1. In November a group of scientists based in California announced  that they have invented the lightest material on earth. This material has an extremely low density at just 0.9 mg/cc, even less dense than the 1.3 mg/cc of carbon nano tubes. It is extremely resilient to impact and shock absorbent too. What is this material named?

2. The 1962 movie " Lawrence of Arabia" directed by David Lean won a total of 7 Oscars. The film scores were highly appreciated. The composer of the film score composed for all of Lean's films since Lawrence of Arabia. He won 3 OSCARS for his musical scores in the films Bridge on the River Kwai, Doctor Zhivago and A Passage to India. All of these movies were directed by Lean. Who was this composer?

3.This character is a king found in Greek mythology. He was punished by Zeus for his crafty tricks against gods. His punishment decrees him to roll an immense boulder up to the the tip of a hill to just to see it roll back. He has to repeat this frustrating exercise eternally. Who is this character?

4.He was the most feared and influential member of the ruling circle in Russia under the rule of Stalin. He was the state security administrator and chief of the Soviet security and secret police. Upon attending the Yalta conference Stalin introduced him to Franklin D. Rooswelt as his 'Himmler'. Who was this politician who was finally shot dead in 1953?

5.He was a prominent freedom fighter, an ardent follower of Gandhi and a foremost figure in the Indian independent struggle. Though he was a Muslim he worked towards Hindhu- Muslim harmony and strongly opposed the creation of Pakistan. He did much service to the education of post colonial India and held the position of the first education minister in India. His birthday is celebrated as the National Education Day in India. Can you identify him?

6.Who won the Pulitzer prize for literature in 1921 for her book ' The  Age of Innocence' making her the first woman to win the award?

7.This group of atolls and islands in the middle of Pacific ocean was used by the US government to carry out nuclear tests during World War 2 and after it. The islands include the famous Bikini atoll which was the home to numerous nuclear tests. Can you name this group of islands?

8.An Australian cricketer passed away on 3 December this year. He was a member of Bradman's "Invincibles' the Australian team which went through the 1948 tour of England undefeated. Who was he?

9.This year's Davis cup was won by Spain. This was the fifth Davis cup title won by Spain. Spain took the trophy home by beating Argentina 3-1. In the Davis cup finals which Argentinian player did Rafael Nadal beat?

10.What is the name of this 2011 3D adventure drama film directed by Martin Scorsese. The story is about a boy who lives alone in a Paris railway station and the enigmatic owner of a toy shop there. This is the first 3D movie directed by Scorsese?

  

11.Can you identify this famous painting by Pablo Picasso?

12. Which American semi-conducter making multinational company was founded in 1968 by Gordon Moore and Robert Norton Noyce (Bob Noyce)?

13. The Luzon strait which connects the Philippine sea to South China sea lies between Philippines and what other country?

14. Oruwala Bandu a writer, scholar and novelist passed away last November. He was a graduate of the Lumumba university in Russia. One of his books whoch was based on his experiences while living and learning in Russia won the state literary award for the best Sinhala novel in 1969. Can you name this book?

  

15. Which mental disorder is most commonly associated with  auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking. The 1994 Nobel economics prize winner John F. Nash was diagnosed with this disorder. His battle with this illness was the subject of the 1994 academy award winning movie 'A Beautiful Mind'?

Answers of Last Week

1. Lana Peters or Svetlana Alliluyeva
2. Alphonse Bertillon
3. Ham
4. Electra complex
5. Jack Nicholson
6. D.B. Dhanapala
7.Black Sabbath
8. Naim Suleimanov
9. Missionaries of Charity
10. Iguazu falls
11.Socrates
12. School of Athens
13. 1986
14. Sir William Johnes
15. Walther Hermann Nernst