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Identify this type of traditional Japanese inns that typically feature tatami-matted rooms, communal baths, and other cultural touches. They are often found connected to or within an onsen (hot springs).
In this section, Bruegel depicts a phrase implying a point of no return, or something being set in stone. According to Plutarch, this phrase was said aloud by a historical figure before making a big decision. What is this phrase? Latin or English version accepted.
Which Tinkle comics character is an evil minister who tries to dethrone the king Raja Hooja by his clever plans, which backfire every single time? The naive king trusts this minister more than anyone in the world and never suspects him of any wrongdoing.
Advertising its own San Francisco office as an "experience" that costs $24 to explore, which company has stylised its interiors in the form of cozy rooms from around the world?
This 1959 cover of LIFE Magazine is one of many photos taken by which photographer in China at the time of the "Great Leap Forward"? This Frenchman is known for his influential photobook A Decisive Moment and co-founded Magnum Photos with Robert Capa.
Which island and overseas department/region of France, near the Comoros Islands, is believed to get its name from the Arabic for 'island of death' (maybe due to the dangerous reefs circling the island) and corrupted to Portuguese and then French? However, the Arabic etymology is doubtful and its more likely that the name came from the biggest island Mahore.
This pictogram depicts a sport which has been an event since the 1986 Seoul Asian Games with Japan and South Korea being its dominant medal winners. This "gentle way" was created in 1882 by martial artist Kano Jigoro. Which sport?
In 2020, Blackpink collaborated with which Carribbean-descent American rapper on the number "Bet You Wanna"? Although she has produced 35 singles, she has released only one studio album titled Invasion of Privacy that made her the highest selling female rap artist of the 2010s.
In The Old Testament's tale of Belshazzar’s Feast, a disembodied hand supposedly appeared during the feast behind the king, and wrote a message that the king was unable to interpret. Belshazzar called on a prophet, who explained that the message meant the kingdom was soon to be divided. That night, the prophecy came true and Belshazzar was killed. Which common PHRASE arises from this Biblical tale to mean 'something inevitable'?
Little Brown and Company, Redhook, and Mulholland Books are imprints of which of the "Big Five" publishing houses? Founded in 1826 in France, this eponymous company is now owned by the conglomerate Lagardère S.A.
A “vee” (“V”) relationship is made up of three partners. What term (5) is used for a shared partner between two people because they act as the “_____” (5) - the pivotal point attaching the two partners? One may seek such partners using an app of the same name.
Which landmark in an Asian city is the site of the heist in the 1999 film Entrapment? Designed by Cesar Pelli, its cross section is based on a Rub el Hizb, i.e., the Islamic Star.
The website feastofstarlight.com recreates recipes from popular culture, either retaining the names or creating evocative names. This spread, whose recipe appears on the site, is from a section called Recipes from Mrs Patmore’s Kitchen, and features just some of the high tea fare associated with a famous tv series. Which series?
This one's All About That (Fan) Bass! What is the fandom name of this American singer which might remind one of the main antagonist in a popular media franchise owned by Hasbro and Takara Tomy?
What biochemical cycle, taking place in the liver and the kidneys, is named after the primary chemical it produces? The toxic ammonia generated by the breakdown of amino acids is converted into this safer compound, which is filtered and drained out of the body along with excess water.
Most performative males seemingly cultivate a fashion aesthetic influenced by what activity (6 or 9) that involves scouring shops and markets for used clothing items? You may also identify the type of establishment (6,4 or 6,5) they frequent that may remind you of a track by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.
In colour theory, what term is used when the colour is lighter than a pure hue, achieved by adding white to it? It is also used to refer to sunglasses with coloured UV-blocking lens or windows darkened with a laminate film.
A shorter version of the musket was created in the mid-17th century to be used by certain mounted French/Italian troops, who came to be named after it. What term is given to such lightweight, compact firearms that are deployed widely in the modern world (visual)?
This musical is based on a young adult TV franchise that is based in a city that is home to many celebrities, luxury hotels, and surrounded by the cities of Los Angeles and West Hollywood. Which TV franchise inspired this musical, featuring tracks like Will Tori Spelling Graduate?
In FIDE chess notation, what does x indicate within a move, as in Nxe5?
While the double version was an ordinary custom in Slavic nations, the triple was far less common. Soviet Leader Brezhnev began using this practice in 1970. The first unsuspecting victim was the Czechoslovakian leader Gustav Husak, who was probably not in a position to say no given the dominance of the USSR in the Soviet Bloc. Czech citizens named it "Brezhnev's triple threat". What was Brezhnev's triple threat, tracked by Kremlinologists to better understand the relationships between various Communist leaders?
The Zanskar River in Ladakh attracts enthusiasts of which recreational activity seeking a class 4 experience through a tight-walled canyon at over 4,000 meters elevation? It involves using an inflatable body to navigate (rough) waters.
Identify this American swimmer with the following world records set between 2018 and 2021.
This is a 2Cellos cover of which 1986 song by an American rock band from their third album?
What tisane is typically served in a container made of calabash gourd along with a metal straw called bombilla? This caffeine-rich drink is prepared by soaking dried leaves of a member of the Ilex genus native to South America.
What type of sailing vessel recognisable by its narrow form was designed for speed by merchants in the mid-19th-century and can also be used to describe schooners, brigs, etc.? Philomena Cunk believed that it got its name because "Sir Francis Drake used one of these to circumcise the globe".
During the official nomination of Kamala Harris at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, each delegation was introduced with appropriate music. Which state was introduced with a 1974 rock song by Lynyrd Skynyrd?
The soundtrack of Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) features collaborations with several renowned artists. Which American rapper and producer played the flute for several live tracks? He is best known for being one half of a Southern hip hop duo, along with fellow rapper Big Boi.
Which constituency in Andhra Pradesh was represented in the Lok Sabha by PV Narasimha Rao during his tenure as Prime Minister from 1991 to 1996? It is thought to get its name from the vahana of Lord Shiva.
A) The first Holy Roman Emperor from 800-813 CE.
B) The ruler of the Spanish Empire from 1788-1808 CE.
C) The king of the Commonwealth Realms from 2022.
What is their shared name?
This type of gear consists of a circular gear engaging a linear gear as shown in the picture. Together, they convert rotational motion into linear motion and find application in railways where the train needs to move up a steep gradient. Which gear is this, with a name of the form '____ (4) and ______ (6)' referencing the linear and the circular gears respectively?
Land, set to be published in 2026, tells the story of a father and son mapping their country for the Ordnance Survey shortly after the Great Hunger. The author's 2020 novel, written with the personal experience of nearly losing her child at the age of 4, was adapted into a recent Golden Globe-winning film. Who is this author?
Identify this 890 km demarcation line, as depicted by Reena Kallat. It is named after a foreign secretary of British India, who served as the chief British negotiator of the 1914 Simla Accord. The People's Republic of China does not recognise the line and therefore disputes India's sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh.
WHAT STYLE OF PARENTING involves few rules, low expectations, and overindulgence without any structure? It is named after a marine creature that has been around for half a billion years and is the titular subject of the Sherlock Holmes story The Adventure of the Lion's Mane.
Which internet sensation inspired this sculpture? Atsuko Sato set this up as a tribute to her pet who went viral for her iconic pose and facial expression. She would go on to inspire a namesake cryptocurrency.
Which flower that grows in Japan, associated with temperate climates in Europe and North America, is depicted in this 1985 Yaoyi Kusuma painting? The specific species is most likely Taraxacum japonicum, but we need the common English name. The leaves might be helpful in identifying it, since they are behind the name of the plant.
Which series of conflicts came to an end with a Treaty of Paris in November 1815? It would serve as an ultimatum from the Seventh Coalition to their primary eponymous adversary, who was forced to spend the rest of his life in an island in the South Atlantic.
The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, Sicily is the largest archaeological park in Europe. These four pillars are the remnants of a temple dedicated to which twin half-brothers from Greek and Roman mythology?
Nandini Ramnath reviewed KGF Chapter 2 as "Caught between _____ and a hard place". Fill in the blank with the name of the protagonist of the KGF series of movies.
The insignia of the Indian Navy guided missile frigate INS _____ (5) depicts the Sanchi Stupa, which is located next to the river the ship is named after. Which ship? (5)
Identify this necklace style (6), revived by the 20th-century archaeological boom. A term used in hair styling for locks of hair that fall over the scalp's front hairline, it is visually similar to hanging threads or cords from the edges of clothes.
One of the three people who are the subject matter of William Eggington's The Rigor of Angels is a physicist best known for his Uncertainty principle. In Eggington's view, he was the first person to go against the trend in science then to take a very zoomed in view, and instead zoom out, thereby taking a "God of very large things" view that forms the premise of the book.
Also known as 'Imarti', which sweet is said to be invented in Mughal royal kitchens in Fatehpur Sikri for the crown prince (although he took on this name only after ascending to the throne)? It is not to be confused with a similar but more popular sweet named from the same letter.
Yashika Routray is one of the leading colourists in Indian cinema, and has over 50 projects like Jailer, The Diplomat, and Criminal Justice under her belt. She is back in news for her work in a blockbuster film, which has emerged as the highest grossing film of all time in its Indian language. Which film?
What two-word term is used to describe a politically unstable country with an economy dependent upon the export of natural resources? It was coined by American writer O. Henry to describe Honduras being exploited by the US United Fruit Company, and is now also the name of a clothing brand.
The subject of these dramatic interviews thought it would right an epic injustice done to him. However, after its 1977 broadcast 75 percent of the public thought he should have no further role in public life. 28 hours of interviews were broadcast as four 90-minute episodes. The opening question by the British journalist in the final episode was, “Why didn't you burn the tapes?” Who was the subject?
The narrow par-4 Hole No. 18 at the Masters is lined with trees that have glossy, spiny green leaves and bright red berries. Identify this type of tree, which is used for wreaths and other decorations during the Christmas season.
Which reggae and pop act from Birmingham founded by Ali Campbell, the highest-selling reggae artists in history, began their journey with an album titled Signing Off, in reference to the fact that they were ending their supposed claim for benefits?
Identify either of these with the same name.
The US national park located in South-western Dakota comprising eroded buttes that was the site of the initiation of the Ghost Dances of 1890.
OR
The 1973 American neo-noir crime film about a 15-year old on a killing spree that marked Terence Mallick’s directorial debut.
What two word Latin phrase (3,4) translates to "right of the soil" in English? This is used to define citizenship rights in countries such as the US, Canada and Mexico and contrasts "right of the blood" followed by countries like India and China.
Which word is common to the following in sports?
- In snooker, the opening shot with the cue ball that scatters the placed balls
- In chess, the opening up of a line of attack by a pawn capture that gets through the defence line
- In tennis, winning the game despite your opponent having the serve
La Pointe du Hoc is a promontory with a 35-metre cliff overlooking the English Channel in the Calvados department, France. A 13-acre memorial and museum here is under American control, and the American Battle Monuments Commission was made responsible for its maintenance. What is the memorial and the museum dedicated to?
What nail shape (8) is characterised by its diagonal slant that mimics the tip of a cosmetic product best associated with brands like MAC, Maybelline, and Revlon?
Which Buddhist Burmese empire that existed from 849 CE to 1297 CE was the first to unify the regions that constitute modern-day Myanmar? Its golden age started with the reign of Anawrahta, who stopped the advance of the Khmer Empire. Its namesake capital is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of over 3,500 monuments (visual).
Which country's national anthem, titled in English as "This is the Home of the Brave (translated from original)", is sung a cappella, because musical instruments are prohibited for religious reasons?
Which Berber dynasty that ruled from 1050 to 1147 built the trading center of Chinguetti in Mauritania? The city's unadorned architecture reflects the strict religious beliefs of this dynasty, which consolidated power in Morocco by conquering settlements along the trans-Saharan trade route.
Pitys was another nymph who had to resist Pan's sexual advances. But, in some versions, Pan fights for her with the Greek god representing the cold northern wind. While Pitys chooses Pan, the other god kills Pitys and gets "pity (haha)" from Gaia who turns her into a pine tree. Who is the god Pan wins against, whose name is immortalised in a mangificent spectacle?
The aerospace division of which Indian company has locked itself in as the sole manufacturer of Liquid Engines for the Indian Space Research Organization's Space Launch Vehicles? It delivered the first Vikas engine for the PSLV in 1994, and has gone on to build more than 120 of these to date.
Identify this dish, a savoury, smoky offering from Puebla, featuring shredded chicken simmered in a tomato-based sauce with chipotle chillies in adobo and sliced onions. This mess of chicken is most commonly served on a tostada or as a filling in tacos.
A Book of Days is an assemblage of photographs and texts in Patti Smith's idiosyncratic style, capturing moments that pay homage to her beloved icons. 13 June: Patti pays homage to which writer whose last work was Goodbye, a novella scheduled to be serialised in the Asahi Shimbun? He attempted suicide five times throughout his life, ultimately committing shinjū (double suicide) with his lover, Tomie Yamazaki.
In Culture Clash, Mattia compares the Polish pierogi, dumplings filled typically with potato and cheese, to which Japanese dumplings filled traditionally with ground meat and vegetables?
What is the name of The Economist's blog on Africa, named after a huge tree that grows throughout most of the continent? Also known as the "upside down tree" for their peculiar shape, an avenue of these trees forms Madagascar's most popular tourist destination.
American author Joyce Carol Oates is recognised for her vast literary output across many genres. Which 1967 novel by Joyce Carol Oates has been described as “instead of moving from Eden through _____ (5) to Hell, as in the painting, Oates's protagonist travels from the hell of a migrant camp through an uncertain existence where joys are imagined, to an economic and social Eden, represented by Curt Revere's farm”? The blank is part of the answer.
Mad changed one letter in the title of this 2008 film to suggest that it’s titular protagonist was an awkward, socially inept person. What was the resulting title?