FUNDAMENTALS
SENJAM RAJ SEKHAR
Today’s quiz is a Russia World Cup theme with a difference. Questions do not relate to football but on cities hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Take a quizzical tour of Russia. Write in with your suggestions, questions ( with answers) to senjam@ gmail. com
From Russia with Love
1. Konigsburg was the largest easternmost city of Germany till World War II. After the war, the city was transferred to Russia. This Russian enclave is now situated between Poland and Lithuania. Identify this World Cup host city.
2. The Hermitage museum in St. Petersburg has a special set of guards since the early 18th century. They were put up after a 1745 decree of Empress Elizabeth. What is special about these 70 plus guards who also live at the museum?
3. The Red Square did not takes its name because of the connection to communism. How did it get its name?
4. The Krestovsky Stadium, or Zenit Arena, that is home to the Zenit football club, has undergone a name change during the World Cup. What is it called during the duration of the 2018 World Cup?
5. Which World Cup host city is named after Catherine I, wife of Peter the Great who also became the Empress of Russia between 1725 to 1727?
6. The Twin Star restaurant in Moscow is one of the most unique restaurants in the world. How does this restaurant makes its experience special?
7. Volgograd, one of the most important industrial hubs of Russia, was earlier known as Stalingrad. The city had another name when it was founded. What?
8. This city literally translates to Lower New Town in English. It is the IT capital and fifth largest city in Russia. Identify.
9. Two stadiums in Moscow will host World Cup matches. One of them is Spartak stadium. Which is the other stadium that is also hosting the final besides group matches?
ANYTHING GOES
1. The ‘ Alexandra limp’ was a fad with fashionable ladies during Victorian England. Many ladies during that time copied this from Queen Alexandra. What was this peculiar fashion trend? ( Vasudev Prakash,
received over email) 2. In the 1934 Test at Calcutta between India and England, the brother of the captain of the India team also played. The two brothers were born 18 years apart. Name the two siblings. ( BK Harinath, Mysuru)
3. These four Kannada films Ghatashraddha ( 1977), Tabarana kathe ( 1986), Thaayi saheba ( 1997 ) and Dweepa ( 2002), that got the National Award for best feature film, were all directed by the same filmmaker. Name him. ( Gayathri Jeevan, Thiruvananathapuram)
4. Yoshinori Sakai was the athlete who lit the cauldron at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Sakai was chosen despite not having ever been an Olympian. What was the reason? ( UN Murthy, Hyderabad)
5. The word is derived from a term used by English lawyers in the Middle Ages meaning “death pledge”, and refers to the pledge ending or dying when either the obligation is fulfilled or the property is taken through foreclosure. Which word? ( Dee Surendranath, Hyderabad)
6. If cheers is the preferred drinking toast for many people across the world, what do the Irish say instead? ( Rajeev Pillai, Kochi)
7. The Saraighat Express from Howrah to Guwahati and the Passenger train from Balamu Junction to Sitapur Cantt share an interesting train number. What? ( T. Veeksha, Secunderabad)
8. How did the sale of a book Leaving Microsoft to Change the World by John Wood change the fortunes of a company that started in 2007? ( Commander G. R. Balakrishnan ( Retd), Chennai)