FUNDAMENTALS
Some of the world’s greatest cities are in Russia. From Moscow to St. Petersburg, take this tour around the cities of Russia.
RUSSIAN CITIES
1. This city in Russia is known for its luck. In fact, a Russian saying goes: “If I could read the cards, I would live in…” Which city are we talking about? 2. What famous Russian institution started when a Berlin merchant named Johann Ernst Gotskowsky sold 317 of his collected pieces to Empress Catherine the Great? 3. If you are in a Russian city, it is recommended that you go to a Banya. What is a Banya? 4. Which city would you go to if you have to visit the capital of Tatarstan and centre of world Tatar culture? 5. The Kremlin in Moscow is not the only Kremlin in Russia. There are as many as 12 Kremlins across various Russian cities. What does Kremlin refer to? 6. This place was reduced to rubble during World War II and had to be built anew. The dogged resistance put up by its citizens and the army defending the city led to the city being awarded the ‘Hero city’ title. Identify this city. 7. From 1932 to 1990, this city, the centre of the Volga economic region, was named Gorky after the writer Maxim Gorky. Which one? 8. Catherine the Great, one of the most powerful rulers of Russia, has one of Russia’s biggest cities named after her. Which one? 9. Actor Yul Brynner was born here and there is a park named after him. There is a granite statue of the actor as well in the city. Name this place that is known across the world for being part of a famous rail journey.
ANYTHING GOES
1. Who is the first black cricketer to captain the West Indies team in a Test match? (B.K. Harinath, Mysuru) 2. The iconic scene of the famed Hogwarts Express steaming its way through the countryside over a stunning viaduct is actually a shot of Scotland’s incredible Glenfinnan Viaduct which was used in four of the Potter films. What is the actual name of this train? (Cdr G.R. Balakrishnan (Retd), Chennai) 3. Which song bird was used from 1890s till as late as 1980s in British to detect toxic gases in mines? (U.N. Murthy, Secunderabad) 4. Canada has declared two sports as its national sports. One of them is ice hockey. What is the other? (Jonathan Francis, Secunderabad) 5. Simbelmyne is the name of the fictional white flower that grew in the burial mounds of the kings. In which work of fiction? (Madhavi Chandran, Kochi) 6. In the ten editions of IPL, nine players have been awarded ‘Player of the series’. Who holds the distinction of being awarded the ‘Player of the series’ twice in IPL? (Dee Surendranath, Hyderabad) 7. Which library of the New York Public Library was recently closed for a $200 million dollar renovation and will reopen in 2020? (Gayathri Jeevan, Thiruvananthapuram) 8. The collective noun for giraffes is tower, that of camel is either caravan or flock. What is collective noun for a group of cheetahs? (M.S.M. Abhigna, Secunderabad)