Easy like Sunday morning

1. India is the largest producer of this fruit in the world, with more than 700 varieties being grown over the past 1,000 years. One of the most popular varieties was named after a famed Portuguese General who was probably the greatest Naval Commander of his age. He was responsible for introducing the method of ‘grafting’, which led to the production of this fruit. It is highly sought after as it has a long shelf life and has a rich taste. What fruit is this, rich in Iron, Selenium and Vitamin E, that is going to be on many tables this summer?

2. Originally this word referred to a cold drink made with sweetened and diluted fruit juice. Nowadays the word commonly refers to a frozen dessert made with milk (or cream), flavoured usually with fruit juice and even gelatin sometimes. The word comes from the Arabic word to drink — ‘Sarba’. In Tamil Nadu a popular version of this is made from the syrup obtained from the root of a Sarsaparilla plant (Nannari in Tamil). What refreshing beverage is this?

3. Australian researchers found out that this phenomenon was due to oil exuded by certain plants. This oil is released when a raindrop hits the soil and ‘geosmin’, which is a metabolic byproduct of some bacteria is also released with it. It has a certain name which comes from the Greek word for ‘stone’ and the fluid that flows in the veins of the gods. Scientists believe that we enjoy and appreciate this because our ancestors relied on this for survival. What is this and what is the name given to it?

4. Light energy can be converted into heat energy. Different wavelengths of light have different amounts of energy. An achromatic object does not contain any visible wavelengths; it absorbs all wavelengths and converts them to heat hence it becomes warm. Whereas an object which has all the wavelengths reflects incoming wavelengths and hence does not register too much increase in heat. This is the explanation for what rule that mothers keep telling their children during summer?

5. The U.S. Army Air Corps Colonel, John A. Macready, worked with Bausch & Lomb in 1929, to create aviation glasses that would reduce the distraction for pilots caused by the intense blue and white hues of the sky. The glasses used ‘Kalichrome’ lenses designed to sharpen details and minimise haze by filtering out blue light, making them ideal for misty conditions. The glasses get their name because of their ability to filter our certain wavelengths of light. What is this item that is also used as a fashion accessory?

6. These are a type of sandals that consist of a flat sole held loosely on the foot by a Y-shaped strap that passes between the first and second toes and around both sides of the foot. The earliest examples of these are seen in Egypt in 1500BC. Their name comes from the sound they make when walking in them. In India they acquired a particular name after Bata launched these under a brand name which referred to a place people usually connect to being cool and carefree. What is this summer-friendly sandal’s technical name and its name in India?

7. Citrullus lanatus is both a fruit and a vegetable which originated from Northeast Africa. It has been cultivated in India since the 7th century. In 1939 two Japanese Scientists were finally able to create a seedless hybrid. The seeds have a nutty flavour and can be dried and roasted, or ground into flour. It is 91% water and 6% sugars, and 100gm of it gives you just 30 calories. What is this fruit which can be seen displayed on the road side in summer?

8. One of the most popular summer sports is ‘street cricket’, which has its own rules and technical terms. When the batsman hits the ball a considerable distance and it is difficult to retrieve the ball because of technical issues such as a busy road, fence or ball stuck in a tree, a fixed number of runs are granted. What alphanumeric term (which sounds like mobile technology) is used to indicate, for example two runs?

9. This is a dessert disguised as a drink and is traditionally made by mixing rose syrup with vermicelli noodles, psyllium (ispaghol) or basil seeds, pieces of jelly and sometimes ice cream. It is a Persian concoction which came to India through the Muslim merchants, who settled in India in the 16th century. The present form was developed by the Mughal Empire and is usually ordered by families after a heavy dinner. What drink is this?

10. Ice cubes seem cloudy when you take them from the freezer because of the dissolved gases. What simple thing do you have to do to the water to remove those gases and get crystal clear ice cubes?

Answers

1. Alphonso Mango. (Named after Alfonso de Albuquerque)

2. Sherbet or Sarbath

3. Petrichor — The scent of first rain

4. Do not wear black clothes in summer. Black is achromatic.

5. Ray-ban sunglasses

6. Flip-flops and Hawai chappals

7. Watermelon

8. 2G

9. Falooda

10. Boil the water before freezing.

A molecular biologist from Madurai, our quizmaster enjoys trivia and music, and is working on a rock ballad called ‘Coffee is a Drink, Kaapi is an Emotion’. @bertyashley