2008 03 24: Q0014

Hey! Do you know something about the digital version of cameras? OK, to make it simpler, a camera is an instrument to get the image replica of the object. The simplest camera a man can prepare is a pin hole camera wherein a hole is made on a closed box (with lid places at its position, and a screen on the opposite side). The light when incident on the hole, passes through the hole and hits the opposite side - the screen with an inverted impression. This is the image. Anyways, let us check how much you know about the images, lenses, zooms, sensors, memory, printouts, pixels, etc. etc. Ready? Smile....click.
1. Which company's popular brand is 'CoolPix'?
2. Maria Sharapova is the brand ambessador to which brand / digital camera manufacturing company?
3. What term is used for the mounting point on the top of a camera where to attach a flash unit?
4. What does the 'R' stands for in the SLR types of cameras?
5. What is the difference between the Optical Zoom and the Digital Zoom as incorporated in the present day digital cameras?

6. The images captured using a digital camera are made up of small squares, just like a tile mosaic on the kitchen or bathroom wall. Though the digital photographs look smooth and continuous just like regular photographs, they're actually composed of millions of tiny squares or picture elements. Each of these squares in the image has a numerical value of between 0 and 255 and is made up of three color channels (Red, Blue, Green, each ranging from 0 to 255). What are these squares commonly known as?

7. If a same photograph is captured in JPEG as well as in TIFF file formats, which one is going to take more memory space? Why?

8. There is a very common direct-print standard adopted by most of the present day digital camera manufacturers which allows the users to connect the camera directly to printers which have this feature to print without the use of a computer liaison. What is the feature we are talking about?

9. The two most popular types of sensors used in the digital cameras are CCD and CMOS. What do they stand for?

10. What is the full form of 'LCD'?

2008 03 17: Q0013

Are you sane, or got some degree of insanity as well? Do you mind your business? Is your brain functionings properly? Well....let's check out. Can you answer the following somewhat Funny but Logical Questions?
1. A woman shot her husband. Then she held him under water for over five minutes. And finally, she hanged him. But a few minutes later they both went out together and enjoyed a wonderful dinner together. How can this be true?
2. How many times can you subtract 5 from 25?
3. Is it legal for a man to marry his widow's sister in the state of California?
4. While some months have just 30 days, others have 31 days. How many months have 28 days?
5. If a rooster laid a brown egg and a white egg, what kind of chicks would hatch?
6. Before Mount Everest was discovered, which was the highest mountain on Earth?
7. How many bricks does it take to complete a building made of bricks?
8. There is a man standing over a dead body in a coffin, and another man walks in and asks, who's in the coffin. The first man replies, "brothers and sisters, I have none, but this man's father is my father's son." Who's in the coffin?
9. There are TWO guards. One tells the truth and one lies. There are also TWO doors. One leads to Heaven and the other leads to the devil's playground. One guard is in front of each door. You can only ask the guards ONE question and you have to ask the same question to both guards. What you are trying to find out is which door leads to Heaven and which door leads to the devil's playground?
10. A farmer had seventeen sheep, all but nine died, how many did he have left?

2008 03 14: Q0012

If you quickly glance at the following TRIVIA QUESTIONS, you might think they are not too difficult. However, most people will get less than half of them right. See if you can get five of the ten.
1. Where did Chinese gooseberries originally come from?
2. Where are Panama hats made?
3. How many years did the "Hundred Years War" last?
4. What color is the "black box" in jet airplanes?
5. What was the first name of King George the sixth?
6. Which animals do we get catgut from?
7. When do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?
8. What is used for the bristles of a "camels hair brush?"
9. What animal is thought to be the source of the name "Canary Islands?"
10. What color are purple finches?

2008 03 13: Q0011

How critically you observe the events...natural events...which in the language of Science are commonly known as phenomenon? Actually, many changes or reactions keep on happening every moment, everywhere. The scientists have tried to bound these events in various laws of Science and termed them to be General Phenomena. So, we can say, any occurrence that is observable is phenomenon.
1. Air bubble in water shines because of the phenomenon of ______?
2. Which phenomenon of optics is used for the data transmission through the optical fibres?
3. Which phenomenon is studied with the aid of radar?
4. Which phenomenon causes the separation of a wave into components of varying frequency?
5. Who gave the famous Laws of Motion, which are still considered to be the foundation of the Classical mechanics?
6. From hydro power stations, electricity is produced by the transformation of water’s energy into the electrical energy. The energy of water is said to be possessed by water by virtue of its height. Which type of energy is it commonly known as?
7. Seismograph is used to detect which natural phenomenon?
8. Falling apple gave Newton the base for his theory on a universal phenomenon. Name it.
9. The conversion of light energy into chemical energy by living organisms, wherein carbon dioxide and water act as the starting material and sun light as a catalyst is popularly known as _____?
10. The phenomenon of mixing of a gas with other when allowed, is known by what name?

2008 03 12: Q0010

No gossip this time. Pinpoint the individuals today. Check how much you know about particular persons…from across the world. These have been the news makers at some point of time.
1. Who was arrested by Inspector Madhukar Zende at a bar in Goa, just three weeks after the former escaped from prison, on April 6, 1986?
2. Along with Jules Rimet, which French journalist was instrumental in starting the World Cup Tournament?
3. Name the first cricketer to get the Rajiv Gandhi Khel ratna.
4. An Indian addressed the Parliament of Religions on September 11, 1893 at Chicago, US. Name him. It was an achievement for this man as well as whole of India because that time, India was a colony under imperialistic British.
5. Who was crowned the King of Nepal at the age of three for a very short period in November 1950?
6. While in Yeravada jail, who was taught Sanskrit by Mahatma Gandhi in 1932?
7. In 1965, who became the first man to climb the Mount Everest twice?
8. Name the actress who was married to Joe DiMaggio, a baseball player in 1954, though this marriage lasted for nine months only? Elton John recorded the song "Candle in the Wind" as a tribute to her.
9. Who was born as Dhirajlal on 28 December 1932, at Chorwad, Junagadh in the current state of Gujarat, India to Hirachand Gordhanbhai and Jamnaben in a Modh family of very moderate means, later to become a successful industrialist?
10. He was working as a professional pilot for Indian Airlines before entering politics. Later on he became the Prime Minister of India. Who was he?

2008 03 11: Q0009

Everybody loves to play with figures. Cute figures, nice figures. We shall also do the same today. Ready? OK. Here we go with figures. Didn’t I mean Simple Numerical Ability?
1. 100 of 10% of 10%=?
2. Ram has 5 green balls and the same number of red balls. The number of red balls in his collection is ½ the number of white balls and 1/3 of the number of blue ones. What is the total number of balls he has?
3. A hotel waiter’s income consists of his salary and tips. His salary is Rs. 500.00 per week. During one week, his tips were 5/4 of his salary. What fraction of his income for the week came from tips?
4. What is the missing number?
45/9 = 12 - ?
5. What is the missing number?
83 - 17 = 56 + ?
6. What is the missing number?
20 / 0.8 = ?
7. Which is the largest fraction: 3/4 OR 7/8 OR 4/5 OR 7/9 OR 7/10?
8. A car left Canterbury at 7.12 am and arrived in Birmingham, 180 miles distant at 10.57 am. What was its average speed in miles per hour?
9. You get a wage increase of 4% plus an extra £5 per week. Your present wages are £250 per week. What will your new wage be?
10. A cube has a volume of 8 cubic metres. If each side is doubled in length what will its new volume be in cubic metres?

2008 03 10: Q0008

Is our Earth round? What is the center of the universe? Why are there rings around some planets? Why do stars “twinkle”? Who hang the stars up above the sky? What is beyond atmosphere? Where are we all heading to? Are we sinking in the universe or are we rising up? Is universe expanding? Who switches off the lights of the Sun during nights? These are only a fraction of questions I used to think of when I was intelligent. But it is long back, when I used to think this way. Now, education has totally ruined me. Anyways, let yourself check how much intelligence is left in you as far as the Outer World, Solar System and Universe is concerned. For the time being, let us consider only Our Solar System.
1. Name the planet which is nearest to the Sun. Wasn’t it a simple one?
2. What is an Astronomical Unit?
3. The apparent change in wavelength of sound or light caused by the motion of the source, observer or both is better known as a phenomenon or effect. Name that effect.
4. If Titan is not the largest of all the natural satellites found in our solar system, then which is the largest one?
5. Name the largest planet of our Solar System.
6. Which planet is named after the Greek Zeus? According to Greek belief, Zeus, the King of the Gods, the ruler of Olympus and the patron of the Roman state, was the son of Cronus.
7. What are Galilean moons? Why are they so called?
8. According to the Greek mythology, which planet signifies the God of Seas?
9. "Herschel" was the first planet discovered in modern times. It was discovered by William Herschel while systematically searching the sky with his telescope on March 13, 1781. Later it was renamed. It is more commonly know as_____?

10. Name the planet named after Greek goddess of love and beauty. It is also known as the Evening Star.

2008 03 06: Q0007

"Well said." "He is such a nice orator." "Waoh...his words penetrate deep inside. ..simply brain storming"
Such words we utter for some great thinkers' popular statements which have now become the legacy of the history. Some quotations were the result of depression, some came out of joy, some words had been said to promote nationalism & impart the feeling of oneness, some were said to praise the nature, and some even to curse it. Lets answer the following questions about Great Thinkers and Quotations of all times.
1. "Dilli Chalo" - the slogan to inculcate the feeling of patriotism and the zeal to fight against the imperial British, during the Indian struggle for Independence was given to masses by which patriot?
2. To glorify the democratic form of the government, a great leader said it to be : "of the people, by the people, for the people". Name that great leader.
3. "If there is paradise on earth it is here, it is here, it is here." This is a poetic expression for one of the world's nicest hill stations. Which place is in the context?
4. "Arise! Awake! And stop not till the goal is reached." Think and name the great personality who said these words.
5. "If you know how to spend less than you get, you have the philosopher's stone." Who said?
6. One of the greatest writers of all times said: "Conversation should be pleasant without scurrility, witty without affectation, free without indecency, learned without conceitedness, novel without falsehood." Who was he?
7. "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him." Who said?
8. He is said to be one of the greatest thinkers and the propagator of the socialistic movement. He once said, "Reason has always existed, but not always in a reasonable form." Tell his name.
9. "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." These words were once uttered by the perosn who changed the fundamentals of the Physical Sciences. Name him.
10. "To succeed in the world it is not enough to be stupid, you must also be well-mannered." Who said these words?
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2008 03 05: Q0006

First of all, thanks to all the visitors. Thanks to all those who commented on the content of the blog and also sent their own set of answers. With this posting, I'll post the correct answers to the earlier quizzes as well. This way, one can compare their own set of answers with the Answer Key.
Now let us give ourselves a chance to dip in the lakes and rivers of the world. It will be a test to see who sinks and who swims through. Here we go for a dive.
1. I don't want to disappoint anybody. But can anyone tell where is the Lake Disappointment situated?
2. What is the more common Indian name for the river Lohit?
3. Across which river was the ancient kingdom of Ayodhaya [per the story of Ramayana] situated?
4. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron (or Michigan-Huron), Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth. What are they collectively known as?
5. Nathpa Jhakri Hydroelectric Power Project is situated on which river?
6. Which hydro power project was described as 'New Temple of Resurgent India’ by Late Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru?
7. The dam in the context is a masonry dam built across Krishna River Andhra Pradesh, India. It is the world's tallest masonry dam, at a height of 124 metres, and creates a reservoir holding up to 11, 472 million cubic metres. Which dam I am talking about?
8. In Tibet, the river is known as the Tsangpo. In Arunachal Pradesh, India it is called as Dihang. name the river in the context.
9. On the banks of which river is the modern city of Paris situated?
10. It is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. It has a surface area of 371,000 square kilometers (143,244 sq miles) and a volume of 78,200 cubic kilometers (18,761 cubic miles). Name this water body.
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2008 03 04: Q0005

Have you planned your heritage holidays in India? If not, then WHY NOT? If yes..fine...let's check how much homework you have done to enjoy your "Indian Heritage" to the fullest.
1. Name the city popularly known as the Garden City of India.
2. Where in the world can you find the largest canon?
3. Which National Park in India is the natural inhabitant for the single horn rhinos?
4. Name the world's oldest mountain ranges. These are situated in India.
5. Effigy of which Hindu deity did Queen Jodha take to Akbar's Red Fort in Agra, after their marriage?
6. Where is the Green Park situated? It is the same place where Chandra Shekhar Azad had his last encounter with the British police.
7. In which state of India can we find the Chilka Lake?
8. What is the "Palace on Wheels"?
9. Bihu is the dance the farmers perform at the time of harveting. In which Indian state?
10.Where in India can one find the "Hawa Mahal"?
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2008 03 03: Q0004

Today, let's check how many goals can you save from the fields of FIFA World Cup 2006.

1. Name the host nation of the 2006 World Cup Football tournament.
2. Which two teams fought the finals of the 2006 FIFA World Cup?
3. Who claimed the Golden Boot for scoring the maximum goals during the 2006 FIFA World Cup? How many goals did he score?
4. In total, 147 goals were scored (a few of which were own goals) during the tournament. How many goals were scored accidentally by the team’s own players?
5. Besides the Golden Shoe Award, Golden Ball Award, Yashin Award, Best Young Player Award, FIFA Fair Play Trophy, and Most Entertaining Team Award, FIFA's Technical Study Group (TSG) also granted a Man of the Match award to one player in each match. Name the player who won the most Man of the Match Awards during 2006 World Cup?
6. Who was honored with the ‘Yashin Award’ in 2006 World Cup?
7. What will be the venue for next FIFA World Cup?
8. How many times the current World Soccer champion has won the World Champions’ title?
9. How many goals did Klose score during the 2006 FIFA World Cup?
10.Name the teams that ended third and fourth in the tournament.
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