infinitezounds iz 121: set ii (books, entertainment & media, language & etymology)
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Part II of "IZ 121": a selection of questions from the Infinite Zounds blog.TRANSCRIPT
Infinite Zounds
121IZIZa selection of questions from 2010 and 2011
J. Ramanand
Set II: Books, Entertainment & Media, Language & Etymology
Copyright
Infinite Zounds : IZ 121 by J Ramanand is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
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Author's NoteIn 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.
Books & Literature
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
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?
Powerpoint slides.
BOOKS
This author made his feature film debut as an actor in the the film "7 Khoon Maaf" directed by Vishal Bhardwaj.
Who?
BOOKS
This author made his feature film debut as an actor in the the film "7 Khoon Maaf" directed by Vishal Bhardwaj.
Who?
Ruskin Bond; the film is based on his short story "Susanna's Seven Husbands".
BOOKS
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.comBOOKS
It shows newspaper headlines that indicate an alternative history of JFK surviving the attempt (see the image to the right)
Image: Stephenking.comBOOKS
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?
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
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?
Sherlock Holmes.
BOOKS
BOOKSImage: The Independent
What book would complete this stack of books?
“The Sense of an Ending” which won the 2011 Booker Prize. These were the six books that were shortlisted for the Prize.
BOOKS
Image: The Independent
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
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?
George Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty Four".
BOOKS
Image: Wikipedia
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
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?
The "Malgudi Express".
BOOKS
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?
BOOKS
Image: Wikipedia
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?
Spiderman (the earlier one being held by Peter Parker)
BOOKS
Image: Wikipedia
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
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?
Inspector Morse
BOOKS
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.
BOOKSImage: Sify
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.
Harsha Bhogle. His co-author is his wife, Anita.
BOOKSImage: Sify
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
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?
'Injun' (pejorative slang for "Indian"). The character was “Injun Joe”.
BOOKS
Entertainment & Media
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
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?
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.
ENT & MEDIA
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
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?
The televised music series "Coke Studio".
ENT & MEDIA
ENT & MEDIA
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
Three Idiots.
ENT & MEDIA
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
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
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?
“The Weakest Link”, hosted by Anne Robinson. The Indian version was called "Kamzor Kadi Kaun", presented by Neena Gupta.
ENT & MEDIA
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 wandered off into, aptly, a field of cattle even before it could be photographed. Which band or album or object?
ENT & MEDIA
Image: Oli Scarff/Getty Images/The Guardian
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 wandered off into, aptly, a field of cattle even before it could be photographed. Which band or album or object?
The group is Pink Floyd, the album was "Animals" and the object was a giant inflatable pig.
ENT & MEDIA
Image: Oli Scarff/Getty Images/The Guardian
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?
ENT & MEDIA
Image: naachgaana.com
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?
"Andaz Apna Apna". The animated movie is titled "Andaz Naya Naya".
ENT & MEDIA
Image: naachgaana.com
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
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
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.
ENT & MEDIA
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 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?
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.
ENT & MEDIA
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
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?
"Aaranya Kandam" ("aaranya" means "forest" in Sanskrit)
Image: Wikipedia
ENT & MEDIA
ENT & MEDIA
Image: CBS News
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?
Lady Gaga
ENT & MEDIA
Image: CBS News
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?
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
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?
The Award for the Best Background Score. It was won by Ilaiyaraja for "Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja".
ENT & MEDIA
Language & Etymology
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
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?
“Tees Maar Khan”, a Farah Khan-Akshay Kumar film
WORDS
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
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?
“Double Dip”, used in the context of a “double dip recession”.
WORDS
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
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?
The name of the official football for the Olympics.
"Ball" rhymes with "Hall". That is, "Ball" -> "Hall" -> "Albert Hall".
WORDS
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
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?
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.
WORDS
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
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?
♥ or <3 i.e. "to heart".
This is most prominently seen in the "I heart NY" sign.
WORDS
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
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'?
'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.
WORDS
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
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?
“Playbook”, which is also what Blackberry called its new touchpad device.
WORDS
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
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?
“Rafale”
WORDS
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
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?
“Occupy”.
WORDS
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
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?
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.
WORDS
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
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?
PortugalItalyIrelandGreeceSpain
WORDS
Other setsThis ebook had questions from Books, Entertainment & Media, Language & Etymology. The other three sets are:
Set I: India, Sports, Science, and TechnologySet III: VIZuals, Connections, Awards, and ObituariesSet IV: Business & Economics, Social Sciences, and Culture
About the AuthorJ. 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.