Q1. In April 1932, a prominent Indian businessman, who was also an aviation enthusiast, won a contract to carry mail for Imperial Airways, and the aviation department of his empire was formed with two de Havilland Puss Moths. The first flight was from Karachi to Bombay, piloted by his friend Nevill Vintcent, on October 15, 1932, and later expanded to commercial flights.
After World War II, regular commercial service resumed under a new name, and later, 49% of the company was bought by the Government. After a bleak period financially, efforts were made to privatise it again, with the last such attempt in 2017. Which airline is this?
Q2. It is a snack consisting of two small round layers of cake and a marshmallow filling, with a chocolate covering. Exports grew in the late 2000s, particularly to North Korea, so much so, that in lieu of cash bonuses (deemed capitalistic), workers at the Kaesong Industrial complex (pictured) were given these. When the complex was shut down and reopened, this snack was replaced by noodles, chocolates, coffee and sausages, and the country’s own brand of these snacks.
This created a huge black-market demand for the snacks of the original brand, and in 2014, South Korean activists released 10,000 balloons with these snacks in North Korea. What is this ubiquitous snack?
Q3.____ is the name given to the lowest level of Buddhist hell. Its supposed to be the place where people who committed the gravest misdeeds may be reborn. A prominent musician chose that as his stage name, because his real name was already someone’s username on MySpace. He has collaborated with David Guetta and Coldplay and has many hit singles to his name.
Who is this Swedish DJ and producer, who passed away in Oman earlier this year?
Q4. A _____ was a soldier in the Roman army, and got their names from the 100 legionnaires or soldiers that they each commanded. This term is also used in cricket, and a player is called a ______ if they score a 100 or more runs in an innings. Manchester City FC’s players were also called this term, because they broke the 100-point barrier in the last season of the English Premier League.
What is the good word?
Q5. Gerridae are a family of insects that have a unique ability in the insect world. They can walk/skate on water! They have two front legs and two hind legs which are far apart enough to create a wide surface and take advantage of the water’s surface tension to stay on the water. Since they use their front legs to row and their hind legs to propel themselves, they move at speeds of over 1m per second.
Given their ability to walk on water, what is the popular nickname given to these insects?
Q6. Initiated in 1865, ‘The Knowledge’ requires a person to have a thorough knowledge of the streets of London, specifically, 320 standard routes and points of interest, such as hotels, hospitals, theatres, railway stations, churches, parks, historic buildings, and sport centres. In the world’s most demanding of its kind, a person has to pass 12 periodical ‘appearances’ across London to obtain ‘The Knowledge’. This process takes about 34 months to pass, in aggregate.
Who or what is ‘The Knowledge’ an operational requirement for?
Answers
A1. Air India, formerly known as Tata Air Services, est. by JRD Tata.
A2. Lotte Choco Pie
A3. Avicii
A4. Centurion.
A5. Jesus bugs.
A6. Black Cab Taxi Drivers in London.
