Wednesday Trivia #29: Jun 20, 2012

by Idéfix Wed Jun 20, 2012 2:09 am

1. The Middle Passage is the name given to one of history’s most perilous journeys with a high mortality rate. Major causes of death on this route included epidemics, scurvy, starvation, murder and suicide. Where did the Middle Passage start and where it end? Why was it called the Middle Passage?

2. He held many prominent positions in the United States government, including President, Secretary of State, Senator and Member of the House of Representatives. His greatest accomplishments were writing the Monroe Doctrine and orchestrating the Treaty of Ghent that ended the War of 1812. He served just one term as president and lost his reelection bid. He then served for 17 years as a Congressman – the only former president to ever serve in the House after completing his stint as president. Name this politician who became an ardent opponent of the slave trade.

3. This name has various meanings in Indian history. First, it is the name of an ancient sage, and therefore the root for the name of a gOtram. Second, it is the name of the first disciple of the Buddha, and therefore the very first bhikku and arahant in the history of Buddhism. Third, the name is prominent in the history of Indianized kingdoms in southeast Asia. For instance, the earliest historical sources about the Khmer and Funan peoples describe a Brahmin by this name as their ancestor. What is this name?

4. Somapura Mahavihara is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the largest Buddhist archaeological complex in the Indian subcontinent. In ancient times, the vihAra was the site of a university. Records indicate that the university was part of a broader network of seats of learning – a network that included more famous universities at Nalanda and Vikramashila. Where is Somapura Mahavihara located?

5. When the Space Shuttle program ended last year, three of the original five orbiters were still available (the other two were lost in accidents). Those orbiters have now been moved to be displayed in different museums around the country. The process by which NASA decided who gets those orbiters attracted some controversy and an internal investigation. Name at least one of the three locations that received an orbiter for display.

6. It was a two-masted schooner built in Spain in the 19th century. On a routine voyage from Havana to Puerto Principe in Cuba, there was a mutiny and the ship was taken over. The ship was spotted off the coast of Long Island by US authorities and its occupants were arrested. This resulted in a case that was argued in the United States Supreme Court in the year 1841. Arguing successfully for the defense in the case was the prominent politician from question 2 above. Name the ship.

7. Kesarbai Kerkar was a Hindustani classical vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. She is considered one of the best and most influential Hindustani singers of the 20th century. She enjoys a unique distinction amongst the practitioners of her art; her rendition of Jaat Kahan Ho in Raga Bhairavi brought her this distinction. What is that distinction?

8. Below is a satellite picture of a city and its surroundings. The historic heart of this city is the little thumb-shaped protrusion of land from the landmass on the left at its bottom (look in the bottom-center of the picture). In its heyday, the city was the capital of a succession of empires, but today it is not the capital of the country it is located in. Name this city.
Wednesday Trivia #29: Jun 20, 2012 Qn10

9. The UK’s largest bank was started by Scotsman Sir Thomas Sutherland in 1865. It acquired significant business interests within the UK only in 1990, with the acquisition of Midland Bank. That acquisition also required the bank to move its headquarters to London. What is the full original name of this bank, and where was its earlier headquarters located?

10. What is common to the following movies: Barbary Coast (1935), The Maltese Falcon (1941), Basic Instinct (1992), Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967), The Graduate (1969), Play it Again, Sam (1972) and Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)?

by Guest Wed Jun 20, 2012 2:55 am

panini press wrote:3. This name has various meanings in Indian history. First, it is the name of an ancient sage, and therefore the root for the name of a gOtram. Second, it is the name of the first disciple of the Buddha, and therefore the very first bhikku and arahant in the history of Buddhism. Third, the name is prominent in the history of Indianized kingdoms in southeast Asia. For instance, the earliest historical sources about the Khmer and Funan peoples describe a Brahmin by this name as their ancestor. What is this name?

ananda?

4. Somapura Mahavihara is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the largest Buddhist archaeological complex in the Indian subcontinent. In ancient times, the vihAra was the site of a university. Records indicate that the university was part of a broader network of seats of learning – a network that included more famous universities at Nalanda and Vikramashila. Where is Somapura Mahavihara located?

wow. never heard of this vihara (or if i have, i have forgotten). my guess is bengal!

by Guest Wed Jun 20, 2012 3:00 am

panini press wrote:1. The Middle Passage is the name given to one of history’s most perilous journeys with a high mortality rate. Major causes of death on this route included epidemics, scurvy, starvation, murder and suicide. Where did the Middle Passage start and where it end? Why was it called the Middle Passage?

something to do with africa (v. s. naipaul).

edit. africa to usa -- slave trade.

by Guest Wed Jun 20, 2012 3:16 am

Huzefa Kapasi wrote:
panini press wrote:1. The Middle Passage is the name given to one of history’s most perilous journeys with a high mortality rate. Major causes of death on this route included epidemics, scurvy, starvation, murder and suicide. Where did the Middle Passage start and where it end? Why was it called the Middle Passage?

something to do with africa (v. s. naipaul).

edit. africa to ~~usa~~ americas -- slave trade.

by Merlot Daruwala Wed Jun 20, 2012 3:20 am

panini press wrote:3. This name has various meanings in Indian history. First, it is the name of an ancient sage, and therefore the root for the name of a gOtram. Second, it is the name of the first disciple of the Buddha, and therefore the very first bhikku and arahant in the history of Buddhism. Third, the name is prominent in the history of Indianized kingdoms in southeast Asia. For instance, the earliest historical sources about the Khmer and Funan peoples describe a Brahmin by this name as their ancestor. What is this name?

Kashyapa?

panini press wrote:7. Kesarbai Kerkar was a Hindustani classical vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. She is considered one of the best and most influential Hindustani singers of the 20th century. She enjoys a unique distinction amongst the practitioners of her art; her rendition of Jaat Kahan Ho in Raga Bhairavi brought her this distinction. What is that distinction?

Two guesses: She was the first Hindustani classical singer to (a) provide a background score in a Hindi movie? (b) to feature on the radio?

panini press wrote:8. Below is a satellite picture of a city and its surroundings. The historic heart of this city is the little thumb-shaped protrusion of land from the landmass on the left at its bottom (look in the bottom-center of the picture). In its heyday, the city was the capital of a succession of empires, but today it is not the capital of the country it is located in. Name this city.

Istanbul?

panini press wrote:9. The UK’s largest bank was started by Scotsman Sir Thomas Sutherland in 1865. It acquired significant business interests within the UK only in 1990, with the acquisition of Midland Bank. That acquisition also required the bank to move its headquarters to London. What is the full original name of this bank, and where was its earlier headquarters located?

Standard Chartered Bank and Hong Kong?

by Guest Wed Jun 20, 2012 3:51 am

panini press wrote:

9. The UK’s largest bank was started by Scotsman Sir Thomas Sutherland in 1865. It acquired significant business interests within the UK only in 1990, with the acquisition of Midland Bank. That acquisition also required the bank to move its headquarters to London. What is the full original name of this bank, and where was its earlier headquarters located?

HSBC, Hong Kong

by Guest Wed Jun 20, 2012 3:57 am

panini press wrote:

2. He held many prominent positions in the United States government, including President, Secretary of State, Senator and Member of the House of Representatives. His greatest accomplishments were writing the Monroe Doctrine and orchestrating the Treaty of Ghent that ended the War of 1812. He served just one term as president and lost his reelection bid. He then served for 17 years as a Congressman – the only former president to ever serve in the House after completing his stint as president. Name this politician who became an ardent opponent of the slave trade.

James Monroe??

by Guest Wed Jun 20, 2012 4:01 am

Merlot Daruwala wrote:
panini press wrote:3. This name has various meanings in Indian history. First, it is the name of an ancient sage, and therefore the root for the name of a gOtram. Second, it is the name of the first disciple of the Buddha, and therefore the very first bhikku and arahant in the history of Buddhism. Third, the name is prominent in the history of Indianized kingdoms in southeast Asia. For instance, the earliest historical sources about the Khmer and Funan peoples describe a Brahmin by this name as their ancestor. What is this name?
Kashyapa?

that was going to be my first guess but i am unsure if there was a disciple of buddha by that name.

by Kris Wed Jun 20, 2012 11:01 am

panini press wrote:1. The Middle Passage is the name given to one of history’s most perilous journeys with a high mortality rate. Major causes of death on this route included epidemics, scurvy, starvation, murder and suicide. Where did the Middle Passage start and where it end? Why was it called the Middle Passage?

>>>>West Africa to the Americas to deliver slaves. The boats would go from england to the west of africa on the first leg, cross the atlantic after that, pick up items from the americas for delivery to england on the last leg.

2. He held many prominent positions in the United States government, including President, Secretary of State, Senator and Member of the House of Representatives. His greatest accomplishments were writing the Monroe Doctrine and orchestrating the Treaty of Ghent that ended the War of 1812. He served just one term as president and lost his reelection bid. He then served for 17 years as a Congressman – the only former president to ever serve in the House after completing his stint as president. Name this politician who became an ardent opponent of the slave trade.

>>>>Jefferson?

3. This name has various meanings in Indian history. First, it is the name of an ancient sage, and therefore the root for the name of a gOtram. Second, it is the name of the first disciple of the Buddha, and therefore the very first bhikku and arahant in the history of Buddhism. Third, the name is prominent in the history of Indianized kingdoms in southeast Asia. For instance, the earliest historical sources about the Khmer and Funan peoples describe a Brahmin by this name as their ancestor. What is this name?

>>>kaundinya (alos happens to be my gotram:)

4. Somapura Mahavihara is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the largest Buddhist archaeological complex in the Indian subcontinent. In ancient times, the vihAra was the site of a university. Records indicate that the university was part of a broader network of seats of learning – a network that included more famous universities at Nalanda and Vikramashila. Where is Somapura Mahavihara located?

>>>Ajanta?

5. When the Space Shuttle program ended last year, three of the original five orbiters were still available (the other two were lost in accidents). Those orbiters have now been moved to be displayed in different museums around the country. The process by which NASA decided who gets those orbiters attracted some controversy and an internal investigation. Name at least one of the three locations that received an orbiter for display.

>>>Smithsonian?

6. It was a two-masted schooner built in Spain in the 19th century. On a routine voyage from Havana to Puerto Principe in Cuba, there was a mutiny and the ship was taken over. The ship was spotted off the coast of Long Island by US authorities and its occupants were arrested. This resulted in a case that was argued in the United States Supreme Court in the year 1841. Arguing successfully for the defense in the case was the prominent politician from question 2 above. Name the ship.

>>>Amistad?

7. Kesarbai Kerkar was a Hindustani classical vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. She is considered one of the best and most influential Hindustani singers of the 20th century. She enjoys a unique distinction amongst the practitioners of her art; her rendition of Jaat Kahan Ho in Raga Bhairavi brought her this distinction. What is that distinction?

8. Below is a satellite picture of a city and its surroundings. The historic heart of this city is the little thumb-shaped protrusion of land from the landmass on the left at its bottom (look in the bottom-center of the picture). In its heyday, the city was the capital of a succession of empires, but today it is not the capital of the country it is located in. Name this city.

9. The UK’s largest bank was started by Scotsman Sir Thomas Sutherland in 1865. It acquired significant business interests within the UK only in 1990, with the acquisition of Midland Bank. That acquisition also required the bank to move its headquarters to London. What is the full original name of this bank, and where was its earlier headquarters located?

>>>> royal bank of scotland? edinburgh

10. What is common to the following movies: Barbary Coast (1935), The Maltese Falcon (1941), Basic Instinct (1992), Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967), The Graduate (1969), Play it Again, Sam (1972) and Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)?

by indophile Wed Jun 20, 2012 12:42 pm

1.
1. Goods
from Europe to West Africa were first bartered for slaves. The slaves were then
shipped to North and South America. The slave transport was called Middle
Passage.

2.
2, John Quincy Adamas, son of the 2^nd
President John Adams.

3.
3. Kashyapa

4.
4. Rajasthan

5.
5. Air and Space museum near Dulles Airport in Northern
Virginia

6.
6. Amistad

7.
XX

8.
8. Persepolis, Iran

9.
XX

10.
10. San Francisco

by Idéfix Wed Jun 20, 2012 1:41 pm

Huzefa Kapasi wrote:ananda?

Nope.

Huzefa Kapasi wrote:wow. never heard of this vihara (or if i have, i have forgotten). my guess is bengal!

Good guess. Want to get more specific than that?

by Idéfix Wed Jun 20, 2012 1:41 pm

Huzefa Kapasi wrote:
panini press wrote:1. The Middle Passage is the name given to one of history’s most perilous journeys with a high mortality rate. Major causes of death on this route included epidemics, scurvy, starvation, murder and suicide. Where did the Middle Passage start and where it end? Why was it called the Middle Passage?

something to do with africa (v. s. naipaul).

edit. africa to usa -- slave trade.

Yes.

by Idéfix Wed Jun 20, 2012 1:42 pm

Merlot Daruwala wrote:
panini press wrote:3. This name has various meanings in Indian history. First, it is the name of an ancient sage, and therefore the root for the name of a gOtram. Second, it is the name of the first disciple of the Buddha, and therefore the very first bhikku and arahant in the history of Buddhism. Third, the name is prominent in the history of Indianized kingdoms in southeast Asia. For instance, the earliest historical sources about the Khmer and Funan peoples describe a Brahmin by this name as their ancestor. What is this name?
Kashyapa?

No.

Merlot Daruwala wrote:
panini press wrote:7. Kesarbai Kerkar was a Hindustani classical vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. She is considered one of the best and most influential Hindustani singers of the 20th century. She enjoys a unique distinction amongst the practitioners of her art; her rendition of Jaat Kahan Ho in Raga Bhairavi brought her this distinction. What is that distinction?

Two guesses: She was the first Hindustani classical singer to (a) provide a background score in a Hindi movie? (b) to feature on the radio?

Good guesses, but both wrong. Will provide hints in a bit.

Merlot Daruwala wrote:
panini press wrote:8. Below is a satellite picture of a city and its surroundings. The historic heart of this city is the little thumb-shaped protrusion of land from the landmass on the left at its bottom (look in the bottom-center of the picture). In its heyday, the city was the capital of a succession of empires, but today it is not the capital of the country it is located in. Name this city.
Istanbul?

Correct!

Merlot Daruwala wrote:
panini press wrote:9. The UK’s largest bank was started by Scotsman Sir Thomas Sutherland in 1865. It acquired significant business interests within the UK only in 1990, with the acquisition of Midland Bank. That acquisition also required the bank to move its headquarters to London. What is the full original name of this bank, and where was its earlier headquarters located?

Standard Chartered Bank and Hong Kong?

Hong Kong is right, but it's another bank.

by Idéfix Wed Jun 20, 2012 1:43 pm

blabberwock wrote:
panini press wrote:

9. The UK’s largest bank was started by Scotsman Sir Thomas Sutherland in 1865. It acquired significant business interests within the UK only in 1990, with the acquisition of Midland Bank. That acquisition also required the bank to move its headquarters to London. What is the full original name of this bank, and where was its earlier headquarters located?

HSBC, Hong Kong

Correct. I was looking for the full original name -- so what do the initials HSBC stand for?

by Idéfix Wed Jun 20, 2012 1:44 pm

blabberwock wrote:
panini press wrote:

2. He held many prominent positions in the United States government, including President, Secretary of State, Senator and Member of the House of Representatives. His greatest accomplishments were writing the Monroe Doctrine and orchestrating the Treaty of Ghent that ended the War of 1812. He served just one term as president and lost his reelection bid. He then served for 17 years as a Congressman – the only former president to ever serve in the House after completing his stint as president. Name this politician who became an ardent opponent of the slave trade.

James Monroe??

No, his Secretary of State.

by Idéfix Wed Jun 20, 2012 1:48 pm

Kris wrote:1. The Middle Passage is the name given to one of history’s most perilous journeys with a high mortality rate. Major causes of death on this route included epidemics, scurvy, starvation, murder and suicide. Where did the Middle Passage start and where it end? Why was it called the Middle Passage?

>>>>West Africa to the Americas to deliver slaves. The boats would go from england to the west of africa on the first leg, cross the atlantic after that, pick up items from the americas for delivery to england on the last leg.

Correct, that is the complete answer I was looking for.

Kris wrote:2. He held many prominent positions in the United States government, including President, Secretary of State, Senator and Member of the House of Representatives. His greatest accomplishments were writing the Monroe Doctrine and orchestrating the Treaty of Ghent that ended the War of 1812. He served just one term as president and lost his reelection bid. He then served for 17 years as a Congressman – the only former president to ever serve in the House after completing his stint as president. Name this politician who became an ardent opponent of the slave trade.

>>>>Jefferson?

Nope.

Kris wrote:3. This name has various meanings in Indian history. First, it is the name of an ancient sage, and therefore the root for the name of a gOtram. Second, it is the name of the first disciple of the Buddha, and therefore the very first bhikku and arahant in the history of Buddhism. Third, the name is prominent in the history of Indianized kingdoms in southeast Asia. For instance, the earliest historical sources about the Khmer and Funan peoples describe a Brahmin by this name as their ancestor. What is this name?

>>>kaundinya (alos happens to be my gotram:)

Correct!

Kris wrote:4. Somapura Mahavihara is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the largest Buddhist archaeological complex in the Indian subcontinent. In ancient times, the vihAra was the site of a university. Records indicate that the university was part of a broader network of seats of learning – a network that included more famous universities at Nalanda and Vikramashila. Where is Somapura Mahavihara located?

>>>Ajanta?

No, it is in Bengal.

Kris wrote:5. When the Space Shuttle program ended last year, three of the original five orbiters were still available (the other two were lost in accidents). Those orbiters have now been moved to be displayed in different museums around the country. The process by which NASA decided who gets those orbiters attracted some controversy and an internal investigation. Name at least one of the three locations that received an orbiter for display.

>>>Smithsonian?

Yes, Discovery will be displayed by the Smithsonian at its Air & Space Museum near Washington-Dulles airport.

Kris wrote:6. It was a two-masted schooner built in Spain in the 19th century. On a routine voyage from Havana to Puerto Principe in Cuba, there was a mutiny and the ship was taken over. The ship was spotted off the coast of Long Island by US authorities and its occupants were arrested. This resulted in a case that was argued in the United States Supreme Court in the year 1841. Arguing successfully for the defense in the case was the prominent politician from question 2 above. Name the ship.

>>>Amistad?

Correct!

Kris wrote:
9. The UK’s largest bank was started by Scotsman Sir Thomas Sutherland in 1865. It acquired significant business interests within the UK only in 1990, with the acquisition of Midland Bank. That acquisition also required the bank to move its headquarters to London. What is the full original name of this bank, and where was its earlier headquarters located?

>>>> royal bank of scotland? edinburgh

No, it is HSBC originally out of Hong Kong.

Kris wrote:10. What is common to the following movies: Barbary Coast (1935), The Maltese Falcon (1941), Basic Instinct (1992), Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967), The Graduate (1969), Play it Again, Sam (1972) and Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)?

I was expecting you would get this!

by Idéfix Wed Jun 20, 2012 1:50 pm

indophile wrote:1.
1. Goods
from Europe to West Africa were first bartered for slaves. The slaves were then
shipped to North and South America. The slave transport was called Middle
Passage.

Correct.

indophile wrote:
2.
2, John Quincy Adamas, son of the 2^nd
President John Adams.

Correct!

indophile wrote:3.
3. Kashyapa

No, it is Kaundinya.

indophile wrote:4.
4. Rajasthan

No, it is Bengal.

indophile wrote:5.
5. Air and Space museum near Dulles Airport in Northern
Virginia

Correct. Any guesses about the other two shuttles are welcome.

indophile wrote:6.
6. Amistad

Correct.

indophile wrote:
8.
8. Persepolis, Iran

No, it is Istanbul, Turkey.

indophile wrote:
10.
10. San Francisco

Correct! They were all set in or near San Francisco.

by Idéfix Wed Jun 20, 2012 1:59 pm

Here is an update with hints.

7. Kesarbai Kerkar was a Hindustani classical vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. She is considered one of the best and most influential Hindustani singers of the 20th century. She enjoys a unique distinction amongst the practitioners of her art; her rendition of Jaat Kahan Ho in Raga Bhairavi brought her this distinction. What is that distinction?

Hint: Her work was included in a rather unique collection. Among other artists featured in that collection were: Johann Sebastian Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Stravinsky, Chuck Berry and Blind Willie Johnson. There were no other Indian artists featured in the collection.

9. The UK’s largest bank was started by Scotsman Sir Thomas Sutherland in 1865. It acquired significant business interests within the UK only in 1990, with the acquisition of Midland Bank. That acquisition also required the bank to move its headquarters to London. What is the full original name of this bank, and where was its earlier headquarters located?

Hint: The bank is HSBC and it was originally based in Hong Kong. What do the initials HSBC stand for?

by Guest Wed Jun 20, 2012 2:11 pm

panini press wrote:
Huzefa Kapasi wrote:ananda?
Nope.

Huzefa Kapasi wrote:wow. never heard of this vihara (or if i have, i have forgotten). my guess is bengal!
Good guess. Want to get more specific than that?

bangladesh!!

by Idéfix Wed Jun 20, 2012 2:13 pm

Huzefa Kapasi wrote:
panini press wrote:
Huzefa Kapasi wrote:ananda?
Nope.

Huzefa Kapasi wrote:wow. never heard of this vihara (or if i have, i have forgotten). my guess is bengal!
Good guess. Want to get more specific than that?

bangladesh!!

Yessir. That may be one reason you haven't heard about it.

by Guest Wed Jun 20, 2012 2:18 pm

yes. add to that that this vIhara is known only by (recent) excavations and not through any accounts by foreign visitors.

by indophile Wed Jun 20, 2012 3:08 pm

panini press wrote:
indophile wrote:

5. Air and Space museum near Dulles Airport in Northern
Virginia
Correct. Any guesses about the other two shuttles are welcome.

I know a second one was sent to New York City.

I am guessing the third one being sent out west.

by Idéfix Wed Jun 20, 2012 7:25 pm

indophile wrote:
panini press wrote:
indophile wrote:

5. Air and Space museum near Dulles Airport in Northern
Virginia
Correct. Any guesses about the other two shuttles are welcome.

I know a second one was sent to New York City.

I am guessing the third one being sent out west.

New York actually got Enterprise, the one without engines that was on display at the Air and Space Museum on the national mall in DC. One of the orbiters is on display at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and the other is going west, as you guessed, to Los Angeles.

by Obnoxious Wed Jun 20, 2012 7:41 pm

panini press wrote:Here is an update with hints.

7. Kesarbai Kerkar was a Hindustani classical vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. She is considered one of the best and most influential Hindustani singers of the 20th century. She enjoys a unique distinction amongst the practitioners of her art; her rendition of Jaat Kahan Ho in Raga Bhairavi brought her this distinction. What is that distinction?

Hint: Her work was included in a rather unique collection. Among other artists featured in that collection were: Johann Sebastian Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Stravinsky, Chuck Berry and Blind Willie Johnson. There were no other Indian artists featured in the collection.

Was on voyager?

9. The UK’s largest bank was started by Scotsman Sir Thomas Sutherland in 1865. It acquired significant business interests within the UK only in 1990, with the acquisition of Midland Bank. That acquisition also required the bank to move its headquarters to London. What is the full original name of this bank, and where was its earlier headquarters located?

Hint: The bank is HSBC and it was originally based in Hong Kong. What do the initials HSBC stand for?

Hongkong Shanghai Banking Corporation.

by Idéfix Wed Jun 20, 2012 9:29 pm

Silk Smitha wrote:
panini press wrote:Here is an update with hints.

7. Kesarbai Kerkar was a Hindustani classical vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. She is considered one of the best and most influential Hindustani singers of the 20th century. She enjoys a unique distinction amongst the practitioners of her art; her rendition of Jaat Kahan Ho in Raga Bhairavi brought her this distinction. What is that distinction?

Hint: Her work was included in a rather unique collection. Among other artists featured in that collection were: Johann Sebastian Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Stravinsky, Chuck Berry and Blind Willie Johnson. There were no other Indian artists featured in the collection.

Was on voyager?

9. The UK’s largest bank was started by Scotsman Sir Thomas Sutherland in 1865. It acquired significant business interests within the UK only in 1990, with the acquisition of Midland Bank. That acquisition also required the bank to move its headquarters to London. What is the full original name of this bank, and where was its earlier headquarters located?

Hint: The bank is HSBC and it was originally based in Hong Kong. What do the initials HSBC stand for?

Hongkong Shanghai Banking Corporation.

Perfect -- right on both! All questions are answered now.

by Idéfix Tue Jun 26, 2012 12:23 am

Just to close this out properly, here are the answers.

1. The Middle Passage is the name given to one of history’s most perilous journeys with a high mortality rate. Major causes of death on this route included epidemics, scurvy, starvation, murder and suicide. Where did the Middle Passage start and where it end? Why was it called the Middle Passage?

Answer: The Middle Passage was the middle leg of the three-leg voyage that ships involved in the slave trade undertook. It went from West Africa to the Americas, carrying slaves that were bought in Africa in exchange for goods from Europe. After selling slaves, the ships loaded up produce from the Americas for sale in Europe. Millions of Africans were subjected to this perilous journey.

2. He held many prominent positions in the United States government, including President, Secretary of State, Senator and Member of the House of Representatives. His greatest accomplishments were writing the Monroe Doctrine and orchestrating the Treaty of Ghent that ended the War of 1812. He served just one term as president and lost his reelection bid. He then served for 17 years as a Congressman – the only former president to ever serve in the House after completing his stint as president. Name this politician who became an ardent opponent of the slave trade.

Answer: John Quincy Adams, son of John Adams.

3. This name has various meanings in Indian history. First, it is the name of an ancient sage, and therefore the root for the name of a gOtram. Second, it is the name of the first disciple of the Buddha, and therefore the very first bhikku and arahant in the history of Buddhism. Third, the name is prominent in the history of Indianized kingdoms in southeast Asia. For instance, the earliest historical sources about the Khmer and Funan peoples describe a Brahmin by this name as their ancestor. What is this name?

Answer: Kaundinya

4. Somapura Mahavihara is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the largest Buddhist archaeological complex in the Indian subcontinent. In ancient times, the vihAra was the site of a university. Records indicate that the university was part of a broader network of seats of learning – a network that included more famous universities at Nalanda and Vikramashila. Where is Somapura Mahavihara located?

Answer: Bangladesh

5. When the Space Shuttle program ended last year, three of the original five orbiters were still available (the other two were lost in accidents). Those orbiters have now been moved to be displayed in different museums around the country. The process by which NASA decided who gets those orbiters attracted some controversy and an internal investigation. Name at least one of the three locations that received an orbiter for display.

Answer: One orbiter is on display at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. One is at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum near Dulles Airport in Virginia. The third is going to Los Angeles.

6. It was a two-masted schooner built in Spain in the 19th century. On a routine voyage from Havana to Puerto Principe in Cuba, there was a mutiny and the ship was taken over. The ship was spotted off the coast of Long Island by US authorities and its occupants were arrested. This resulted in a case that was argued in the United States Supreme Court in the year 1841. Arguing successfully for the defense in the case was the prominent politician from question 2 above. Name the ship.

Answer: La Amistad. John Quincy Adams successfully argued for the mutineers on that ship to be set free. The slaves who took over the ship were eventually sent back to West Africa.

7. Kesarbai Kerkar was a Hindustani classical vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. She is considered one of the best and most influential Hindustani singers of the 20th century. She enjoys a unique distinction amongst the practitioners of her art; her rendition of Jaat Kahan Ho in Raga Bhairavi brought her this distinction. What is that distinction?

Answer: She is the only Indian musician whose work is featured on the Voyager Golden Record which was placed inside the Voyager spacecraft as humanity's gift to any extraterrestrial civilization that might find that spacecraft. The Record also included greetings in a number of Indian languages.

8. Below is a satellite picture of a city and its surroundings. The historic heart of this city is the little thumb-shaped protrusion of land from the landmass on the left at its bottom (look in the bottom-center of the picture). In its heyday, the city was the capital of a succession of empires, but today it is not the capital of the country it is located in. Name this city.
Wednesday Trivia #29: Jun 20, 2012 Qn10

Answer: Istanbul

9. The UK’s largest bank was started by Scotsman Sir Thomas Sutherland in 1865. It acquired significant business interests within the UK only in 1990, with the acquisition of Midland Bank. That acquisition also required the bank to move its headquarters to London. What is the full original name of this bank, and where was its earlier headquarters located?

Answer: HSBC, The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, Hong Kong.

10. What is common to the following movies: Barbary Coast (1935), The Maltese Falcon (1941), Basic Instinct (1992), Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967), The Graduate (1969), Play it Again, Sam (1972) and Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)?

Answer: All these movies were based in or around San Francisco.

by Idéfix Tue Jun 26, 2012 1:23 am

Here's the upcoming schedule:

June 27: Indo
July 4: BW
July 11: PI
July 18: PP
July 25: Indo
Aug 2: HK (substituting for BW)
Aug 9: PI

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