1. Whose name completes this unusual achievement in tennis pairings – Last four Doubles Grand Slam wins by Martina Hingis: (1) 2015 Wimbledon: Women’s Doubles with Sania Mirza, (2) 2015 Wimbledon: Mixed Doubles with Leander Paes, (3) 2015 Australian Open: Mixed Doubles with Leander Paes, (4) 2006 Australian Open: Mixed Doubles with _______?
2. Which magnificent building is the setting for the song Jab Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya? (an anthem for rebellious lovers) from the classic film Mughal-e-Azam?
3. What word connects a Russian religious painting depicting the Madonna and the desktop of your personal computer?
4. What is the more familiar name of Transylvania’s Prince Vlad the Impaler?
5. The original idea for the name of which company was discarded because it sounded like ‘more noise’?
6. The US military needed tape that would keep moisture out of its ammunition cases. During World War II a company that made medical tape supplied an army green, cloth-backed, rubber adhesive and waterproof tape. It was given its name because water easily rolled off it. After the war builders used the tape to connect tubes of home heating and air conditioning systems. The name was morphed by one letter change and the classic silver colour was introduced to match the colour of the tubes. What was the
(A) original military nickname (B) present morphed name (one letter change)?
7. What incident led to the creation of the Nuclear Suppliers Group in 1974?
8. Swami Haridas had a disciple named Ramtanu. How is he better known?
9. What title or honorific did Emperor Akbar give Tansen that means ‘Learned Man’? The word is found in the names of two Hindustani classical ragas – Todi and Malhar – that were modified by Tansen.
10. What title of respect is given to a Muslim who successfully completes the pilgrimage to Mecca?
11. In Indian political geography what is the difference between the terms Line of Control and Line of Actual Control?
12. In the Indian Army, if a Brigadier commands a brigade who commands a battalion?
13. Dolomite, Dinaric and Maritime are names of ranges in what mountain system whose name derives from a word meaning ‘white’ referring to its snow-covered peaks?
14. What is the national flower of Mexico that is also the name of one of Bertie Wooster’s aunts in the PG Wodehouse novels?
15. With a name meaning ‘mound of the dead’ which archeological site in the province of Sindh in Pakistan was built around 2600 BCE, and was one of the largest settlements of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization and one of the world’s earliest major urban settlements?
Answers
1. Mahesh Bhupathi!
2. Sheesh Mahal (of the Amber Fort in Jaipur)
3. Icon
4. Dracula
5. INTEL, founded by Gordon Moore and Robert Noyce
6. Duck Tape (named because it was waterproof like ‘water rolling off a duck’s back’) became Duct Tape
7. Pokharan nuclear test by India
8. Tansen
9. Mian. The Hindustani ragas are named Mian ki Todi and Mian ki Malhar
10. Haji
11. The term Line of Control (LoC) refers to the military control line between the Indian and Pakistani controlled parts of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Line of Actual Control (LAC) is a demarcation line that separates Indian-held lands from Chinese-controlled territory.
12. Colonel
13. Alps
14. Dahlia
15. Mohenjo Daro