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 May.
One: This is a screengrab of the production design for an OTT series released this year. Name the series, and the iconic building being recreated. (5+5)
Two: What unique connection links these extraordinary women—from the US, UK, and India, respectively?
Three: Name the once-pioneering service—founded by the two men below—that has recently shut its doors.
About last week’s quiz…
One: Which recently concluded competition had this mascot greeting visitors on the streets? Name the host city? (5+5)
Answer: Eurovision and Basel
The first Eurovision Song Contest took place on May 24, 1956, with seven countries participating: the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg, and Italy. The winning country typically hosts the next edition. For the 69th Eurovision in 2025, hosted in Basel (13th -17th May), the official mascot was Lumo. Chosen from over 1,100 student submissions in a design competition, Lumo was created by 20-year-old Lynn Brunner, a graphic design student. Inspired by the word luminous, Lumo represents light, energy, and the spirit of Eurovision. You can check out all the competing performances here.
Two: Look carefully and work out the apocalyptic wordplay that connects these two media—a video game and a book.
Answer: Carmageddon
The 1997 video game, ‘Carmageddon’, developed by Stainless Games, is a cult-classic in vehicular combat. Players score points for running over pedestrians and smashing rival cars in open-world mayhem. Set in twisted real-world environments, it’s known for its anarchic gameplay, dark humor, and over-the-top violence. It was later ported to other platforms and launched a series. In the book, ‘Carmageddon: How Cars Make Life Worse and What to Do About It’ (2023), journalist Daniel Knowles explores the real-world impact of car dominance, pollution, traffic, and poor urban planning. From Nairobi’s smog to Houston’s endless highways, he shows the global cost of our car obsession and how cities like Amsterdam and Tokyo offer better ways to live.
Three: Which product from this company has been in the news lately? Name the home country of the company. (5+5)
Answer: Asisguard Songar drones and Turkey
During the recent military exchange between India and Pakistan, over 300 Pakistani drones reportedly targeted military and civilian sites along India’s western border. At a press briefing, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh stated that preliminary forensic reports identified the drones as Turkish-made Asisguard Songar models. Asisguard, a Turkish defense company that develops drones and security systems, including the SONGAR™, the first armed drone. Turkey has become one of Pakistan’s most reliable defence and diplomatic allies, deepening military ties and backing Islamabad on key global issues.
And the winners are…
Here are the top five scorers for the third week of May. Congratulations!
