Filmmaker Ridley Scott who was nominated for an Oscar for Gladiator.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images
Q: Born on November 30, 1835, Samuel Clemens was a novelist who was responsible for some of America’s greatest literature. Trained as a printer, he is thought to be the first novelist to write using a typewriter. Who is this author whose pen name means ‘12 feet of water’?
A: Mark Twain
Q: Born this date in 1858, this polymath was a pioneer in studying microwave optics. He also studied plant response to stimuli and wrote Bengali science fiction. Who is this scientist who has a crater on the moon and a research institute named after him?
A: Jagadish Chandra Bose
Q: Born this date in 1874, this British military officer still owes ₹13 to the Bangalore Club for a whiskey he drank in 1896. He went on to become the Prime Minister of the U.K. twice. Who was this statesman whose actions had global effects?
A: Winston Churchill
Q: Born November 30, 1925, William H. Gates, Sr., was an American lawyer who specialised in corporate and technology disputes. He was chair of the World Justice Project, which aimed to strengthen the Rule of Law for all communities. What is the name of his son who went on to run a tech company?
A: Bill Gates
Q: Born on Nov 30 in 1929, Joan Ganz Cooney was a journalist who was working with an educational TV station in New York. During a dinner party with her boss, she brought up the potential of using TV to educate children. This led to the creation of what show that uses puppets to showcase American culture?
A: Sesame Street
Q: Born on this date in 1937, Ridley Scott is an English director known for his epic films with a signature visual style. Although he was nominated for an Oscar award for Gladiator and The Martian, another movie of his was chosen for preservation by the Library of Congress. It was one of his earliest films. What movie follows a starship crew attacked by a strange creature?
A: Alien
Q: Born this date in 1945, Roger Glover is a Welsh bass player who is responsible for coming up with the title of one of the most famous songs in rock history. He based it on an event the band had witnessed where a fan had set off a flare during a Frank Zappa concert on the Lake Geneva shoreline. What song is this and by which band?
A: ‘Smoke on the water’ by Deep Purple
Q: Born on this date in 1955, Kevin Conroy was an American TV actor. In the 90s, he started doing the voice for an iconic comic book character and soon became the fan favourite. His deep, gravelly voice suited the caped crusader perfectly. Which character did he voice for more than 30 years?
A: Batman
Q: Born on November 30, 1977, Steve Aoki is an American DJ who is one of the highest-grossing EDM artists of the last decade. As part of his set, a signature move involves him throwing something at the audience. Since 2013’s Lollapalooza, what has he been throwing at his fans that should remind you of a common birthday stunt?
A: Cake
Q: Born on November 30, 1990, this Norwegian is one of the youngest to achieve super-stardom in his sport. When not engaging in mental combat over a board, he likes playing DOTA or fantasy football. Who is this prodigy who recently lost to two Indians younger than him?
A: Magnus Carlsen
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
Published – November 27, 2025 02:26 pm IST
