Search your questions that power our play engine.
Search your questions that power our play engine.
This 1985 novel by László Krasznahorkai, which was adapted into an acclaimed film by Bela Tarr, has 12 chapters whose numbering goes from one to six, and then from six to one. In other words, six "steps" forward and back. What is this novel's chapter structure rhythmically based on? It traditionally takes two to follow this structure.
This comedy is a parody of a 1922 Rudolph Valentino film. This parody replaces characters Dona Sol with Filet de Sole and Carmen with Caramel. Which film, revolving around matadors, is this a parody of?
Which podcast (3,4,4,9) hosted by Meredith Constant and Amanda Matta covers "the top news" about the Royal Family? Its name is a play on a command from Alice in Wonderland that Henry VIII might have shouted at least twice.
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Clarke, Devoret, and Martinis for experimental realisations of macroscopic quantum tunnelling, which are fundamental to quantum computing. What device or effect is central to these tests? It is named after one of the Nobel Physics laureates from 1973, who discovered the effect that produces a supercurrent that flows without any applied voltage, despite a barrier in the device.
Ibn Battuta's primary reason for embarking on his travels was to perform the Hajj. He travelled from Morocco in the _______ (7) region to Mecca in the Mashriq region. Which region (7) fills in the blank? Etymologically, the two regions of the Arab Islamic world translated to "sunset" and "sunrise" respectively.
Shakespeare provided very little stage direction in his works, apart from terse notations of entrances and exits. In Titus Andronicus, known for its violent depiction of murder, the set and prop designers had it rough. One stage direction reads: Enter messenger with two [BLANK] and a hand, where the blanks refer to those of Quintus and Martius. Fill in the blank.
Which 19th century work, that began as short notes in 1837 but was published only in 1859 when the English naturalist author found the work to be more complete, features in Bragg's "12 Books That Changed The World"? The author used evidence collected on an expedition aboard the HMS Beagle to write this seminal work in understanding humans.
Wolfenstein was revealed to be in the same universe as which other id Software video game franchise? Wolfenstein's B.J. Blazkowicz is the great-grandfather of the unnamed space marine working for the UAC, who fights demons and the undead to save Earth from an apocalyptic invasion.
Which 1995 erotic drama film stars a 20-year-old Leonardo Di Caprio as the poet Arthur Rimbaud engaged in a passionate love affair with Paul Verlaine? The film’s title can be constructed from a famous song: Once upon a time I was falling in love, Now I'm only falling apart, There's nothing I can do, A [Blank] [Blank] (5, 7) of the heart
The spotted appearance of the houseplant Hypoestes phyllostachya has led to it being dubbed as the "freckled face plant" or the _____ ___ (5,3) plant. What is its popular name, deriving from a clothing pattern? (5,3)
Which British firm completes this list of the "Big Four" accounting agencies?
Deloitte
PwC
EY
Which football club was given fake names Ruhr and Rhein in the early editions of Pro Evolution Soccer? The choices were apt because of the geographical location and industrial history of the club and its city, which is dominated by the Chempark facilities along the Rhine.
Confucius, along with thousands of his descendants, lies buried in a cemetery in which town south of Jinan in Shandong Province? The hometown of Confucius, it consists of three UNESCO World Heritage Sites dedicated to him.
Which spice-based non-alcoholic carbonated beverage is a common ingredient in the following cocktails? Modern variants are often manufactured rather than brewed.
Moscow Mule: Vodka, lime juice, sprig of mint, and [blank]
Dark and Stormy: Dark rum and [blank]
Irish Buck: Irish whiskey, lime juice, and [blank]
Identify this emblem on Queen Elizabeth II's coronation gown. A member of the Sapindaceae family that is found across the northern hemisphere, it was first adopted as a symbol by people living along the Saint Lawrence River.
The NBA All-Star contest is no stranger to theatrics. After Orlando's Dwight Howard performed his 2008 dunk dressed as Superman, this 5'9" Knicks player returned in 2009 wearing an all green outfit bearing the name "Krypto-nate", and jumped clean over the 6'10" Howard. Identify this player, one of the shortest to compete but also the most successful player in the contest, having won 3 times.
In MLB stats, 'EP' refers to a pitch that is thrown high in the air with exceptionally low speed, fooling the batter into thinking it is a fastball and coaxing them to swing early. When asked what the unusual name meant, outfield Maurice Van Robays is said to have replied, "______(6) ain't nothing, and that's a nothing pitch." What does EP stand for?
What mathematical term concerned with a type of number derives from a Latin term meaning “untouched or intact”? It was formed by adding a prefix implying “no” to the Latin word “tangere” which means “to touch”.
In Stanley Coren's The Intelligence of Dogs, these dogs were ranked No.1 as the world's most intelligent breed. Often employed in many dog sports, these typically black and white dog get their name from a Celtic word meaning 'useful'. A similar word is used for some such helpful workers closer home, although their etymologies aren't the same.
In Welsh tradition, the bridal bouquet includes ______ (6), a fragrant shrub that symbolises love, and the bride gives a cutting to each of her bridesmaids. A sprig of this flowering plant is carried by brides during royal weddings (visual) since the time Princess Victoria included it among her bridal flowers. What shrub (6), also associated with Aphrodite and Demeter?
In the Marvel comics, this mutant is born sickly and feverish, leading her to be named after an infamous American cook. A traumatic childhood later unleashes another persona, that of a violent and merciless assassin, who is named after a lady whose reflection looms large over Western folklore. Name any one of these two split personas.
Which statue was damaged in 1991 when a man struck it with a hammer, breaking off the tip of the second toe on the left foot? It was this chipped off fragment that confirmed the marble used for the masterpiece came from the Fantiscritti quarries in Carrara.
Which Hulu series (2022-present) has the following as episode titles for its second season released in July 2023?
S2. E7. Forks
S2. E8. Bolognese
S2. E9. Omelette
While the McDonald's menus in this country are very similar to those in the US, a major difference lies in the French Fries served here. The typical McD fries can be replaced here with what local variant, a Quebecois dish that includes cheese curds and gravy in addition to the crispy fries?
According to his Rihla (Travels), in the 1330s, Ibn Battuta visited ____ (4) a port town situated on the River Don. The town contributes to the name of the northern extension of a big water body, and also a far-right group currently fighting the Russians in the Donbas. Which town?
Typhon was a monstrous serpentine giant who mated with the half-woman, half-water snake Echidna and produced many of the most famous monsters in Greek mythology, all of whom were eventually defeated by various heroes. They include the Nemean Lion, the Lernaean Hydra, and others. Among these creatures, which three-headed canine was briefly captured by the greatest hero of the age before being returned to his guardian duties?
Bad Bunny performed his bomba-influenced hit “El Apagón”, which touches upon the socio economic issues in Puerto Rico. What does the title “El Apagón” translate to? (8 or 5,3 or 5,6) It is primarily a reference to the year-long aftermath of Hurricane Maria, owing to the bankruptcy of the agency “PREPA”.
At a 2017 Champion's League tie between Leicester City and Sevilla, fans held up this enormous artwork featuring the club's manager about to "let slip the dogs of war". Who was the club's manager during this time? With a tenure lasting only 9 months, his name will explain why this quote was chosen.
Which lion-bodied winged woman, another of the revolting offspring of Typhon and Echidna, once guarded the entrance to Thebes? She was defeated by a man who would then ascend to the throne. Her name is also used to describe a different, more benevolent creature in Egyptian mythology, but both are thought of as guardians.
Do you tend to have pleasant dreams of dancing, laughing or embracing beautiful people? Do you have red hair, or at least pink cheeks? Then, according to the theory of humours, what adjective would describe you, because blood was your dominating humour?
Beethoven's Symphony #6 in F major was one of his few works which contained a narrative, evoking particular feelings in the audience by means of the titles of the movements. These titles for individual movements included "Scene by the brook", "Thunder, Storm" and "Shepherd's song". What is the name given to this symphony, also meaning a work portraying an idealized version of country life?
Which 1907 Nobel Laureate resided in the UK at the time he received the Prize, but was born in Bombay in British India and spent much of his life travelling the country as a correspondent?
Two former Indian players from the 1980 Olympic hockey team provided the inspiration for the storyline of the 2007 film Chak De India. Maharaj Krishan Kaushik, later coach of 2002 Commonwealth medal-winning women's team was one of them. Who was the other? He was a former India goalkeeper who was accused of throwing a game at the 1982 Asian Games finals, and returned as a goalkeeping coach for the men's team at the 1998 Asian Games and the women's team at the 2002 Commonwealth Games - both winning gold.
Two often confused terms in medicine are ________ (8) and _______ (7). The first term is a group of symptoms that disrupts your normal body functions but does not have a known cause, while the second term is a medical condition with an identifiable cause. What are the two terms that have the same starting syllable? [Need both parts, no prompts; ORDER matters]
Wendell Minor’s original book cover was rejected by the publishers, since the open mouth resembled Freud’s idea of the vagina dentata. Roger Kastel re-designed it, and though the senior editor felt it now looked like a “penis with teeth”, they went ahead with what would become an iconic image. Which 1974 book?
Several revolutionary fighters can be seen on the left side of Eugene Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People, all belonging to a mixture of social classes. The young man in the top hat represents the bourgeoisie, and some have suggested that it is Frederic Villot, a future curator of which institution located not too far from the scene of the painting?
Which zodiac constellation is illustrated here by Rey? He describes him as running with a 'river' of stars flowing down onto the constellation Piscis Austrinus ("Southern Fish"), perhaps to keep it alive.
Which novelty edition of the boardgame Monopoly has tokens that look like this? Tokens include a horse head, a cannoli, a tommy gun and a can of olive oil.
Centred on the magician Ged, which Cycle is a fantasy series by Ursula Le Guin, counting 5 books and a collection of stories? It is set in the titular archipelago, a hub of magic.
In which country, where many men eat extra spicy food as a show of machismo, did Lays launch the Macho Chilli flavour?
The Roma were forced out of India after being taken as slaves by a Central Asian empire that regularly sacked towns in North India. Which empire, that derives its name from a city and province in modern-day Afghanistan, is this? This empire fell to their vassals after a 200-year-reign in 1150.
'The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet' won the 2021 Goodreads Choice Award in the "Best Non Fiction" category. The work is adapted from a highly streamed podcast of the same name, helmed by which author? Aside from podcasting, he has written acclaimed works such as 'Looking for Alaska' and 'Paper Towns'.
In a passage from his book De architectura, Vitruvius painstakingly describes the ideal proportions of a human body, explaining how such a body could be inscribed in a circle and a square. This writing led to the creation of a famous ink-on-paper drawing by which 15th century polymath?
Differences in surgical procedure are often indicated by the suffixes. While '-otomy' (as in Lobotomy) refers to the act of making an incision, the related suffix ______ (6) refers to the act of completely removing or excising. Which suffix is this, part of a common operation of removing a vestigial organ?
Which Semitic language is spoken by the people of an island lying around 400 km to the South of the Arabian peninsula? This island, described as "the most alien-looking place on Earth", is part of a country on the Arabian peninsula.
A common accompaniment in Mexican cuisine, what term is given to the type of cream that is fermented by subjecting it to a bacterial culture that produces lactic acid? The lactic acid produces a certain taste that gives it its name.
The term used for what type of angle in geometry can be traced to a Latin word meaning “beaten down to the point of being dull”? The word is also used in English to describe someone who is "annoyingly insensitive" or "slow to understand".
Who became the host of Mastermind UK, taking over from the 2 decade-long stint of John Humphrys in 2021? He remains an active journalist despite his hosting duties as he travelled to Ukraine in 2022 to cover the Russian invasion and also was part of the coverage for the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
This is a list of countries bordering Turkey, in descending order of border length. Which country is missing?
1. Syria: 822 km (511 mi)
2. Iran: 499 km (310 mi)
3. Iraq: 352 km (219 mi)
4. Identify this country: 268 km (167 mi)
5. Georgia: 252 km (157 mi)
Identify this type of jewellery clasp (7), where a part with a pin inserts into a tube and rotates or clicks into place. It mimics the mechanism used to attach the namesake sharp-edged, dagger-like weapon to the muzzle of a rifle.
In Shodo or Japanese calligraphy [and origami too], a special paper called washi is widely used. These are typically made from the branches of which tree that are boiled and stripped of their outer bark, and then dried? It is also used as a barkcloth across the Pacific, as a laxative in Pakistan, and is often called the Paper [Blank] due to its link with the history of paper.
The Al Bayt Stadium's design is meant to resemble the billowing facade of an entity traditionally made out of long strips of densely woven camel hair and vegetable fibre. Its design is meant to provide a cooling effect inside the stadium, a feature neccessary in the harsh Qatari climate. What entity, a structure of vital importance to nomadic tribes in the region, inspired this stadium's design?
Which attacking shot in badminton sets the shuttlecock on a flat trajectory almost parallel to the ground, straight at the opponent's body? It shares its name with a class of attacking strokes in cricket where the ball is met head-on by the full vertical face of the bat.
As per Spotify Wrapped 2024, one of the top five most shared songs is the number Good Luck, Babe by which queer artist whose album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess has become a cultural phenomenon? Her rise to stardom in 2024 was primarily fueled by her presence as a backup artist on Olivia Rodrigo's Guts Tour.
Marvel's WandaVision pays homage to several classic sitcoms through its run. Episode 1 is heavily inspired by which 1960s sitcom named after the actor and comedian who plays television comedy writer Rob Petrie? Mary Tyler Moore, who would later star in her own show, plays his wife Laura.
Recently, Harry Brook became the first England player in 34 years to score a triple hundred in Test cricket.
Who was the last England player with this achievement, scoring 333 vs. India at Lord's in 1990? He went on to score 123 in the second inning for a Test record of 456 runs in a single match.
WHICH FORMULA 1 TEAM began competing in the sport in 1993 and was around till 2018 before Alfa Romeo bought them over? This Swiss-based team was owned for a brief while by BMW, from 2006 to 2010, during which they used their composite name. Their first victory took fifteen years to come by, when Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld finished 1-2 in 2008.
Which kingdom promoted this writing system, which serves as the basis for the language(s) spoken in a Southeast Asian country? Created in 1283 under the rule of Ramkhamhaeng the Great, this kingdom fell into decline following his death and was eventually succeeded by the Ayutthaya kingdom in 1438.
French artist Françoise Gilot had a string of abusive relationships with artists Luc Simon and Pablo Picasso, even bearing two children with the latter. But, she got a second (or a third) chance at love in a 26-year long marriage with the pair spending 6 months a year apart. Who is this partner of Gilot who spent time doing AIDS research in the time he wasn't living with her, advancing his already well established legacy as a virologist?
This type of gear has teeth cut at an angle to the axis rather than straight and parallel to it. It is used in applications where noise abatement is important because the angled teeth engage more gradually than simple spur gear teeth. What is this gear called, because the angled teeth are a cross-section of a [BLANK] shape? A 'double' form of this shape is familiar to us from the world of biology.
In 1932, Australia kick started a military operation to get rid of a particular flightless bird that they deemed as a nuisance. Titled the Great [BLANK] War, this operation had a profound impact on WHICH flightless bird's population in mainland Australia? This is the second tallest bird on the planet, second only to the Ostrich, and features on Australia's Coat of Arms alongside the Kangaroo.
For the L.A. premiere, Zendaya wore her first non-tennis-inspired look of the tour. It was a custom lingerie-inspired gown in black and pink by which Asian American fashion designer known for her eponymous brand specialising in wedding dresses?
"Berghain", the lead single from Rosalía's Lux, is inspired by Hildegard of Bingen, a Benedictine abbess and polymath who made influential contributions to theology, music, and science. She was popularly known as "[blank] of the Rhine", drawing comparison to the prophetesses or oracles from Ancient Greece and Rome. Fill in the blank.
Which letter is silent in the following?
- A sculptural form involving minor projection from the surface
- The nobility title above a baron in Great Britain
- A Michael Bay movie with Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson