Task 1

Topic : History and Pop-Culture

Question 1
What is common in the following paintings

Answer
Paintings by A.Hitler
Question 2
During the great plague of 560 AD, Pope Gregory the Great came up with a solution to
tackle the plague. He instructed everyone to do something whenever they see the first and one
of the most common symptoms of the plague in anyone, in hopes that it would protect them
from otherwise certain death. Over the years this action has become quite popular and is now
very common worldwide. What is the symptom and the action ?

Answer
Saying “God bless you” after someone sneezes
Question 3
Given is an eighteenth century example of a particular technique which was employed
by Leonardo Da Vinci for writing his personal notes. The ability to master this particular
technique is considered by many as a result of brain damage or a neurological disease.
Interestingly, it has a life-saving application in the modern era. Name the technique and how is it
a life saver?

Answer
Mirror Writing, ECNALUMBA- AMBULANCE
Question 4
When Benjamin Franklin served as the United States Ambassador in France, he
learned of a call for scientific papers from the Royal Academy of Brussels. In response, he
penned a whimsical essay entitled "To the Royal Academy of __."
The essay championed a playful theme: " __ for freedom, __ for liberty, and __ proudly."
Franklin's ultimate wish was to inspire the scientists of his era to discover a method that would
make _____ , not only inoffensive but agreeable as perfumes.”

Answer
Farting
Question 5
Recently a theory surfaced regarding the crests of two clubs from European football
which suggested that a certain object on their crests portrays and is directly linked to slave trade
and demanded it to be removed from the crest. Later on the authorities clarified it being related
to something else and they also said that the theory was nothing but woke madness, it's like
blaming the Italians for the Roman Empire. Identify the object and clubs.

Answer
Ships on the crest
Question 6
In collaboration with Heretic Parfum, Gwyneth Paltrow launched a $75 scented candle
in 2020. The official site describes it, "With a funny, gorgeous, sexy, and beautifully unexpected
scent, this candle is made with geranium, citrusy bergamot, and cedar absolutes juxtaposed
with Damask rose and ambrette seed to put us in mind of fantasy, seduction, and a
sophisticated warmth."
A review on Amazon goes: "Smelled like rotten fish mixed with moldy bread. Reminds me of my
first true love." What does it claim to smell like?

Answer
Question 7
This film adaption A of a book of same name follows a nameless protagonist who
attempts to subdue his emotional state.
The author of the book got the idea for the novel after being beaten up on a camping trip. When
he returned to work, nobody acknowledged his injuries, leading him to realize people's
reluctance to engage personally. This inspired the novel's exploration of societal disconnect and
indifference.
The female lead in the novel says, "I want to have your abortion", which was deemed too
controversial and potentially offensive for the film, so it was replaced with B.

Answer
Fight Club
"I haven't been f****d like that since grade school".

Question 8
This film X follows a Cuban refugee in 1980s Florida, rises to power through criminal
activities, ultimately facing the consequences of his ruthless ambitions.
The protagonist uses "yeyo" as a slang for Y.
This film holds the record for the most uses of the "F" word in the movie in its time, with 207
occurrences, averaging about 1.21 per minute.

Answer
Scarface
Cocaine
Question 9
This app generated a buzz when it announced the introduction of a certain verification
badge.
The move was to tackle dishonesty. It found a major section of its users lying about a certain
aspect of themselves hoping to reap benefits from the app.
The verification check involved users uploading a picture of themselves standing next to a
commercial building, which would then be processed by a state-of-the-art algorithm.
However, it was later revealed to be an April Fool's prank.
What app, and what was being verified?

Answer
Tinder's height verification
Question 10
The Czechoslovakian variant, invented during the 80s, has some peculiar changes, with
the theme revolving around horse racing. In Czechoslovakian version, people were expected to
set up tables, hire trainers, place bets, and draw a lottery for finances.
Whose variant is being talked about?

Answer
Monopoly
Czechoslovakia being a communist regime didn't allow privately owned properties.

Question 11
Identify this renowned fashion designer known for their vivid colors and bold prints, who
offered a striking contrast to the prevailing taste for muted colors and simplicity.
A famous saying among fashion circles declared, "Armani dresses the wife, but X dresses the
mistress." One of X’s most notable innovations was a super-light chainmail called Oroton.
Drawing inspiration from female tailoring, X's men's suits emphasized the male form, viewing
men as sex objects. X incorporated artistic styles from various movements and heritages,
particularly Greco-Roman. X also collaborated with the luxury car company Lincoln on the Mark
7 X Edition. Despite their success, X faced a tragic end in 1997 when they were shot by spree
killer Andrew Cunanan, who had previously murdered four others. Who is X?

Hint : Their company's logo features someone from Greek mythology.

Answer
Versace, its logo is of monster Medussa.
Question 12
Former outlets of X in Russia have been rebranded as “vksuno i tochka” (which
translates to tasty and that’s it), after X announced on May 16,2022 that it will exit Russia in
wake of the Ukraine invasion. Three days later, russian businessman Alexander Govor who had
been a licensee of the chain, bought the entire 850 outlet operation. The rebranded chain’s first
outlet opened on Puskin Square that is the very place X opened their first outlet. Identify X.

Answer
McDonald's

Question 13
Erythema ab igne (EAI) is a skin reaction caused by chronic exposure to infrared
radiation in the form of heat. It was once a common condition seen in the elderly who sat or
stood close to open fires.
This condition has re-emerged in the past years as people seem to be doing something that has
been reported as one of the major causes of EAI.

Answer
Laptop on thighs
Question 14
This Spiderman strip inspired a judge and an engineer to come together and create
something in 1983, which has widespread use today.
What did they create, similar to what is there in the comic, but with a different place of
application?

Answer
Ankle monitors

Question 15
Warren Buffett sat down to have a meeting with X in his office in Omaha in 2010.
Buffett, then 80, walked away impressed with the artist, 40 years his junior. "X is teaching in a
lot bigger classroom than I'll ever teach in. For a young person growing up, he's the guy to learn
from."
X's steadily growing kingdom is expansive and encompassing liquor, art, real estate (homes in
Los Angeles, The Hamptons, Tribeca) and stakes in deep tech companies. He/she gave the
blueprint for future generations artists with ambitions to create lasting wealth.
His/her net worth as of 2024 is 2.5 billion USD.

Answer
Shawn Carter aka Jay-Z