Message 12/92  From Samer Ismail                                          Page 2

 SCIENCE: Biology (extra)
A University of Washington graduate student recently designed a car for
use by these organisms. Members of the suborder Blattaria, these insects
have backward-pointing mouthparts and a leathery integument. FTP, name
these ancient creatures commonly killed with Black Flag or Raid.
ANSWER: cock_ROACH_es     
 
SCIENCE: Astronomy (extra)
They are occasionally named for feast days, when their radiants cannot be
located. In November 1833, a massive one was observed originating from
Leo, one later shown to recur at 33-year intervals. FTP, identify this
phenomenon, annual examples of which are the Leonid and Perseid.
ANSWER: _METEOR SHOWER_s
 
 
FINE ARTS: Classical Music
He wrote music dedicated to the years 1917, 1919, and 1905, and set texts
by Lorca, Apollinaire, and Rilke in a single symphony dedicated to
Benjamin Britten. FTP, name this composer of sixteen symphonies, the most
famous, Symphony No. 10, "Babi Yar."
ANSWER: Dmitri _SHOSTAKOVICH_
 
 
SOCIAL SCIENCES: Law
Son of a Maryland tobacco grower, his career began as a delegate in the
Maryland House of Delegates, and later as Andrew Jackson's Attorney
General. As Supreme Court Chief Justice he supported federalism despite
Message 12/92  From Samer Ismail                                          Page 3
 
General. As Supreme Court Chief Justice he supported federalism despite
being a Southerner. FTP, name this man, famous for the Dred Scott verdict.
ANSWER: Roger Brooke _TANEY_
 
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LITERATURE: American Drama
30-20-10, name the playwright from works.
30: The Cryptogram
20: Oleanna
10: American Buffalo
ANSWER: David _MAMET_
 
 
CURRENT EVENTS
For 10 points, France is offering to fly foreigners out of what nation,
after a French hostage was killed on November 30?
ANSWER: _TADZHIKISTAN_ [Ta-ji-ki-stan]
For 10 more points, what is the capital of Tadzhikistan?
ANSWER: _DUSHANBE_
For a final 10 points, what French Prime Minister decried the killing of
Message 12/92  From Samer Ismail                                          Page 4
 
For a final 10 points, what French Prime Minister decried the killing of
Kar-een Mane as "scandalous"?
ANSWER: Lionel _JOSPIN_ [ZHOS-pan]
[Note to TD: the name *is* Kareen.]
 
 
POPULAR CULTURE
For 10 points, identify the dead rock star found in his Sydney hotel room
on November 23, 1997.
ANSWER: Michael _HUTCHENCE_
For 5 points, name his band.
ANSWER: _INXS_
For 15 points, name the INXS album for which they were on tour.
ANSWER: _ELEGANTLY WASTED_
 
RELIGION AND MYTHOLOGY: Non-Western Myth.
Fifteen points each, name the Aztec deity.
a. Also called "The Feathered Serpent", this god created the present form
of humanity, reviving bones of the old dead by sprinkling his own blood on
them.
ANSWER:_QUETZALCOATL_
Message 12/92  From Samer Ismail                                          Page 5
 
ANSWER:_QUETZALCOATL_
b. Quetzalcoatl's dog-headed twin brother, he helped create mankind.
ANSWER: _XOLOTL_ (ho-lo-til)
 
LITERATURE (20)/SCIENCE (10)
For 10 points, name the 1997 Nick Bantock novel written entirely as
a series of e-mails between Mr. N. Conti and Sara Wolfe.
ANSWER: The _VENETIAN'S WIFE_
For 10 more points, identify the final book in Bantock's trilogy that
starts with "Griffin and Sabine".
ANSWER: The _GOLDEN MEAN_
For a final 10 points, to within .005, what is the numerical value of the
Golden Mean (aka the Golden Ratio)?
ANSWER: _1.618_ [ACC: _1.613_ to _1.623_]
 
[Note: This is *not* the only sick-and-wrong question I could come up with
on Mr. Bantock. >B) ]
 
 
--STI
 
Message 12/92  From Samer Ismail                                          Page 6
 
 
 
 
Samer T Ismail (Yale U, TC 98)
**** President, Yale Student Academic Competitions
**** PO Box 204873, New Haven, CT 06520-4873
**** "Greater than stars or suns,/Bounding O Soul thou journeyest forth!"
        --Walt Whitman, "A Passage to India"