World History
Name the American president who oversaw the Cuban Missile Crisis.
John F. Kennedy
At the Academy Awards in 2017, the announcers called out the wrong movie for 'Best Picture'. What was it?
La La Land (Moonlight was the actual winner)
Which religion has the largest number of adherents?
Christianity
In 1988, a controversial book published by a South Asian author led to a fatwa being calling for his assassination. Name the author OR the book.
Salman Rushdie's 'The Satanic Verses'
What is the most expensive spice by weight?
Saffron
What countries make up the Levantine region of the Middle East?
Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria
In 'The Godfather', who is the only non-Italian in the Corleone family?
Tom Hagen (being German-Irish, played by Robert Duvall)
Which Muslim dynasty ruled for the longest period of time?
The Ottomans or Uthmaniyah (1301~1922)
Which Mughal emperor is famous for his poetry?
Bahadur Shah Zafar
What fish did Norway introduce to Japan for raw consumption?
Salmon
What was the first capital of the British Empire in India?
Calcutta (now Kolkata)
How many appearances has Robert Downey Jr (who plays Tony Stark/ Iron-Man) made in the Marvel cinematic universe? (hint: there have been three Iron-Man movies...go from there)
Ten with cameos, and nine without. Iron-Man, The Incredible Hulk (cameo), Iron-Man 2, The Avengers, Iron-Man 3, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, Spiderman: Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame
Which flower is considered a sacred symbol by Hindus (representing higher consciousness and the exalted state of being)?
The lotus
What state is 'To Kill a Mockingbird' set in?
Alabama
What two ingredients are ground up to make dosa batter?
Rice and dal (lentils)
What is the most recent sovereign state to have been formed?
South Sudan
Who holds the record for the highest number of Oscar wins in acting?
Katherine Hepburn
How old was Siddharth Gautama (Buddha) when he left his palace to find enlightenment?
Twenty-nine
How does Cleopatra end her life in Shakespeare's 'Anthony and Cleopatra'?
She holds a poisonous snake to her, and dies by its bite
Which country is the largest exporter of chocolate in the world? (hint: it is NOT Belgium or Switzerland)
Germany
Who was the first woman to be elected Prime Minister? (hint: she was from a country in Asia)
Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1960
What is Martin Scorsese's highest grossing film?
The Wolf of Wall Street
According to Prophetic tradition, during which four months of the Islamic calendar is warfare forbidden? (hint: Ramadan is not included, Dhul Qa'dah is.)
Muharram, Rajab, Dhul Qa'dah, and Dhu al-Hijjah
Name the five Bennet sisters from Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice'.
Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Catherine "Kitty", and Lydia
Which color replaced the light brown Smarties in 1988?
Blue