Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Places in Literature : The classic tale of the 'Pied Piper of Hamelin' describes how the Pied Piper helped the residents got rid of the rats that had been plaguing the town. When the residents refused to pay him, he played his pipe and led the children of the town away, into the mountain and never to be seen again. Into which river did he initially lead the rats to drown by playing his pipe?
2. Literature : Critics of the Bush administration's foreign policy, especially with respect to its war on Iraq, have made references to this powerful novel by Graham Greene. Published in 1955, it features the protagonist named Alden Pyle, and vividly portrays the catastrophic results that can arise from misguided good intentions and naive policies. What is the title of this novel?
3. History : This Roman emperor's reign lasted for only 2 years (AD 79-81), but was certainly eventful enough. In AD 79, Mount Vesuvius erupted and destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum. The next year, Rome suffered an epidemic of plague. Fortunately some good things did come out of his reign : the Colosseum (begun in his father's time) was completed. Can you name this ruler, son of Vespasian and brother of Domitian?
4. Physiology : The blood that courses through our bodies perform a variety of vital functions to keep us alive. Red blood cells carry oxygen to our tissues, platelets enable leaky vessels to clot and stop bleeding, while the white blood cells protect the body against infections. Which subclass of white blood cells have a special role in allergic responses as well as in defence against parasites?
5. Archaeology : In 1952, the British scholar Michael Ventris deciphered the Linear B script, that subsequently revolutionized our knowledge of which ancient civilisation?
6. Music : In 1897, this Russian composer suffered a tremendous setback when his First Symphony in D minor was performed at a concert, conducted by a supposedly drunk conductor. It was such a disaster that Cesar Cui described it as a 'symphony on the Seven Plagues of Egypt'. He subsequently suffered a nervous breakdown and only resumed composing 3 years later, after a course of hypnotic therapy. Exiled in 1917 to Sweden and then the US, he is known for works such as 'Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini' and 'The Bells'. Who is he?
7. Classical Mythology : In 'Ode to the West Wind', Percey Shelley compares the 'locks of the approaching storm' to the 'bright hair uplifted from the head of some fierce Maenad'. The Maenads, in Greek mythology, are women clad in bear skin often depicted in orgiastic rituals with satyrs. Which Greek god was particularly worshipped by the Maenads?
8. Art : One of the greatest Spanish painters of all time, Francisco de Goya once served as court painter to King Charles IV. A mysterious illness struck in 1792 and left him deaf - as well as turning his painting style towards the morbid and macabre. He fell seriously ill again in 1819, and on his recovery produced a remarkable series of 14 paintings with horrific scenes and themes, such as 'Saturn Devouring His Children'. What name is popularly given to this series of murals, now on display at the Prado Museum?
9. Geology: In 1996, the presence of a remarkable lake was confirmed after the European Remote Sensing Satellite had studied it. It was named Lake Vostok, and is roughly the size of Lake Ontario. What is so remarkable about this body of water that has got everybody so excited?
10. Singapore, My Country : Outside the old Parliament Building, there is a statue of a bronze elephant. It is a gift from the king of a nearby country as a sign of goodwill, and was presented in 1872. Which country are we talking about?
Source: Author
taygt
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ozzz2002 before going online.
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