A holiday list of puzzling questions & answers
A special editor’s note: Before we went on break, we shared this eight-question bumper quiz from our quiz master Shantanu Sharma—which includes a bumper prize, as well: A Rs 1,500 Amazon gift card—so you can treat yourself for being a super-smart quiz nerd. Today, we have the correct answers and the winner—decided by using a lucky draw. We’ll be back with our next regular quiz on Monday, January 6.
About Shantanu: He 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.
Here are the answers to the holiday edition of the splainer quiz:
One: This map shows the habitat distribution of the only two living species of this animal family—which differ mainly in size. Identify the rarer species whose member became a ‘bouncy’ sensation.
Answer: Pygmy Hippopotamus (pygmy is the keyword)
The pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) is one of two living hippo species, with the more well-known common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) being the other. The pygmy hippo is much smaller, and adapted to life on land with fewer webbed toes, in contrast, common hippos are more abundant. This summer, Moo Deng, meaning “bouncing pork/pig”, a purple-pink pygmy hippo born at a Thai zoo, became an internet sensation.
Two: Which manufacturer custom-designed this bag—marking the end of an era? Also, what does the pictogram preceding the number “5” signify? (5+5)
Answer: Babolat and 5 Davis Cup wins
Rafael Nadal’s retirement last month at the Davis Cup in Málaga also ended a legendary partnership with Babolat, the French racquet manufacturer, and his sponsor since 1995. As a tribute, Babolat designed a special bag featuring milestones including 22 Grand Slam titles, Spain’s five Davis Cup victories (2004, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2019), and 1250 racquets used—all without breaking a single one. Nadal's signature Pure Aero racquet, crafted for his spin-heavy game, has been his weapon throughout his record-breaking journey.
Three: From wrinkles to sagging, the differences between the two sides of this face are the after-effects of a wildly popular Danish innovation—and not for the better.
Answer: Ozempic or Semaglutide
Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk manufactures Ozempic (semaglutide). Originally for type 2 diabetes, it’s now widely used for weight loss. “Ozempic face,” a term coined by cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank, describes facial changes like sagging skin, wrinkles, and a hollowed appearance caused by rapid weight loss. Novo Nordisk has seen soaring profits and became Europe’s largest company in 2023, with its growth creating nearly 20% of new jobs in Denmark last year. We did a fantastic explainer on how ozempic works, in this Big Story.
Four: Epitomizing peak narcissism and hubris, whose failed ventures are these?
a) A former airlines
b) A vodka brand
c) A school for real-estate gyaan
Answer: Donald Trump
Donald Trump who is not shy of chest-thumping his business successes has an inglorious list of failures. Trump Vodka, launched in 2006, aimed to break into the liquor market but was discontinued two years later. Trump Airlines, a luxury shuttle service, failed due to high debt and was sold in 1992. Trump University, an online real estate school, was sued for fraud in 2013 after being accused of scamming students. Having said that, Trump won both the Electoral College and the popular vote in the 2024 presidential elections, making him only the second Republican since 1988 to win the popular vote.
Five: According to legend, a storage unit like this inspired the title of a beloved children’s work that spawned many sequels. How does a 2024 adaptation pay similar homage to the author of the classic? (5+5)
Answer: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and and the character Elphaba from ‘Wicked’ whose name is a play on the initials of the author L Frank Baum.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum, published in 1900, was a great success, inspiring 13 sequels, merchandising, a Broadway musical, and films. Baum claimed he named “Oz” after spotting a filing cabinet with drawers labeled “A–G,” “H–N,” and “O–Z,” though this origin story is debated. The 2024 film ‘Wicked’ adapts the musical and Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel, ‘Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West’ which reimagines the Oz universe. Maguire named the character Elphaba by playing with Baum’s initials, “L.F.B.,” eventually settling on a name that felt just right.
Six: This billionaire chairman of a business group took over the reins from his father in the late 1980s. However, he is not the most recognizable member of his family; that title belongs to his fabulous partner. Who is she?
Answer: Shalini Passi
The businessman in the picture is Sanjay Passi, Chairman of Pasco Group. As the founder of Pasco Automobiles in 1989, he has enjoyed a successful entrepreneurial journey. Earlier this year, his wife, Shalini Passi became a viral sensation after the success of the Netflix reality show ‘Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives’ season 3. An art collector, and philanthropist, Shalini is now a reality TV star with her anti-reality TV appeal drawing viewers according to Hindustan Times. If you have been living under a rock till now, catch a glimpse here.
Seven: Connect these striking, absurd, or thought-provoking works of art to identify the artist who made headlines for an entirely different piece that debuted in 2019.
Answer: Maurizio Cattelan
Contemporary artist Maurizio Cattelan is known for his irreverent approach to art, often using real-world objects in provocative ways. His viral piece ‘Comedian’ (2019), featuring a banana duct-taped to a wall, made headlines again when it sold at Sotheby's New York for $6.24 Million. The banana first sparked debate at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019, with some questioning if it was a satirical commentary on art’s value. The piece gained further attention when another artist ate the banana. Below is the viral artpiece.
Cattelan’s three artworks in question are ‘Him’, 2001 (Adolf Hitler, looking skywards as if seeking forgiveness); ‘La Nona Ora’, 1999 (Pope John Paul II lying on the ground after being struck by a meteorite); and ‘Ave Maria’, 2007.
Eight: Among the country’s first generation of video artists, she allowed her daughter to borrow and rework the title of one of her 2016 works for a different medium. Now, it’s the toast of the town, nation, and. Name the mother (pictured) and the title used by the daughter. (5+5)
Answer: Nalini Malani and ‘All We Imagine as Light’
Nalini Malani, a pioneering Indian video artist, works across various mediums, including theater, video, installations, and mixed-media paintings. Her daughter, Payal Kapadia borrowed and reworked the title of her 2016 artwork ‘All we Imagine of Light’ for her film ‘All We Imagine As Light’—which won the Grand Prix at Cannes and continues to win film awards worldwide.
And the super quizzer is…
Manish. Congratulations on winning the bumper quiz!
How we picked the winner: We continue our new system which involves a lucky draw among those with the most correct answers. You can see the lucky draw below:
