A list of puzzling questions
Editor’s note: Every week, we feature three questions from our quiz master Shantanu Sharma—who is a researcher-writer, and has a side hustle as a professional quiz guru. He’d love to hear from you—so send your feedback/suggestions or just say ‘hi’ over at sharmashantanu312@gmail.com or @shantorasbox on Twitter.
How this works: Every correct answer is worth 10 points. If a question has multiple parts, each is worth 5 points. You have until Friday 12 pm to send in your answers to talktous@splainer.in or via DMs on Insta or Twitter. The correct answers will be published every Monday. The grand prize for the winner at the end of the month: a quarterly subscription for anyone of your choice—including the option of adding three months to your sub. That’s Rs 499 in value—so it’s pretty darn good:)
Rule to note: We will pick winners each month using a lucky draw.
The answers: to the previous week’s quiz are at the bottom—as are the winners for the third week of August.
One: Name the singer who is making Fahadh Faasil aka FaFa sound good in this clip.
Two: Think laterally and work out a single word that connects these:
a) A band that makes ‘90s kids swoon
b) This National Film Award-winning actor
c) A former Asian airlines
Three: One of the highlights of the Democratic National Convention was a panel of leading women politicians. Which woman—with “vast experience in high office”—moderated this discussion?
About last week’s quiz…
Here are the answers to the previous edition of the splainer quiz:
One: This nature park is the realisation of a businessman’s cherished vision. Take a closer look at the swirling patterns and name the visual masterpiece it was inspired by. Bonus points if you can name its location (5 + 5).
Answer: The park is inspired by ‘The Starry Night’ by Vincent van Gogh and it is located in Visoko, Bosnia.
Halim Zukic, a businessman from Visoko, fulfilled his long-held dream by creating a nature park inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’. He landscaped the park, planting 130,000 lavender bushes in various shades to mimic the colours and shapes of the art work. Painted in mid-June 1889, while he was staying at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in southern France, van Gogh captures a dramatic night sky with a bright moon and Venus. Know more about the man and his labour of love here.
Two: Think laterally and connect the following elements to identify a suave gin & vodka connoisseur.
a) A British Formula 1 team
b) The golden boy with his golden gun
c) Neil Armstrong’s timely companion in space
Answer: James Bond
The three elements are Aston Martin, Walther, and Omega.
Created by British novelist Ian Fleming, James Bond is a man of style and taste. Half of the 25 Bond films released so far have showcased an Aston Martin, more than any other car brand. The last release ‘No Time To Die’ (2021) featured four iconic Aston Martin models. Walther PPK, a German pistol introduced in Fleming's 1958 novel ‘Dr. No’, became Bond's signature weapon in the books and the on-screen renditions. Since 1995’s ‘Golden Eye’, OMEGA watches have been essential to 007’s attire.
Three: Celebrating its diamond jubilee in 2024, this institution’s Indo-British architectural style merges local and colonial influences. Symbolic of order and unity, who is seated under the centrepiece of this building?
Answer: Chief Justice of India
Designed by Ganesh Bhikaji Deolalikar, the Supreme Court of India moved to its current building in 1958. Built to symbolise the scales of justice, the central courtroom—where the Chief Justice sits—acts as the beam of the scales, while the east and west wings represent the two scales. In January this year, the PM inaugurated the Supreme Court of India’s Diamond Jubilee celebration along with new technology initiatives including Digital Courts 2.0, and a revamped website.
And the winners are…
Here are the top five scorers for the third week of August. Congratulations!
