1. Which place, known for a famous war in the 19th century, recently declared its independence from Ukraine and acceded to the Russian Federation?
2. March 25 is ‘Tolkien Reading Day’. Why did The Tolkien Society choose this date?
3. By what name is the famous terracotta horse, produced in Panchmura village in West Bengal, commonly known?
4. The creation of the first practical model of which equipment, nowadays common in many households, is attributed to a lady named Josephine Cochrane?
5. Which Asian country’s flag has a single gold star on a red background?
6. Which Asian team won a World Cup ‘Down Under’ on this date 22 years ago?
7. Name the ritualistic dance drama from Kerala that enacts the tale of a battle between Kali and the demon Darika.
8. What is the common name for the edible fruit produced by several kinds of large herbaceous flowering plants in the genus Musa?
9. What is the claim to fame of the ‘Golden Jubilee’ currently in possession of the Thai royal family?
10. On which date, in the upcoming LS elections will polling happen for the most number of constituencies (122)?
11. Name the two UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in Assam.
12. Name the three cities in the UAE that will host the first 20 IPL matches this season.
13. Name the Nobel Laureate who has a world-famous toy named after him.
14. Which common colour would scare a ‘melanophobe’?
15. From which activity do we get the term ‘crestfallen’?
Answers: 1. Crimea; 2. It was on this date Sauron fell; 3. Bankura Horse; 4. Dishwasher; 5. Vietnam; 6. The Pakistani team captained by Imran Khan won the cricket WC; 7. Mudiyett; 8. Banana; 9. It is the largest cut and faceted diamond in the world; 10. April 17; 11. Kaziranga and Manas Wildlife Sanctuaries; 12. Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai; 13. Theodore Roosevelt after whom Teddy Bear is named; 14. Black; 15. Cock-fighting.
Clarification: In the Young World issue dated March 18, the answer to question 11 states that the capitals of two landlocked South American countries are Asuncion and La Paz. A reader says, La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia but the official capital is Sucre.
The Quizmaster replies: In any quiz, if the question is to name the capital (without specifying constitutional or governmental) of Bolivia, most would say La Paz and that is the mood in which my question was framed. But yes, La Paz is the traditional capital of Bolivia while Sucre is the constitutional capital.
