The music group is R.E.M. (Rapid Eye Movement). - Started in 1980 and came to a close in 2011 (R.E.M. was active from 1980 to 2011) - The name was derived by randomly choosing three letters from a dictionary (R.E.M.) - Common misconception: the name is a reference to a stage experienced during sleeping, especially when one is having dreams, which is visibly manifested in the eyes (R.E.M. stands for Rapid Eye Movement) - Involved Michael Stipe, Bill Berry, Mike Mills, and Peter Buck (founding members of R.E.M.) So the music

1. Infinite
Zounds
IZ 121
a selection of questions from 2010 and 2011
J. Ramanand
Set II: Books, Entertainment & Media,
Language & Etymology

2. Copyright
Infinite Zounds : IZ 121 by J Ramanand is licensed under a Creative
Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-
NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
Author's Note
In essence, this license allows you to reuse the contents of this book only in
non-commercial settings, expects you to provide credits to me if you use or
derive from these questions, and allows you to redistribute your derivations
under the same terms.
So if you want to use these questions, go ahead. The only request is that you
provide adequate credit to this author wherever and whenever you use
these questions in the form you found them here.
Dhanyavaad.

3. Books &
Literature

4. Jennifer Egan's book "A Visit From the Goon Squad" won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize
for Fiction. The book is a set of stories about Bennie Salazar, a music executive
and one-time-rocker, and characters connected to him.
An interesting aspect to the book is the presence of a chapter (about a girl's diary)
set in a particular form, which has probably never been used in a mainstream
literary novel. Some critics thought of it as a gimmick, while others have lauded
the idea. Egan says she was inspired from how the 2008 Obama campaign
benefited from one such document to spur a turnaround in their fortunes.
What form is this chapter in?
BOOKS

5. Jennifer Egan's book "A Visit From the Goon Squad" won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize
for Fiction. The book is a set of stories about Bennie Salazar, a music executive
and one-time-rocker, and characters connected to him.
An interesting aspect to the book is the presence of a chapter (about a girl's diary)
set in a particular form, which has probably never been used in a mainstream
literary novel. Some critics thought of it as a gimmick, while others have lauded
the idea. Egan says she was inspired from how the 2008 Obama campaign
benefited from one such document to spur a turnaround in their fortunes.
What form is this chapter in?
BOOKS
Powerpoint slides.

6. This author made his feature film debut as an actor in the
the film "7 Khoon Maaf" directed by Vishal Bhardwaj.
Who?
BOOKS

7. This author made his feature film debut as an actor in the
the film "7 Khoon Maaf" directed by Vishal Bhardwaj.
Who?
BOOKS
Ruskin Bond; the film is based on his short story
"Susanna's Seven Husbands".

8. Stephen King's latest book is called 11/22/63 (the day
John F. Kennedy was assassinated) and is about Jake
Epping, a time-traveller who travels back in time. He
attempts to stop not just JFK's assassination but also
change an ordinary person's future.
If the front cover is what you see on the right, what is
on the back cover?
Image: Stephenking.com
BOOKS

9. Stephen King's latest book is called 11/22/63 (the day
John F. Kennedy was assassinated) and is about Jake
Epping, a time-traveller who travels back in time. He
attempts to stop not just JFK's assassination but also
change an ordinary person's future.
If the front cover is what you see on the right, what is
on the back cover?
Image: Stephenking.com
BOOKS
It shows newspaper headlines that indicate
an alternative history of JFK surviving the
attempt (see the image to the right)

10. The House of Silk is a new novel by Anthony Horowitz, a novelist who has
written several mystery books for children, as well as several screenplays for TV
such as Agatha Christie's Poirot, Midsomer Murders, and Foyle's War.
The House of Silk is very much up Horowitz's alley, but is remarkable for being the
official return (once again) of a character to print.
Which character?
BOOKS

11. The House of Silk is a new novel by Anthony Horowitz, a novelist who has
written several mystery books for children, as well as several screenplays for TV
such as Agatha Christie's Poirot, Midsomer Murders, and Foyle's War.
The House of Silk is very much up Horowitz's alley, but is remarkable for being the
official return (once again) of a character to print.
Which character?
BOOKS
Sherlock Holmes.

12. What book
would complete
this stack of
books?
BOOKS
Image: The Independent

13. BOOKS
“The Sense of an Ending” which won the 2011 Booker
Prize. These were the six books that were shortlisted for
the Prize.
Image: The Independent

14. The noted Japanese author Haruki Murakami
wrote a book called "1Q84" a couple of years ago,
which achieved critical and commercial success. An
English translation of this book was issued in 2011.
The book's title is part homage, part wordplay. The
title alludes to an English classic, which will also tell
you when the events in "1Q84" are set. In Japanese,
"Q" sounds the same as a number.
Which English book is being referred to?
BOOKS
Image: Wikipedia

15. The noted Japanese author Haruki Murakami
wrote a book called "1Q84" a couple of years ago,
which achieved critical and commercial success. An
English translation of this book was issued in 2011.
The book's title is part homage, part wordplay. The
title alludes to an English classic, which will also tell
you when the events in "1Q84" are set. In Japanese,
"Q" sounds the same as a number.
Which English book is being referred to?
BOOKS
Image: Wikipedia
George Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty Four".

16. Train number 17303/4, an Express of the Indian Railways, plies between
Yeshwantpur (Bangalore) and Mysore in Karnataka. This comes under the South
Western Railway.
In 2011, this train was given a more endearing name, something fitting to that
particular section of the country. Perhaps a tiger or M.K.Gandhi will one day
board the express.
What name?
BOOKS

17. Train number 17303/4, an Express of the Indian Railways, plies between
Yeshwantpur (Bangalore) and Mysore in Karnataka. This comes under the South
Western Railway.
In 2011, this train was given a more endearing name, something fitting to that
particular section of the country. Perhaps a tiger or M.K.Gandhi will one day
board the express.
What name?
BOOKS
The "Malgudi Express".

18. The previous holder of this title died in June 2011, after
a tussle with his arch-rival. The replacement, the second
ever to hold this title, is half-Hispanic and half-black.
His name is Miles Morales (just like his predecessor, this
is an alliterative name).
What title? Image: Wikipedia
BOOKS

19. The previous holder of this title died in June 2011, after
a tussle with his arch-rival. The replacement, the second
ever to hold this title, is half-Hispanic and half-black.
His name is Miles Morales (just like his predecessor, this
is an alliterative name).
What title? Image: Wikipedia
BOOKS
Spiderman (the earlier one being held by Peter Parker)

20. Endeavour is the name of a new British TV series. This is a prequel to a
well-known detective TV series based on books written by Colin Dexter set
in the deceptively calm environs of Oxford.
That TV series (which aired from the late 80s through to 2000) was named
after the surname of the eponymous CID officer. Appropriately, this one is
called Endeavour after his first name.
Which TV series or character?
BOOKS

21. Endeavour is the name of a new British TV series. This is a prequel to a
well-known detective TV series based on books written by Colin Dexter set
in the deceptively calm environs of Oxford.
That TV series (which aired from the late 80s through to 2000) was named
after the surname of the eponymous CID officer. Appropriately, this one is
called Endeavour after his first name.
Which TV series or character?
BOOKS
Inspector Morse

22. This 2011 book is based on several corporate
workshops conducted by the authors on the
subject of teaching management lessons using
examples from sports. The authors are
married to each other and even went to the
same B-school (IIM-Ahmedabad).
It has a foreword by Mukesh Ambani and a
"last word" by Rahul Dravid. Identify the
author-husband.
BOOKS
Image: Sify

23. This 2011 book is based on several corporate
workshops conducted by the authors on the
subject of teaching management lessons using
examples from sports. The authors are
married to each other and even went to the
same B-school (IIM-Ahmedabad).
It has a foreword by Mukesh Ambani and a
"last word" by Rahul Dravid. Identify the
author-husband.
BOOKS
Image: Sify
Harsha Bhogle. His co-author is
his wife, Anita.

24. In 2011, Alan Gribben, a Professor of English at an Alabama university,
came out with a new edition of the Mark Twain books "Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn" and "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer".
This kicked up a lot of fuss, because the word 'nigger' was replaced by 'slave'
in the books. One more word was also to be replaced with something less
offensive, which is also the prefix of a character's name in the Tom Sawyer
book.
Which word?
BOOKS

25. In 2011, Alan Gribben, a Professor of English at an Alabama university,
came out with a new edition of the Mark Twain books "Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn" and "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer".
This kicked up a lot of fuss, because the word 'nigger' was replaced by 'slave'
in the books. One more word was also to be replaced with something less
offensive, which is also the prefix of a character's name in the Tom Sawyer
book.
Which word?
BOOKS
'Injun' (pejorative slang for "Indian").
The character was “Injun Joe”.

26. Entertainment
& Media

27. This 168 year old newspaper bowed out of public life in England on Sunday, July
10, 2011 amidst controversial circumstances. While doing so, it quoted from an
essay of English writer George Orwell (supposedly endorsing it) and Jeanne
Hobson, a lady from Hampshire (supposedly a long time fan).
Which paper?
ENT & MEDIA

28. This 168 year old newspaper bowed out of public life in England on Sunday, July
10, 2011 amidst controversial circumstances. While doing so, it quoted from an
essay of English writer George Orwell (supposedly endorsing it) and Jeanne
Hobson, a lady from Hampshire (supposedly a long time fan).
Which paper?
ENT & MEDIA
The popular weekly tabloid "News of the World". No stranger to
relentless controversy, the plug was pulled on the paper after it was
revealed that some of its staffers illegally hacked into phones. The
paper's last edition even pulled out a quote about the paper from
Orwell (out of context), making it seem as if he was a fan.

29. It was initially launched in Brazil, but it was Pakistan that made it what it is. An
Indonesian version may also be on the cards, while the first ever Indian version
went on air in the middle of June 2011. Leslie Lewis took on the role played by
Rohail Hyatt. The reviews for the Indian version were not as great.
Which media property is this?
ENT & MEDIA

30. It was initially launched in Brazil, but it was Pakistan that made it what it is. An
Indonesian version may also be on the cards, while the first ever Indian version
went on air in the middle of June 2011. Leslie Lewis took on the role played by
Rohail Hyatt. The reviews for the Indian version were not as great.
Which media property is this?
ENT & MEDIA
The televised music series "Coke Studio".

31. The film "San Ge Sha Gua" has been one of the
big hits in Chinese cities in 2011, especially with
young audiences, with whom it seems to have
struck a natural chord.
How do we know this film in India?
Image: The Economic Times
ENT & MEDIA

32. The film "San Ge Sha Gua" has been one of the
big hits in Chinese cities in 2011, especially with
young audiences, with whom it seems to have
struck a natural chord.
How do we know this film in India?
Image: The Economic Times
ENT & MEDIA
Three Idiots.

33. This BBC TV quiz show came to an end in 2011 after its host announced her
decision to quit the programme. It was a popular daytime show, and its presenter,
who was nicknamed "The Queen of Mean", had attained a certain degree of
notoriety. Briefly, there was an Indian version of the show as well.
Which quiz programme?
ENT & MEDIA

34. This BBC TV quiz show came to an end in 2011 after its host announced her
decision to quit the programme. It was a popular daytime show, and its presenter,
who was nicknamed "The Queen of Mean", had attained a certain degree of
notoriety. Briefly, there was an Indian version of the show as well.
Which quiz programme?
ENT & MEDIA
“The Weakest Link”, hosted by Anne Robinson. The Indian version was
called "Kamzor Kadi Kaun", presented by Neena Gupta.

35. This music band re-issued all its 14 studio albums
in 2011, via the record label EMI. To mark this, the
band and the label recreated something which had
been first staged in 1976. (The idea then was to shoot
an image for an album cover).
The location was Battersea Power Station in London
and prominently featured a tethered object (masked
in the image). In 1976, the object broke loose and Image: Oli Scarff/Getty
wandered off into, aptly, a field of cattle even before Images/The Guardian
it could be photographed. Which band or album or
object?
ENT & MEDIA

36. This music band re-issued all its 14 studio albums
in 2011, via the record label EMI. To mark this, the
band and the label recreated something which had
been first staged in 1976. (The idea then was to shoot
an image for an album cover).
The location was Battersea Power Station in London
and prominently featured a tethered object (masked
in the image). In 1976, the object broke loose and Image: Oli Scarff/Getty
wandered off into, aptly, a field of cattle even before Images/The Guardian
it could be photographed. Which band or album or
object?
ENT & MEDIA
The group is Pink Floyd, the album was "Animals" and the object was a
giant inflatable pig.

37. A follow-up to this film has always been spoken
about, but never really materialised. An animated
film based on the original (a marketing poster seen
above) was announced in September 2011; it is
touted to be a remake, rather than a sequel. It is to
be directed by Anish Patel.
Apparently, a live-action 'official' sequel is also in the
works, but that's still a rumour.
Which movie? Image: naachgaana.com
ENT & MEDIA

38. A follow-up to this film has always been spoken
about, but never really materialised. An animated
film based on the original (a marketing poster seen
above) was announced in September 2011; it is
touted to be a remake, rather than a sequel. It is to
be directed by Anish Patel.
Apparently, a live-action 'official' sequel is also in the
works, but that's still a rumour.
Which movie? Image: naachgaana.com
ENT & MEDIA
"Andaz Apna Apna". The animated movie is titled "Andaz Naya Naya".

39. Which music group do the following clues point to?
* Started in 1980 and came to a close in 2011
* The name was derived by randomly choosing three letters from a
dictionary
* Common misconception: the name is a reference to a stage experienced
during sleeping, especially when one is having dreams, which is visibly
manifested in the eyes
* Involved Michael Stipe, Bill Berry, Mike Mills, and Peter Buck
ENT & MEDIA

40. Which music group do the following clues point to?
* Started in 1980 and came to a close in 2011
* The name was derived by randomly choosing three letters from a
dictionary
* Common misconception: the name is a reference to a stage experienced
during sleeping, especially when one is having dreams, which is visibly
manifested in the eyes
* Involved Michael Stipe, Bill Berry, Mike Mills, and Peter Buck
ENT & MEDIA
The band "R.E.M." that split earlier this year. The group's name was
thought by some to be a reference to "Rapid Eye Movement", but that's
not true.

41. The 2011 addition to the "Spy Kids" franchise is "Spy Kids: All the Time in the
World". It's also billed as a "4D" film, indicating that in addition to being
available in theatres in 3-D, it has one more dimension of effects. To experience
this effect, viewers need to use a set of cards at appropriate times during the
film.
This effect is not new to films - variants of this have been tried as far back as
the 1960s. But this has never really taken off and has remained an unnecessary
innovation at best.
What effect is this?
ENT & MEDIA

42. The 2011 addition to the "Spy Kids" franchise is "Spy Kids: All the Time in the
World". It's also billed as a "4D" film, indicating that in addition to being
available in theatres in 3-D, it has one more dimension of effects. To experience
this effect, viewers need to use a set of cards at appropriate times during the
film.
This effect is not new to films - variants of this have been tried as far back as
the 1960s. But this has never really taken off and has remained an unnecessary
innovation at best.
What effect is this?
ENT & MEDIA
The ability to add smells to the proceedings. This movie uses
"Aromascope" in which viewers scratch special cards to release
appropriate scents. Earlier techniques in movie history such as
"Smell-O-Vision" tried to release scents in sync with a film's plot,
but often to mixed results.

43. In the Ramayana, it is the third segment of the epic and one
that is pivotal to the story as it deals with the experiences of
the exiled trio in the forest (as indicated by the name) and
the eventual abduction of Sita.
The same name has been used by a recent Tamil film, a
complex tale set in the underworld of Madras. It ran into
trouble with the censors (the film even features Jackie
Shroff in the buff ) ; after its release, it has gained much
acclaim.
What's the name? Image: Wikipedia
ENT & MEDIA

44. In the Ramayana, it is the third segment of the epic and one
that is pivotal to the story as it deals with the experiences of
the exiled trio in the forest (as indicated by the name) and
the eventual abduction of Sita.
The same name has been used by a recent Tamil film, a
complex tale set in the underworld of Madras. It ran into
trouble with the censors (the film even features Jackie
Shroff in the buff ) ; after its release, it has gained much
acclaim.
What's the name? Image: Wikipedia
ENT & MEDIA
"Aaranya Kandam" ("aaranya" means "forest" in Sanskrit)

45. In the 'egg' that is being borne by these
five people is someone, who is being
taken to the 2011 Grammy Awards
ceremony, along the red carpet.
The reason was a typical headline-
grabbing stunt to promote "Born This
Way", a new song by the artist inside.
So who was inside? Image: CBS News
ENT & MEDIA

46. In the 'egg' that is being borne by these
five people is someone, who is being
taken to the 2011 Grammy Awards
ceremony, along the red carpet.
The reason was a typical headline-
grabbing stunt to promote "Born This
Way", a new song by the artist inside.
So who was inside? Image: CBS News
ENT & MEDIA
Lady Gaga

47. This category was newly introduced at the 57th edition of the National
Film Awards in 2010. This category already existed in the Filmfare Awards
(first awarded in 1998, and won by Viju Shah).
Which category and who was, fittingly, the first ever winner?
ENT & MEDIA

48. This category was newly introduced at the 57th edition of the National
Film Awards in 2010. This category already existed in the Filmfare Awards
(first awarded in 1998, and won by Viju Shah).
Which category and who was, fittingly, the first ever winner?
ENT & MEDIA
The Award for the Best Background Score. It was won by Ilaiyaraja for
"Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja".

49. Language &
Etymology

50. A character in the folk tales of Sheikh Chilli, some stories have it that his
name is a reference to him accidentally scaring or killing away a band of
thieves. The name has become a local idiom in parts of North India with
negative connotations.
Which 2010 Hindi film had the same name?
WORDS

51. A character in the folk tales of Sheikh Chilli, some stories have it that his
name is a reference to him accidentally scaring or killing away a band of
thieves. The name has become a local idiom in parts of North India with
negative connotations.
Which 2010 Hindi film had the same name?
WORDS
“Tees Maar Khan”, a Farah Khan-Akshay Kumar film

52. In "Kaun Banega Crorepati", it is a type of lifeline.
In the TV series "Seinfeld", it is a social and eating faux pas committed by
George Costanza in the episode "The Implant".
This term can also be found in metereology, in taxation, and in politics.
However, if you've seen it in 2011, it's probably to do with fears of a recession
in the Western world.
What double-worded term?
WORDS

53. In "Kaun Banega Crorepati", it is a type of lifeline.
In the TV series "Seinfeld", it is a social and eating faux pas committed by
George Costanza in the episode "The Implant".
This term can also be found in metereology, in taxation, and in politics.
However, if you've seen it in 2011, it's probably to do with fears of a recession
in the Western world.
What double-worded term?
WORDS
“Double Dip”, used in the context of a “double dip recession”.

54. In connection with the 2012 London Olympics, the sporting goods maker Adidas
announced the winner of a competition to name the official sporting good for an
event. This received 10,000+ entries, including British sportsmen such as diver Tom
Daley and cricketer Steve Finn, who entered the names "The Stratford Bouncer" and
"The Record Breaker" respectively.
The winner, however, was simply "Albert". Why? Because "Albert" refers to the Royal
Albert Hall, a famous London concert venue. This is transformed in typical Cockney
fashion (in which locals in London's East End section use rhymes and associations
with words instead of the words themselves) to indicate this sporting good.
What Olympic sporting good has been thus officially named?
WORDS

55. In connection with the 2012 London Olympics, the sporting goods maker Adidas
announced the winner of a competition to name the official sporting good for an
event. This received 10,000+ entries, including British sportsmen such as diver Tom
Daley and cricketer Steve Finn, who entered the names "The Stratford Bouncer" and
"The Record Breaker" respectively.
The winner, however, was simply "Albert". Why? Because "Albert" refers to the Royal
Albert Hall, a famous London concert venue. This is transformed in typical Cockney
fashion (in which locals in London's East End section use rhymes and associations
with words instead of the words themselves) to indicate this sporting good.
What Olympic sporting good has been thus officially named?
WORDS
The name of the official football for the Olympics.
"Ball" rhymes with "Hall". That is, "Ball" -> "Hall" -> "Albert Hall".

56. This is a question about two terms - you might not find either of them in a
dictionary yet. Let's call them X and Y. Both X and Y refer to groups of people who
believe in two separate American controversies.
X is the older of the two, and was coined principally in opposition to one person.
The term's associated controversy flared up once again in the end of April 2011,
but has significantly died down since.
This happened partly because of events associated with Y. Y was coined in early
May 2011 (by online media).
Both X and Y are coined from nouns, the exact opposite of each other. Which two
words are these?
WORDS

57. This is a question about two terms - you might not find either of them in a
dictionary yet. Let's call them X and Y. Both X and Y refer to groups of people who
believe in two separate American controversies.
X is the older of the two, and was coined principally in opposition to one person.
The term's associated controversy flared up once again in the end of April 2011,
but has significantly died down since.
This happened partly because of events associated with Y. Y was coined in early
May 2011 (by online media).
Both X and Y are coined from nouns, the exact opposite of each other. Which two
words are these?
WORDS
X: "Birthers", Y="Deathers"."Birthers" are those people who do not believe
that US President Obama was born in Hawaii, and claim he is ineligible to be
the US President because he was born outside the US. In April, a detailed
birth certificate showing his place of birth was released.
"Deathers" believe that Osama bin Laden was not shot on May 1 in Pakistan.
Among the alternatives are that he was either captured alive or killed long
before these events supposedly happened.

58. The Oxford English Dictionary's 2011 announcement about the latest revisions
to its dictionary caused predictable outrage. In particular, the inclusion of such
'initialisms' as OMG, LOL, and even WAG.
Perhaps the most interesting addition was another internet-chat-favourite. This
is a sense (i.e. another form) added to a verb (whose use as a verb has always
been irritating to some). The OED says this "may be the first English usage to
develop via the medium of T-shirts and bumper-stickers".
One way to write it is to use a symbol and a number.
What?
WORDS

59. The Oxford English Dictionary's 2011 announcement about the latest revisions
to its dictionary caused predictable outrage. In particular, the inclusion of such
'initialisms' as OMG, LOL, and even WAG.
Perhaps the most interesting addition was another internet-chat-favourite. This
is a sense (i.e. another form) added to a verb (whose use as a verb has always
been irritating to some). The OED says this "may be the first English usage to
develop via the medium of T-shirts and bumper-stickers".
One way to write it is to use a symbol and a number.
What?
WORDS
♥ or <3 i.e. "to heart".
This is most prominently seen in the "I heart NY" sign.

60. The physicist Wolfgang Pauli imagined this particle's existence and called it
something (let's term this variable 'X').
James Chadwick was chasing something else; when he found it, he also called it
'X' (the same name).
The Italian Enrico Fermi decided to do something about this confusion.
Since what Chadwick actually found was bigger than what Pauli had imagined,
Fermi added the Italian suffix that means "little one" to 'X', thus giving the word
'Y'.
So what are 'X' and 'Y'?
WORDS

61. The physicist Wolfgang Pauli imagined this particle's existence and called it
something (let's term this variable 'X').
James Chadwick was chasing something else; when he found it, he also called it
'X' (the same name).
The Italian Enrico Fermi decided to do something about this confusion.
Since what Chadwick actually found was bigger than what Pauli had imagined,
Fermi added the Italian suffix that means "little one" to 'X', thus giving the word
'Y'.
So what are 'X' and 'Y'?
WORDS
'X': neutron, 'Y': neutrino.
The latter term was all over the news in 2011 because scientists think
they have found evidence of such particles traveling faster than light.

62. According to the Princeton Wordnet dictionary, this term could mean:
● a notebook containing descriptions and diagrams of the strategies that
a team has practiced (especially an American football team)
● a book containing the scripts of one or more dramas
● a scheme or set of strategies for conducting a business campaign or a
political campaign
In 2011, it became associated with a technology device.
What term?
WORDS

63. According to the Princeton Wordnet dictionary, this term could mean:
● a notebook containing descriptions and diagrams of the strategies that
a team has practiced (especially an American football team)
● a book containing the scripts of one or more dramas
● a scheme or set of strategies for conducting a business campaign or a
political campaign
In 2011, it became associated with a technology device.
What term?
WORDS
“Playbook”, which is also what Blackberry called its
new touchpad device.

64. The Indian Air Force is planning to purchase over a hundred "Medium Multi
Role Combat Aircraft" and had received bids from six aviation companies. In 2011,
the Ministry of Defence shortlisted two of the vendors.
One of the shortlisted bids is from a European consortium selling the Eurofighter
Typhoon. The other is built by the French firm Dassault and gets its name from
the French for "gust" or "squall".
Which aircraft?
WORDS

65. The Indian Air Force is planning to purchase over a hundred "Medium Multi
Role Combat Aircraft" and had received bids from six aviation companies. In 2011,
the Ministry of Defence shortlisted two of the vendors.
One of the shortlisted bids is from a European consortium selling the Eurofighter
Typhoon. The other is built by the French firm Dassault and gets its name from
the French for "gust" or "squall".
Which aircraft?
WORDS
“Rafale”

66. As expected, this word was crowned "Word of the Year" for the year 2011 (as
rated by the American Dialect Society). This beat out the likes of "FOMO"
("Fear of Missing Out"), "99%", "humblebrag", and "job creator". Unlike the
choice of "Squeezed Middle" by the OED, this met the approval of critics and
laymen alike.
Uniquely, the winning word-concept was deemed so influential, spawning
several associated words in 2011, that the Society even created a special category
named after this word. This category was won by "99%" while the Word of the
Year 2011 was humbled into taking 2nd spot (in a category named after it).
What's the good word?
WORDS

67. As expected, this word was crowned "Word of the Year" for the year 2011 (as
rated by the American Dialect Society). This beat out the likes of "FOMO"
("Fear of Missing Out"), "99%", "humblebrag", and "job creator". Unlike the
choice of "Squeezed Middle" by the OED, this met the approval of critics and
laymen alike.
Uniquely, the winning word-concept was deemed so influential, spawning
several associated words in 2011, that the Society even created a special category
named after this word. This category was won by "99%" while the Word of the
Year 2011 was humbled into taking 2nd spot (in a category named after it).
What's the good word?
WORDS
“Occupy”.

68. 5th November 2011 was declared a state holiday in Orissa by the state government
to celebrate Presidential assent to two significant (and similar) changes that affect
it. These changes met a long-standing demand; the process to meet the demand
has been in progress in 2011. With the President's formal approval, the changes
came into force.
One of these involved a language. What are these changes?
WORDS

69. 5th November 2011 was declared a state holiday in Orissa by the state government
to celebrate Presidential assent to two significant (and similar) changes that affect
it. These changes met a long-standing demand; the process to meet the demand
has been in progress in 2011. With the President's formal approval, the changes
came into force.
One of these involved a language. What are these changes?
WORDS
The change in the official spelling of the state's name from Orissa to
Odisha, and the state language's name from Oriya to Odia.

70. PIIGS is a not-so-complimentary acronym used by some economists and
mediamen to denote a bunch of European countries that have been in
economic turmoil for the last decade. This acronym was coined a few years
ago, but has kept coming back into the news, especially in recent times
because the troubles never seem to go away.
Earlier it was just PIGS, and now it has acquired an additional "I".
Which five countries?
WORDS

71. PIIGS is a not-so-complimentary acronym used by some economists and
mediamen to denote a bunch of European countries that have been in
economic turmoil for the last decade. This acronym was coined a few years
ago, but has kept coming back into the news, especially in recent times
because the troubles never seem to go away.
Earlier it was just PIGS, and now it has acquired an additional "I".
Which five countries?
WORDS
Portugal
Italy
Ireland
Greece
Spain

72. Other sets
This ebook had questions from Books, Entertainment & Media, Language
& Etymology. The other three sets are:
Set I: India, Sports, Science, and Technology
Set III: VIZuals, Connections, Awards, and Obituaries
Set IV: Business & Economics, Social Sciences, and Culture
About the Author
J. Ramanand is a quizzer from Pune, India, and was the youngest winner of
BBC Mastermind India programme in 2002. He loves to set and talk about
quizzes, and helps run the BCQC, Pune's quizzing group.