Goldy studied at the elite Bishop Cotton School, Shimla from 1963-73 after which he graduated from St Stephens College in Delhi. He then inherited a successful family transport business. Why has he been in the news lately?
Answer: (select the text below to show)
For the Nithari killings. Goldy is Moninder Singh Pandher.
Question by BV Harish Kumar
“Dear ____ _____, Once your current commitments are over, may we invite you to experience the healing nature of India. … As a beauty therapist, you may be especially interested in visiting one of the many spas where you can cleanse your stresses away, enjoy yoga in the land that invented it and experience Ayurvedic healing, which promotes positive health and natural beauty. … We look forward to welcoming you soon—yours sincerely, India Tourism Office.”
Fill in the blanks.
Answer: (select the text below to show)
Question by BV Harish Kumar
The word “sockdolager” means “a decisive blow or remark” or even “something exceptional or outstanding”. Though not very popular these days, it used to be in vogue in the 19th century, appearing in popular culture. An example of usage from a play was: “Well, I guess I know enough to turn you inside out, old gal—you sockdologizing old man-trap”, which apparently would bring the house down. This word has a curious place in American history. Why?
Answer: (select the text below to show)
This usage example is from the play “Our American Cousin”. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated while watching this play. His assassin John Wilkes Booth, a former actor himself, knew the significance of the word and its effect on the audience, and fired at the time the line was spoken.
Question by J Ramanand
What is the term for a naval vessel used to detect and defuse explosive charges?
(Hint—Your computer might have one.)
Answer: (select the text below to show)
Minesweeper.
Question by Shamanth Rao
Edward Teach, a.k.a Blackbeard, punished a mutinous crew by banishing them on a tiny island in the Caribbean Sea. Each crewman was given a cutlass and some drink to survive the snake infested place. He also hoped that they would eventually get rid of each other. But returning after a month, he found that fifteen of them still survived. What is this tale supposed to be the origin of?
Answer: (select the text below to show)
The song “15 men on a Dead Man’s Chest/Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum.” (The island was apparently called “Dead Man’s Chest”.)
Question by J Ramanand
“X was a phenomenon at that time, and what was I? I was a non-entity. The press turned me into a life-sized monster. I have a fourth degree black belt in martial arts and all these plus points became my negative points.
I would go to hospital regularly to see X. For 3, 4 years, I did not get any work. I had a wife to support and was jobless. I did Z grade films at that time. I struggled for six years after that accident and only after that did people start coming forward to work with me.”
Whose words are these?
Answer: (select the text below to show)
Puneet Issar, who was involved in the accident that Amitabh Bachchan suffered while shooting Coolie. Issar’s words are taken from here.
Question by Amit Varma
What item of local Maharashtrian food gets its name from the Portuguese word for bread?
Answer: (select the text below to show)
Pav. From Pao.
Question by Shamanth Rao
Henry Holroyd, a British nobleman, was a keen cricketer and sponsor of the game who arranged for tours of Australia by England in the late 1800s, and in 1891-92, he even made a donation of a large sum of 150 pounds to the New South Wales Cricket Association for development of cricket in Australia. He was known as Viscount Pevensey, but later became the 3rd Earl of what?
Answer: (select the text below to show)
Sheffield. The donation helped start the Sheffield Shield cricket competition in Australia.
Question by J Ramanand
Which company’s original logo comprised of an image of Newton sitting under a tree?
Answer: (select the text below to show)
Apple Inc. Here’s the logo!
Question by Shamanth Rao
In 1906 American humorist Gelett Burgess published a book called “Are you a bromide?” It became a success. At a publishing association dinner the next year, as was custom, his publisher handed out copies of the book with a special jacket with “the picture of a damsel.” Burgess himself drew the buxom blonde for the cover and gave it the name “Miss Belinda _____”. What did this add to the publishing world?
Answer: (select the text below to show)
The term “Blurb”.
Question by J Ramanand
