Season 2 - Week 2

Question 1

The 2004 Dreamworks animated comedy film Shark Tale had a soundtrack that featured music by various popular artists. The song Lies & Rumours was performed by WHICH AMERICAN HIP-HOP COLLECTIVE from Detroit, Michigan? Formed in 1996, their most famous member joined only in 2000. Their name is an initialism for the Dirty Dozen, which is odd since they’ve never actually had more than 6 members.

Answer 1

D12

[The famous leader being Eminem]

Question 2

Which Asian superapp was founded by two Malaysians in 2012 as the MyTeksi app based in Kuala Lumpur, although it has now added food delivery and digital payments services? This super-app is functional across almost every South-East Asian nation, making it the largest tech company in the region

Answer 2

Grab

Question 3

By what term - the title of a famed book by Hopkirk - is the diplomatic confrontation between the British and Soviet Empires in Central Asia in 19th century known as? This was essentially started by Britain to protect their prized jewel - India - from falling into Russian hands.

Answer 3

The Great Game

Question 4

Several cities in India have standing official links to local communities in other countries known as ‘town twinning’ or ‘sister cities’. Which ‘experimental’ town in India counts Campinas, Brazil as its twin city? Founded in 1968, parts of it are distributed between a state and a union territory

Answer 4

Auroville

Question 5

What is Jeff Pink credited with creating in 1976 in an attempt to save time and money spent on actresses getting their nails redone to go along with their costume changes? Pink went for a neutralizing effect, using white polish for tips and pink/beige/rose for the nail. The design was popular amongst movie stars, and Pink eventually took it to the catwalk crowd in [BLANK], where he also rebranded it.

Answer 5

French Manicure

[Prompt on Manicure and ask them to fill
the word with what fits the blank]

Question 6

Created by Walter Mendez in 1989 on behalf of an advertising agency for a state tourism board, what 3-word term is used as the official tagline by an Indian state that was listed by National Geographic as one of the ten paradises of the world in 2020?

Answer 6

God’s Own Country

Question 7

Which Australian female cricketer is currently ranked No.1 in the official rankings for batters? She was both the Man of the Match in the finals as well as Man of the Series in the recently concluded Women’s World Cup with her blistering 170, the highest in a World Cup decider - male or female.

Answer 7

Alyssa Healy

Question 8

Originating in the African American and Puerto Rican communities in the United States, this style of street dance is set to songs containing drum beats. It mainly consists of four kinds of movement: toprock, downrock, power moves and freeze. Which style, known for back spins or head spins, typically performed while wearing a PUMA Suede sneaker?

Answer 8

B-boying

[Accept b-girling, breakdancing]

Question 9

Irish-born poet Thomas Bracken’s 1876 work “God Defend [Blank]” was one of two similarly themed works of his, with the other being “God’s Own Country”. The former would go on to become the country’s national anthem while the latter a sobriquet used sporadically by the nation. Which country is this that also uses “God Save The Queen” as another official national anthem?

Answer 9

New Zealand

Question 10

Which Indian female cricketer won the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award in 2018 and 2021 for the Best ICC Cricketer of the Year? Batting at the top of the order, she has produced six international hundreds and one in Big Bash League for Sydney Thunder which is the tournament’s highest ever score

Answer 10

Smriti Mandhana

Question 11

Which video game franchise, with almost 32 games from 1996 until now, was originally released by Capcom as Biohazard - a nod to its zombie and apocalpytic setting? This is not just the highest grossing horror franchise in video games but also the highest grossing
live-action film franchise based on video games.

Answer 11

Resident Evil

Question 12

A lūstrum was a term for a five-year period in Ancient Rome. Such a period was chosen because a certain activity was carried out every five years in ancient Rome. This activity is still carried out by governments globally today though not necessarily at 5 year intervals.
What activity?

Answer 12

Cencus

[Accept logical equivalents]

Question 13

The Great Game may have come to an end through one of two events - signing of the Anglo-Russian Convention on 31 August 1907 or definition of Afghanistan’s northern border. The latter was done by a joint Anglo-Russian group that delineated a boundary along what geographic entity that rises in the Pamir mountains?

Answer 13

Amu Darya

[Accept Oxus; Prompt on half answer]

Question 14

The term super-app is often credited to Mike Lazaridis, who used the expression in a speech at Mobile World Congress in 2010. Mike Lazardis was the founder of which former smartphone making company that was decimated by competiton from Android and Apple?

Answer 14

Blackberry

Question 15

The Shark Tale soundtrack song We Went as Far as We Felt Like Going was performed by WHICH GIRL GROUP, originally founded in LA, California in 1995 as a burlesque troupe? Actress Christina Applegate was one of the founding members, who eventually left the group and often emceed for them.

Answer 15

The Pussycat Dolls

Question 16

During the Second Chimurenga that took place between 1964 and 1979 led by the minority white government of Ian Smith, locals began to use the term “God’s Own Country” to imply that no wars will back them down from a country as beautiful. Which country, once also called ‘Jewel of Africa’?

Answer 16

Zimbabwe

Question 17

Which city in India counts Montreal and Wenzhou as its twin cities? Its name is an anglicised spelling of the local name, and is supposedly derived either from the name of a Hindu goddess or from the name of a secondary character in a Hindu epic.

Answer 17

Lucknow

Question 18

While The Great Game is well-documented in parts, the usage of the term became more widespread thanks to a 1901 literary work - that unfolds against the backdrop of the Great Game - by an Indian-born English journalist and author. Name either WORK or AUTHOR.

Answer 18

Kim by Rudyard Kipling

Question 19

In the late 15th and following centuries, widespread transfer of plants, animals, precious metals, commodities, culture, human populations, technology, diseases, and ideas occurred between the New World (the Americas) in the Western Hemisphere, and the Old World (Afro-Eurasia) in the Eastern Hemisphere. Who is this biological and cultural exchange named after?

Answer 19

Christopher Columbus

Question 20

Which former English female cricketer is often believed to be the greatest wicket-keeper the women’s game has produced, validated by her appointment as coach for the men’s county team at Sussex? She is the fastest cricketer, male or female, to earn their first cap in all three formats of international cricket - getting all caps within a week.

Answer 20

Rachel Taylor

Question 21

Which style of hip-hop street dance from Dallas, is performed by moving one’s body in a shimmy style and passing a hand through or near the hair on one’s own head? The hip-hop group Cali Swag District brought this to the global audience with their 2011 smash hit Teach Me How To ]Blank].

Answer 21

Dougie

[Teach me how to dougie, being the song]

Question 22

In complete contrast to his Blue, Rose, and Cubist period, a 1955 sketch by Picasso is a stark black and white image that he drew for a French journal on the 350th anniversary of WHICH LITERARY CHARACTER’s debut from a titular work?

Answer 22

Don Quixote

Question 23

Dominic “Dom” Toretto is a fictional character and one of the main protagonists of the Fast & Furious franchise. Who portrays Dom Toretto in the Fast and Furious universe - the leader of a group of street racers who also does illicit jobs for government agencies and orchestrates heists?

Answer 23

Vin Diesel

Question 24

Which 1993/1998 pair of romantic comedy movies were both directed by Nora Ephron and both star Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan playing people who fall in love without (knowingly) meeting?

Answer 24

Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail

[Need BOTH; Avoid prompting or saying
“wrong” for answers, just move on]

Question 25

As part of the Columbian exchange, the transfer of which crop originating in South America significantly altered agriculture in Asia, Europe, and especially in Africa where it is the most important crop today? A process called nixtamalization is necessary for
consumption of this wherein it is soaked and cooked in an alkaline solution, usually limewater, washed, and then hulled.

Answer 25

Corn

Question 26

This disease was initially called Barbados Distemper because of the number of deaths in Barbados plantations with similar symptoms. What is the modern name for this mosquito transmitted viral disease that was introduced from Africa to the Americans through slave ships? Many Carribbean and African nations still require us to be vaccinated against this to travel.

Answer 26

Yellow Fever

Question 27

In 1969, Salvador Dali published a suite of 12 paintings that were converted through photoprinting into a rare book. The paintings depict the twelve chapters from WHICH LITERARY WORK of the 19th century? One such painting called The Queen’s Croquet Ground is not pictured here, while the remaining 11 include Pig and Pepper, The Lobster Quadrille et al.

Answer 27

Alice in Wonderland

[Prompt on Through The Looking Glass]

Question 28

Which style of street dance, grooved to 70s disco music, was created in the LGBT clubs of Los Angeles during the 1970s disco era? It is an extremely expressive, free form of dance with strong emphasis on arm movements, posing, and improvisation. It was once called ‘punking’, but the name was changed to avoid the negative connotations of the word punk.

Answer 28

Waacking

Question 29

Which Australian female cricketer won the ICC Cricketer of the Decade between 2010-19 in all three formats separately, while having represented Australia at both Cricket and Football World Cups? She is the youngest ever player for Australia and the most capped international cricketer for the country

Answer 29

Elysse Perry

Question 30

The second track on the official album of Shark Tale is a cover of the 1976 song Car Wash by Rose Royce, performed here by American rapper Missy Elliott and WHICH 90s AMERICAN TEEN POP IDOL, who has been referred to as the “Voice of a Generation” thanks to her four-octave vocal range?

Answer 30

Christina Aguilera

Question 31

The super-app term was first used to describe which company developed by Tencent, an ubiquitous application used by 1.2 billion people, primarily in China? Most people who visit China will attest that it is close to impossible to survive without this super-app that has combined messaging, payments, e-commerce, photo sharing, and more into a single app.

Answer 31

Wechat

Question 32

This disease was called the Irish Fever where the potato famine forced millions of people into workhouses where overcrowding and lack of sanitation led to the disease’s spread. What is this disease that spreads to humans from infected lice, fleas, ticks etc.? It is also
called Jail Fever due to its propensity to spread in overcrowded conditions.

Answer 32

Typhus

Question 33

What do you call a nail polish that has a consciously dull finish, thus forgoing shiny finish? Its utility is as normal first coat in various colours, or as a top coat.

Answer 33

Matte

Question 34

The galactic year, also known as a cosmic year, is 230 million Earth years. It is defined as the duration of time required for which celestial body to orbit once around the center of what? Both parts required.

Answer 34

Sun around the Milky way

[For half answers, don’t prompt as it helps
the next person; Just say NO and move on]

Question 35

The opening track on the Shark Tale album was a remix of the 1977 song ‘Three Little Birds’, performed by Sean Paul and Ziggy [BLANK] and produced by Stephen [BLANK]. WHO is the iconic parent of Ziggy and Stephen, who also wrote the original song?

Answer 35

Bob Marley

Question 36

The most common nickname of this disease was German Measles, named after the nationality of the scientist who first described this disease. Which disease, whose modern name comes from the Latin word for red because of the characteristic rash that appears on infected people’s bodies?

Answer 36

Rubella

[VERY begrudingly accept 3-day Measles]

Question 37

The founding of which city by Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi in 1571, for the purpose of facilitating trade, i.e exchanging valuable materials from New World for products such as silk and porcelain via this city in the Old World, has been called by scholars the “origin of world trade”?

Answer 37

Manila

Question 38

While this Italian character debuted in a different video game where he was tasked with saving a princess from a barrel throwing ape, he has since headlined around 119 games - the largest franchise in video game history. Which video game (named for the character) which has had spinoffs such as Paper [Blank], [Blank] Kart, and more?

Answer 38

Mario

Question 39

David Hockney’s sketch Myself and My Heroes features a younger him standing next to two of his idols: Mahatma Gandhi and WHICH AMERICAN POET known for his free verse style? Inscribed above the haloed poet is the line: “For the dear love of comrades” from his poem “I Hear It Was Charged Against Me”.

Answer 39

Walt Whitman

Question 40

Located on the foothills of Cerro Rico (“rich mountain”), Potosi in Bolivia was a city of significant historical importance during the Columbian Exchange as an official department of Spanish Empire was here. Before Guanajuato in Mexico surpassed it, it was the Spanish Empire’s biggest source of WHAT METAL that these mountains were rich in relevant to the working of this department?

Answer 40

Silver

[Potosi was the official mint of the Spanish Empire]

Question 41

Which style of hip-hop street dance gained popularity worldwide in the 1970s after Michael Jackson performed this as part of theJackson 5 in a performance of Dancing Machine? Often believed to be a sub-section of ‘popping’, movement is finished with an abrupt stop, to give the impression of motors starting and stopping

Answer 41

Robot

Question 42

After the customary evening prayers, muslims offer a special prayer, only during the month of Ramzan. This prayer is rather long and is performed in a congregation, so it is not surprising to see a large number of Muslims gathering in mosques at night. What is this prayer called?

Answer 42

Taraweeh

Question 43

Which nail painting technique is sometimes named after a product it uses, whose trade name was first owned by Dow Chemical? The technique involves painting a nail with two colours, then using a scrunched up ball of [BLANK] to press down on the nail and pull away, thus removing some of the top layer and allowing some of the base layer to shine through. The resultant marbling effect goes by many names, all referring to the material used to achieve it.

Answer 43

Saran wrap

[Accept cling wrap/foil wrap]

Question 44

The term God’s Own Country has been used by a certain English county, often interchanging country with county. Which county, the largest in England, known for its Norman Castles and Viking heritage? Perhaps apt that a cricketer often called ‘God’ once played
for this county.

Answer 44

Yorkshire

Question 45

Jakob Toretto is a character introduced in the last Fast and Furios movie, F9, as the estranged brother of Dominic and Mia Toretto. Which wrestler come actor portrays Jakob Toretto, also seen recently in the TV show *Peacemaker?

Answer 45

John Cena

Question 46

Which 1983/1993 pair of films were both directed by Brian de Palma and feature a “Latino” Al Pacino weaving his way through a life of crime?

Answer 46

Scarface and Carlito’s Way

[Need BOTH; Avoid prompting or saying
“wrong” for answers, just move on]

Question 47

With a grand total of 103 games in its franchise, which video game is a a Japanese science fiction franchise owned by Capcom? The protagonist is a little chap dressed in blue armour with a gun for a hand, that has become Capcom’s primary character across games.

Answer 47

Mega Man

[Also accept Rocket Man]

Question 48

In Physics, it is measured as the amount of time light takes to travel one fermi (about the size of a nucleon) in vacuum; In electronics, it is measured as the period of an alternating current power cycle. What is this unit of time, a word now used in English to represent a very short time?

Answer 48

Jiffy

Question 49

Which 1994/1999 pair of films were both directed by Frank Darabont, were both based on works by Stephen King, and both told a story of redemption inside a prison where inmates are held before being executed.

Answer 49

Shawshank Redemption and Green Mile

[Need BOTH; Avoid prompting or saying
“wrong” for answers, just move on]

Question 50

In the Fast and Furious universe, Tej Parker is a former street racer, mechanic and technical expert. Tej is a friend of Brian O’Conner, who then becomes a member of Dominic Toretto’s Crew. Which rapper who also contributed a few songs to the soundtracks of the Fast and Furious films portrays Tej Parker?

Answer 50

Ludacris

Question 51

In total, 11 Muslims (10 men and 1 woman) have been to space so far. As there is no clear timing for sunrise and sunset in outer space, the astronauts follow the timings from which place of relevance to astronauts to keep their fasts?

Answer 51

Florida Eastern Time

Question 52

Which 1990/1995 pair of gangster films were both directed by Martin Scorcese and written by Nicholas Pileggi, and feature several of the same leads?

Answer 52

Goodfellas and Casino

[Need BOTH; Avoid prompting or saying
“wrong” for answers, just move on]

Question 53

Which city in India counts Menlo Park, Norfolk, and Pyatigorsk (Russia) as its twin cities? It was an important spice trading centre on the west coast of India from the 14th century onward, and the kingdom with its capital here was variously allied with the Ming Dynasty, Portuguese (most commonly), the Dutch, and became a princely state of the British.

Answer 53

Kochi

[Prompt on Travancore]

Question 54

During the month of Ramadan, muslims get up at dawn for their last meal before they start their fasting the following day. Many Muslims may stay awake the whole night and go to bed after the morning meal. What is this meal called in Urdu/ Arabic, meaning early dawn in Arabic?

Answer 54

Sehri or Suhoor

Question 55

What organic compound forms the basis of most common nail polish removers? Its scientific name is dimethyl ketone, making it the
smallest ketone. It is a colourless, highly volatile, and flammable liquid with a characteristic pungent odour.

Answer 55

Acetone

Question 56

The Great Game is said to have ensued in January 1830 when Lord Ellenborough, the president of the Board of Control for India,
tasked Lord William Bentinck, the governor-general, with establishing a new trade route to which Emirate in modern day Uzbekistan? The emirate’s namesake city today is famed for its historic centre featuring many mosques.

Answer 56

Bukhara

Question 57

Debuting in 1986, this video game has spawned as many as 35 titles in the franchise with 1997’s Symphony Of The Night considered the best of the lot. Which game, that casts players as vampire hunter Simon Belmont tasked with killing the baddest vampire of all - Dracula?

Answer 57

Castlevania

Question 58

An 1888 painting by John William Waterhouse depicts the titular character of a poem, an Arthurian maiden, specifically from the lines: And at the closing of the day, She loosed the chain, and down she lay; The broad stream bore her far away, [Blanks] WHICH POEM, that is also the name of the painting?

Answer 58

The Lady of Shallot by Tennyson

Question 59

In the Fast and Furious Universe, Gisele Yashar was a former intelligence operative and a former associate of Arturo Braga who soon became a member of Dominic Toretto’s Crew. Which actress, whose mandatory two years of service in the IDF, helped her land this role and portray Yashar?

Answer 59

Gal Gadot

Question 60

Which Indonesian on-demand multi-service platform and digital payment technology group was first established in 2010 as a call center to connect consumers to courier delivery and two-wheeled ride-hailing services? The country’s first unicorn company, it has transformed into a super-app providing more than 20 services.

Answer 60

Gojek

Question 61

This disease was historically called Siberian Plague amongst other names due to its prevalence there - a hotspot for the disease even today. What is this bacterial infection that affects livestock and ocassionally humans, which was used in a bioterrorism attack on the USA in 2001?

Answer 61

Anthrax

Question 62

Since 1967, the second has been defined as exactly “the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the X atom” because radiation of this kind is one of the most stable phenomena in nature. Which element, that is a liquid metal at room temperature and derives its name from Latin for sky blue?

Answer 62

Caesium

Question 63

Which fishing town in India counts Loures, Portugal as its twin city very aptly considering this town’s Portuguese history? It is part of an Indian union territory, and its eponymous district is the tenth least populated district of India.

Answer 63

Diu

Question 64

Although Muslims were first commanded to fast in the second year of Hijra (624 CE), many religious scholars believe that this practice is derived from practices of many other religions. They point to fasting practices of pre-Islamic pagans of Mecca and the strict discipline of the Syrian Churches during which religious observance as possible inspirations?

Answer 64

Lent