This document contains a transcript of questions and answers from a world trivia quiz. It includes 24 questions on topics like famous races and figures from mythology, iconic buildings around the world, company origins, famous literary and film locations, cities depicted in artwork without light pollution, patron saints, famous trains and stations, animated television shows, exonyms for cities, forms of transit like maglev trains, types of pasta, notable space missions. The quiz is being conducted in a fun manner to engage participants in learning interesting facts from around the world.
3. Instructions/Requests
• There are no negatives, hazard a guess – what feels like the answer likely is
• The QM is not GOD, feel free to point out any errors, but please do so in a
civilised manner
• Answers to questions in the preliminary round should be written on the sheet
and not shouted out; refrain from shouting anything out loud that might give
away the answer
• Please put away cell phones during the quiz
• If you have any interesting follow up trivia to share, you are welcome to share it
after the question has been closed
4. 1
The subject of the dispute is disputed – who was better, who gets the prize…
who knows.
The race should’ve taken 120,225 kilometres to complete. While the
favourite had a vehicle to complete the race, the challenger had none and
was gifted one, which has since remained with him (and is captured in all
imageries associated with him). The latter used what some would call sleight
(and most others tact, or simply love and wisdom) in interpreting the
challenge in order to win.
What race are we talking about? Between whom?
6. Going around the world thrice
• Kartikeya went around the world on his superfast peacock
• Ganesh won the race by going around his world, Shiva and Gauri, on
his mooshak
• Mooshak vaahan
7. 2
Located downtown in the Pudong district of Shanghai, the Shanghai World
Financial Center is one of the most iconic skyscrapers in the city. Although it
houses the third highest hotel (the Park Hyatt) in the world, it is known for
its unique design.
Look at the image on the next slide and tell us what the building is popularly
called by foreigners and Chinese alike on the basis of a resemblance.
Hint: If it helps, metal replicas of the building that function as actual ______
______(s) are sold as souvenirs in the tower’s gift shop.
14. 4
This company was founded by Sandy Lerner and her then husband
Leonard Bosack, who used to both work at Stanford University.
They paid tribute to the city in which the company was founded in two
ways. For full points, also mention the two ways in which the company has
paid tribute to the city of its origin.
16. Cisco for San Francisco
• The name is a reduction of San Francisco
• Its logo represents the city’s iconic Golden Gate bridge
17. 5
_____ ___ _______ was first used to describe the Wicklow Mountains in
Ireland which share their boundary with Dublin and Carlow. It has since been
used also to describe Australia, Canada, and famously, New Zealand after
Thomas Bracken wrote a poem with that title. The phrase rings well with
creationists and is reserved for lands people have considered to have
favourable climate, geography, and so on.
We, however, have heard of this phrase when being applied to a different
place. In this usage, one could say it is very well a misnomer.
Simply, fill in the blanks.
20. 6 & 7
Living in cities is always a trade-off having to give up the simple joys of
life for the many urban conveniences that escape rural folk.
One artist, a certain Mr. Thierry Cohen, has imagined in a series of
images what cities would look like sans light pollution.
On the following slides are two images. Identify the city for each image.
27. 8
Regarded as the last real scholar of the ancient world, he was the
archbishop of Seville for over 3 decades. What he was widely revered
for was his extensive knowledge about just about everything under the
sun. People would often come to him with their questions, and he
would invariably answer them all. In fact, he compiled one of the first
encylopedias of the world – called Etymologiae.
For 10 points, either tell me his name or tell me what he is the patron
saint of (quite aptly).
29. Almighty and eternal God, who has created us in thine
image and bade us to seek after all that is good, true and
beautiful, especially in the divine person of Thy only-
begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech
Thee that through the intercession of Saint Isidore, bishop
and doctor, during our journeys through the internet we
will direct our hands and eyes only to that which is
pleasing to Thee and treat with charity and patience all
those souls whom we encounter. Father we ask you this,
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saint Isidore, the Patron Saint of the Internet
30. What connects the places shown on the map below? If any of you has sojourned in Bavaria, you
couldn’t have missed the inspiration for an integral element of the connect. This is one of those
answers you would have easily got a few years back, and will likely easily get a few years later.
9
33. 10
Whose life took an unexpected turn when he or she ended up arriving
at a different location than was the plan?
Alternatively, name the cities whose iconic buildings have been shown
on the following slide in a meme that’s actually a slice from the
person’s life.
36. Amritsar and Lahore, Sardar Tara Singh from Gadar
Rab jaane kab guzra Amristar, O kab jaane
Lahore aaya, main utthe dil chhod aaya
37. 11
With a Mayor called Manx, a deputy mayor called Calico, and Ulysses S.
Feral as the commander of the forces entrusted with maintaining
peace, the name of the city should become obvious. But I’ll ask anyway.
Name of the city, please?
40. Megakat City from Swat Kats
Manx cat / Mayor Manx Feral cat / Ulysses Feral Calico cat / Callie Briggs
41. 12
What is done with your contribution is seldom on your mind as you partake
in a tradition that dates at least as far back as the 18th century (though made
popular by a 1954 romantic comedy).
It is a sizeable sum, however, and is sent to Caritas, a Catholic non-profit that
supports noble causes related to health, hunger, and disaster relief. We learn
that the collection happens thrice a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday
between 8 and 9 am, amounts to €8,000.
Where in the world am I talking about?
44. 13
This trail is especially popular with tourists from a particular country.
The tourists are taken to the countryside villages dotting the Gstaad-
Saanenland region and the St. Mauritius Church. Then, comes the
rather ordinary train station of Zweisimmen.
The next stop is not so ordinary – Jungfraujoch, the highest train
station in all of Europe, and finally Lake Lungern.
In which country does one find these attractions? What is this trail
about?
47. 14
Cleverly punning on the location and the format/type of enterprise it is,
________ is located in the capital of Moldova, Chișinău.
It has various brands such as UCB, Guess, Mango, Levi’s, and Pierre
Cardin for shopping and also boasts of beauty shops such as Yves
Rocher and Inglot. When hunger pangs trouble you, you can walk over
to any of the varied restaurants or drink coffee at Tucano. Needless to
say, bowling and movies are other options to spend your time here.
Read the question carefully and fill in the blank.
50. 15
Now a world renowned city, it is believed that it has much to owe to an
event it hosted in 1992. The event brought with it green like never
before which was spent to develop and renovate several areas such as
Poblenou, the ring roads called the Rondas, and Màgica de Montjuïc.
The most interesting change, however, was the creation of a 2 mile
long beachfront using sand imported from Egypt. This is queer because
the city has become known the world over for its beaches and its
association with the sea, the most famous of its beaches having two
letters in addition to the name of the city.
Identify the city and the event.
52. Barcelona, the 1992 Olympics
• Barceloneta is one of its most well known beaches
• The sand had to be brought in because Beach Volleyball was
introduced as a sport in this particular edition
53. 16
Kevadiya is a sleepy little town which until recently was of little interest to
the average Indian or its rulers. However, the town will soon be getting a
new railway station which is expected to be inaugurated by President Ram
Nath Kovind himself.
A railway official said Railway Board has sanctioned the work to convert 18-
km Dabhoi-Chandod narrow gauge into broad gauge and extension from
Chandod to Kevadia Colony by constructing a new 32-km line.
What has prompted this development? Or simply, what is the town’s claim-
to-fame?
56. 17
Located close to Jordan, it is the
world’s deepest hypersaline lake. It
is so salty that it makes the ocean
seem sweet, with a saltiness 9 times
greater. This ensures the swimming
is similar to floating. However, this
has another implication which
reflects in its name.
What am I talking about?
59. 18 & 19
An exonym is an external name for a geographic place, language, or
group of people.
The following are two places which are more famously known by their
French exonyms. (So, obviously, they are not located in France.)
60. 18
The French exonym for this four-lettered
city is also famous for the product it
gives its name to, originally produced
and sold by the brand that you see
below.
66. 20
Whereas shinkashens or bullet trains run on electricity, this system of train
transportation uses two sets of magnet, one set to repel and push the train
off the track, then another set to move the floating train ahead at great
speed taking advantage of the lack of friction.
Operational in Japan, South Korea, and China – I missed my chance to get on
the famous line in Shanghai. What is the 6 letter name this system is known
by, which is a reduction of a two word description?
The first word refers to the technology used and second refers to something
that happens to the train as a result.
72. 22
The most familiar and common type of these is always slightly
inaccurate because of the difference in that which it measures and that
which one desires to gauge using it. Depending on one’s location, this
difference varies. Further, one of the above two is constantly changing
and hence, maps with latest declination information denoting this
difference should be used.
What object is being described?
78. 24
The customs office at Honolulu, Hawaii accepted the declaration made
on July 24 of some rock and dust samples that the travellers were
carrying from their place of visit. The three did not have anything else
to declare. Except their declaration of health, which read, rather
ominously, “Any other condition on board which may lead to the
spread of disease to be determined”.
However, they were let off without much hassle. Name any one of the
three, who had been allowed such an exception.
