Billion-Dollar Brands
Q: What company acquired Beats by Dre in 2014 for $3 billion?
A: Apple
✅ It was Apple’s largest acquisition at the time, and brought in both headphones and music streaming.
Q: What setting on a washing machine is best for preserving dark-colored clothes?
A: Cold water / gentle cycle
✅ Cold water prevents fading and shrinkage.
What 1957 Swiss-designed font is still widely used in logos like American Airlines and Toyota?
A: Helvetica
✅ A clean, neutral typeface popular in minimalist branding.
Q: What type of pasta’s name literally means “little tongues” in Italian?
A: Linguine
✅ Thinner than fettuccine, often paired with seafood sauces.
Q: “Don’t go chasing ___, please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to.”
A: Waterfalls (TLC – 1995)
✅ A cautionary R&B anthem.
Q: Who co-founded Fenty Beauty with Rihanna and owns 51% of it?
A: LVMH
✅ The luxury conglomerate behind Louis Vuitton, Moët & Hennessy partnered with her.
What common kitchen item can be used to remove tarnish from silverware?
Aluminum foil and baking soda
✅ Creates a chemical reaction that lifts the tarnish.
Q: Which logo has remained nearly unchanged since 1886 and is often cited as the most recognizable globally?
A: Coca-Cola
✅ Its signature Spencerian script is a cornerstone of brand consistency.
Q: What is the Japanese term for the savory “fifth taste,” distinct from sweet, sour, salty, and bitter?
A: Umami
✅ Identified in the 1900s — found in soy sauce, tomatoes, mushrooms, and parmesan.
Q: Which rapper said: “I'm not a businessman, I'm a business, man”?
A: Jay-Z
✅ From “Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)” — classic wordplay.
Q: Which Chinese tech brand owns both TikTok and CapCut?
A: ByteDance
✅ Founded in 2012, it became one of the most valuable startups globally.
What type of fire should you NEVER put water on?
Grease or oil fire
✅ Water makes it explode — use a lid, baking soda, or a Class K extinguisher.
Q: What is “kerning” in typography?
A: The spacing between letters
✅ Bad kerning can ruin a design even with a good font.
Q: What Japanese cooking technique involves grilling over charcoal, often with skewers?
A: Yakitori
✅ Typically done over binchotan charcoal for intense heat and flavor.
Q: “You could be my black Kate Moss tonight / Play secretary, I’m the boss tonight” — whose lyrics?
A: Nicki Minaj (from Monster)
✅ Iconic guest verse that stole the whole song.
Which brand became the fastest-ever to reach a $1 billion valuation after being founded by a former Uber employee in 2020?
A: Clubhouse
✅ Its invite-only audio model boomed during COVID — before fading fast.
What’s the safest legal way to terminate a contract early without penalty?
Mutual agreement / termination clause
✅ Always check for a “termination for convenience” clause or renegotiate.
Q: What design principle uses contrast and hierarchy to draw attention to key elements?
A: Visual hierarchy
✅ How we naturally scan and prioritize elements on a page.
Q: What is the term for coffee brewed by steeping grounds in cold water for 12–24 hours?
A: Cold brew
✅ Lower acidity, smoother than iced coffee.
Q: What 2000s hit starts with: “I’m feelin’ like a star, you can’t stop my shine…”?
A: Replay – Iyaz (2009)
✅ One-hit wonder with Caribbean pop flair.
Who founded Glossier after running a blog called “Into The Gloss”?
A: Emily Weiss
✅ She turned beauty content into a direct-to-consumer cosmetics empire.
In home rentals, what does "prorated rent" refer to?
A: Rent adjusted based on move-in/move-out mid-month
✅ Calculated per day — useful when not occupying for a full month.
Q: What architectural style is Le Corbusier associated with?
A: Brutalism / Modernism
✅ He was a pioneer of minimalist, concrete-heavy urban architecture.
Q: What is the name of the umami-rich paste made from fermented soybeans and rice or barley?
A: Miso
✅ Used in soup, dressings, and marinades — red miso is saltier and aged longer.
Q: What song features the lyric: “We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year”?
A: “Wish You Were Here” – Pink Floyd
✅ A haunting classic about absence and disillusionment in the music industry.