KREC QuizNet

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Suresh's Quiz - Oct 1998

1. Connect the following slang words -
(i) 16th century English, referring to young, rich and rowdy noblemen who were a major nuisance on London streets.
(ii) Parisian thugs

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2. When horse drawn trams were first introduced in London in the 19th century, the conductors on these trams soon got a reputation for vulgarity and rowdyism. What English word comes from these conductors?

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3. Traditionally, escaping roman slaves were executed if caught. However, they had one way out - if they managed to enter a sacred grove in Rome and hug one of the trees there, their lives would be spared. What english idiom comes from this?

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4. Again on roman slaves, what word, literally meaning "freed /stolen slaves" was coined by the roman poet Martial (marcus vincentius martialis) when he was abusing a fellow writer?

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5. The mid Victorian era was marked by excessive, hidebound prudery. So much so that a "scholar" was appointed to censor Shakespeare's works. He did this by chopping out entire passages / roles (like the nurse in Juliet, with her double entendre dialogues). Thus, his name has become an eponym for heavy handed censorship. Give me the word.

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6. This word was originally a Norse word meaning "To Negotiate /Discuss". As the old vikings often preferred weapons to speech in such matters, the word soon came to mean "tribute" or "ransom". In scotland, the highland bandits (like Rob Roy and the others) would collect protection money from the local landlords and peasantry. If one didn't want his crops burnt and family kidnapped, he would have to pay the local bandit chief a monthly fee. What word in English?

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7. When Commodore Perry and his Americans first came to Japan in 1854, the Japanese tried to tell them how great a person the Shogun was. So, they explained that the Shogun was a "Great Prince". What English word comes from this phrase?

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