Myth You
Myth you 10
An expression describing an action that seems harmless at first but unleashes a multitude of unforeseen problems is associated with which figure from Greek mythology?
Brand new 10
This fictional company has appeared throughout Pixar films, but it is most famously associated with a certain blue race car and a sponsorship deal in the world of professional racing. Its logo can also be spotted in Toy Story. What is the name of this company?
Sign of times 10
The hammer and sickle became one of the most recognisable political symbols of the 20th century. The hammer represented industrial workers, while the sickle represented agricultural workers. Which ideology did this combination become most strongly associated with?
Hit the ground running 10
A British-Irish boy band formed on a television talent show released its first studio album in 2011. Rather than slowly building an American audience, the album entered the US Billboard 200 at number one, making them the first British group to achieve that with a debut album. Which group was this?
Fond meme-ories 10
A 1987 pop song spent years as a fairly ordinary hit before the Internet gave it an entirely new purpose. Users began disguising links to its music video as something else, turning an unsuspecting click into a familiar musical bait-and-switch. What song became the centre of this legendary Internet prank?
Myth you 20
Someone who seems extraordinarily successful at almost everything they attempt is sometimes said to possess a special “touch.” Which legendary king is associated with the origin of this expression?
Brand new 20
In a world where superheroes are managed more like celebrities than vigilantes, one enormous corporation handles their contracts, endorsements, merchandise and public image. Behind the carefully polished image, however, the company is hiding some very dark secrets about how its superheroes are created. What corporation is this?
Sign of times 20
This symbol, now commonly used to represent women, originally had nothing to do with gender. Ancient astronomers used it to represent a planet, while its association with women developed much later. The planet itself was named after a Roman goddess. Which planet does the symbol represent?
Hit the ground running 20
A relatively unknown New Zealand beekeeper joined a British expedition attempting something that had never been accomplished. On his first attempt at the world's highest mountain, he reached the summit alongside his Sherpa companion, permanently attaching both their names to one of the greatest achievements in mountaineering. Who was he?
Fond meme-ories 20
A three-letter abbreviation originally associated with video games eventually escaped gaming culture. On the Internet, it began being used to describe people who supposedly repeat predictable opinions or behave without independent thought. What abbreviation became associated with this idea?
Myth you 30
A word describing the repetition of a sound comes from the name of a figure in Greek mythology who was cursed so that she could no longer speak freely and could only repeat the words of others. Who was she?
Brand new 30
Two brothers who have little interest in following conventional career paths use prize money from a dangerous magical tournament to turn their entrepreneurial ambitions into reality. Their shop becomes famous for products such as Extendable Ears, Skiving Snackboxes and Pygmy Puffs. What is the name of their business?
Sign of times 30
One of the world's most recognisable technology logos is secretly built from two characters belonging to an ancient Scandinavian writing system. Those characters are the initials of a medieval Danish king whose nickname refers to the colour of one of his teeth. Who was this king?
Hit the ground running 30
A Soviet pilot was selected for an extremely secretive new programme during the early years of the Space Race. On his very first mission into space, he became the first human to leave Earth, completing a single orbit before returning safely. The entire journey lasted less than two hours. Who was he?
Fond meme-ories 30
A superhero film became the subject of an elaborate Internet joke in which users pretended it was an enormous cultural phenomenon, inventing increasingly absurd claims about its success and even a catchphrase supposedly shouted by its protagonist. Complete the fictional catchphrase: “It’s ______ Time!”
Myth you 40
Someone who leaves their family or community, squanders what they have, and eventually returns may be described using a phrase originating from one of Jesus' best-known parables. What is the phrase?
Brand new 40
A small family-run business in Scranton becomes a threat to a much larger company after quietly taking some of its customers. Two employees are sent undercover to learn how the rival operates, but the mission becomes awkward when one of them starts sympathizing with the family and their way of doing business. What is the name of this company?
Sign of times 40
During the Golden Age of Piracy, sailors sometimes raised distinctive flags before attacking or demanding surrender. The most famous of these featured a skull and crossed bones, although pirates used many different designs. By what name did these pirate flags become commonly known?
Hit the ground running 40
An Indian opening batsman was finally handed his Test debut against Australia after having spent years establishing himself in limited-overs cricket. He responded by scoring 187 runs, reaching his century from just 85 balls — the fastest century ever scored by a batsman on Test debut. Who was he?
Fond meme-ories 40
In 2019, an online event invited people to descend upon a highly secretive American military installation on a particular September morning. The event description jokingly proposed that everyone should run in an unusual way so that security guards would supposedly be unable to stop them. Millions expressed interest online, and thousands actually travelled to the surrounding area. What location was at the centre of this bizarre Internet phenomenon?
Myth you 50
An expression meaning to solve an apparently impossible or extremely complicated problem through a bold and unconventional approach originates from a famous episode involving which historical conqueror?
Brand new 50
A biotechnology company achieves what should have been impossible by using recovered genetic material to recreate animals that had disappeared millions of years earlier. Its ambitious attempt to turn this scientific breakthrough into a tourist attraction ultimately leads to one of cinema's most famous disasters. What is the name of the company?
Sign of times 50
This mark looks almost like a backwards-looking letter P and can still be revealed using the formatting tools of modern word processors. Centuries before computers, scribes used it to mark the beginning of a new paragraph or section of text. What is this symbol called?
Hit the ground running 50
In 1982, a hugely popular Indian film star decided to enter politics by founding his own political party. With no previous political career, he contested the very next state election and won 201 of the 294 seats in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, sweeping into power almost immediately. Today, his legacy also lives on through a grandson who has become one of Telugu cinema's biggest stars, including his role in RRR. Who was this actor-turned-politician?
Fond meme-ories 50
Beginning in 2012, mysterious posts appeared online containing extraordinarily difficult puzzles involving cryptography, hidden messages and obscure texts. Solvers who progressed far enough reportedly discovered clues placed in physical locations across multiple countries. The people behind the puzzles claimed they were searching for exceptionally intelligent individuals, but their true identity and ultimate purpose remain unknown. What was this mysterious Internet phenomenon called?