Triffids, Tacos and Bhutan Trivia Quiz

Answer: John Wyndham

John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris (1903-1969) aka John Wyndham aka Lucas Parkes aka John Beynon was an English science fiction author. His work as an author was divided by World War II in which he worked in the Ministry of Defence as a censor, and later as a cipher operator in the Normandy landings. Prior to the war he wrote serial science fiction and detective fiction, mainly using a John Beynon or John Beynon Harris pseudonym. After the war he continued writing. "The Day of the Triffids"(1951) was the first time he used the name John Wyndham and with no mention of his previous work in the book's marketing, it was wrongly assumed this was a debut novel.

The book was an enormous success and he went on to write a further six science fiction novels under this name.

He died soon after his sixth Wyndham novel, "Chocky"(1968). Some of his works have been published after his death.

Answer: Three stick like appendages near the roots allowed them to walk

Triffids had three key features: A long stem 7-10 feet tall; a funnel or head at the end of the stem containing a whip-like stinger; and a root-like system of three woody appendages which drew nutrients from the ground when "still" and also used them for movement (something like a person on crutches). According to Wyndham's novel "The Day of the Triffids", the word "Triffid" comes from the Latin, "trifid" - able to be split into three parts.
In the novel, the origin of the triffids and the meteor shower for that matter is not established. However Russian bio-engineering is alluded to in the former and the Cold War in the latter. Soviet menace is a persistent theme through Wyndham's books.
Overall the three points that make this novel so realistic is the plausibility of the "meteor shower", the willingness of the readership (at the time) being able to accept a dystopian world (Cold War paranoia was at its highest in the 1950s) and the plausibility of a moving, stinging plant overcoming a severely depleted human race.

Answer: False

There is anthropological evidence that tacos pre-date European civilisation and that they were an integral part of Mexican cuisine at the time of European colonisation in the Valley of Mexico (Central Mexico) in the mid-15oos as witnessed by Bernal Diaz del Castillo in his writings.
Another theory proposed by Jeffrey Pilsher of the University of Minnesota is that they originated in the silver mines of Mexico. Here miners would wrap paper around gunpowder and place the charge or "taco" into pre-carved holes in rock faces containing silver ore (The word taco means "plug"). The first references in the literature was in the late 18th century where the taco de minero (Miner's tacos) were found, adding weight to this theory.
One thing is certain: The taco originated in Mexico not from the Incan civilisation (which established itself in South America).

Answer: Fibre

Cellulose is a polysaccharide like starch and should therefore be an energy source in the same manner that starch is. However, humans lack the enzyme to break down the link between the sugars molecules in cellulose and therefore is indigestible. Cellulose therefore makes up a good deal of the fibre we ingest as part of our diet. Fibre is an important part of our diet as, while it offers no nutritional value per se, the bulkiness of fibre helps removes other unwanted constituents ingested, as food such as excess sugar (glucose) and cholesterol. These items are resorbed back into the body if they are not "mopped" up by fibre.

Given our triffid taco is going to be full of fibre but probably little in the way of protein, not to mention taste, we are going to need to add some beans or cheese for protein and how about some salsa, coriander and spicy sauce to add taste?

Answer: Thimpu

Thimpu is the only Bhutanese city listed. It is the largest and capital city of the mountainous Bhutan. Although the city is quite small in population, the city is spread out on a north-south axis on either bank of the Raidak River. Because of this this mountainous terrain surrounding the city, the nearest airport is at Paro 54km away and even then there are no more than a handful of pilots who are certified to use this airport. (This may be a negative in our marketing plan for triffid tacos). Bhutanese architecture is highlighted in Thimpu, particularly fortresses and temples.

While the country's economy is primarily based on agriculture and electricity generation, Thimpu has a thriving tourist industry.

Answer: True

Red rice is indeed the only rice that grows at high altitude. It has a nutty taste and resembles the texture of brown rice. In Bhutan, red and white rice are usually combined in the same dish. Buckwheat and corn are also popular grains. Protein comes from mainly pork, chicken, yak meat, lentils, some lamb and dried beef. Spices feature heavily in Bhutanese cuisine, particularly chilies. Cheese and yak butter are staples.

There is no official national dish but Ema Datshi (literally chili cheese) is ubiquitous.

It is served with the equally ubiquitous red and white rice.

Answer: Two one-ngultrum coins

In 1974 in Bhutan, the ngultrum replaced the Rupee on a one for one basis. The banknotes issued between 1974 and 1978 were straight-forward as denominations included 1, 5 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 ngultrum notes. However the coins are distinctive: Most currencies have either 1/5 or 1/4 denominations for coins but Bhutan has both.

As well as 20 and 25 chhertum coins, there are 50 chhertum and 1 ngultrum coins. Five and ten chhertum coins are legal tender but rarely used anymore. From the options given, a two-ngultrum invoice can only be paid by two one Ngultrum coins.

There is no two-ngultrum bill. The other options, whilst using legitimate coins do not add up to two ngultrums.

Answer: CNN (Cable News Network)

Ted Turner, a businessman and philanthropist was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1939. He started out running a branch of his father's advertising business before he started buying radio stations, which in turn he sold to buy an Atlanta television station in 1969.

He bought the Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Braves in 1976, partly so he could have the television rights for his increasing number of TV stations. His next major project was the development of CNN, the first 24 hours cable network news station. From a marketing perspective, while it may have been advantageous to have Turner as part of the Triffid Taco development, his often controversial comments may be considered deleterious to promoting triffid tacos.

Answer: Tina Turner Triffid Tacos

Anne Mae Bullock, better known as Tina Turner was a singer first known as part of a duo in the 70s with her husband Ike, (Ike and Tina Turner) and later as a solo artist mainly in the eighties and nineties. Her biggest hits were "What's Love Got to Do With It" (1983) and "Private Dancer" (1983) both found on the 1984 "Private Dancer" album. "What You Get Is What You See" (1986) was a moderate hit but this was thought to be an ideal vehicle for marketing Triffid Tacos. Who knows maybe there could be a spinoff line like Bhutan Bullock Burgers?
Tiny Tim is Herbert Khaury, an American left handed ukulele player best known for "Tiptoe through the Tulips" (1968) which is sung in a falsetto voice.
Tommy Tutone (originally Tommy and the TuTones) was a Californian band best known for its controversial 1981 hit "867 5309 / Jenny".
Terry Thomas was an English character actor (1911-1990) best known for his work with Peter Sellars. Mr Thomas did not sing.

Answer: Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Samuel Taylor Coleridge was a philosopher and poet, best known for his poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (1798), which featured an albatross and a sailor who shot the bird and the subsequent misfortune that befell the sailor's ship.

In 1817, Coleridge coined the term, "suspension of disbelief" which as he explained was, if an author could inject a "human interest and a semblance of truth" into an implausible story, a reader would disregard (suspend judgement on) the implausibility of the story. The device is employed in many situations such as magicians' acts and animated and horror movies. In the 20th century there was a looser translation adopted where the onus was on the reader to accept rather than the writer to achieve a suspension of disbelief. (In this quiz, I believe the onus is on the writer to convince the quiz taker that triffid tacos are not only plausible but delicious).