Question 1: What Hindu festival, known as the "festival of lights", celebrates the triumph of good over evil?
Question 2: Why is the Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo da Vinci so famous?
The Mona Lisa's mysterious smile has intrigued viewers for centuries, contributing to its status as one of the most famous paintings in the world. The subtle expression seems to change depending on the angle and has been the subject of much speculation and analysis.
Question 3: Which classic novel by Jules Verne tells the story of Phileas Fogg's attempt to circumnavigate the world in 80 days?
Jules Verne's novel "Around the World in Eighty Days," published in 1873, follows the adventurous journey of Phileas Fogg and his valet Passepartout as they attempt to circumnavigate the globe in just 80 days, inspired by the opening of a new railway section in India. The novel is a classic example of Verne's pioneering science fiction and adventure writing.
Question 4: If 3x - 7 = 8, what is the value of 6x - 14?
To solve for x in the equation 3x - 7 = 8, add 7 to both sides, then divide by 3. This gives x = 5. Substituting this value into the expression 6x - 14 yields 6(5) - 14 = 30 - 14 = 16.
Question 5: What sport has been played at every modern Olympic Games since 1896?
Athletics, which encompasses various track and field events, has been a permanent fixture of the modern Olympic Games since they began in 1896. This versatile sport includes events such as running, jumping, and throwing, and showcases the wide range of physical abilities and skill sets of the participating athletes.
Question 6: When was the structure of DNA discovered?
The structure of DNA was discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953. Their work built upon prior research by Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins. Understanding DNA's double helix structure was a major scientific breakthrough.
Question 7: How many versions of The Scream were painted by Edvard Munch?
Edvard Munch created four versions of his iconic painting The Scream between 1893 and 1910. Two versions were done in pastels, while the other two were painted using oils on cardboard.
Question 8: In what year did the Chernobyl disaster occur?
Due to a catastrophic nuclear accident, a reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, near the city of Pripyat in the north of the Ukrainian SSR, exploded on April 26, 1986. The disaster released large amounts of radioactive particles into the atmosphere, which spread over much of the western USSR and Europe. It is considered the worst nuclear disaster in history and is one of only two nuclear energy accidents rated at seven—the maximum severity—on the International Nuclear Event Scale, the other being the Fukushima disaster in Japan in 2011.
Question 9: When was Elvis Presley born?
Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. He had a twin brother named Jesse Garon Presley who was stillborn, leaving Elvis to grow up as an only child. Elvis would have turned 88 years old in 2023.
Question 10: The "Mona Lisa" was created by which artist?
The "Mona Lisa" is a 16th-century portrait painted by Leonardo da Vinci during the Renaissance. It is currently housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, and is famous for its enigmatic smile.
Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. The festival typically lasts five days and is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists around the world.