of relativity)

40: Apple / 1984