Answers to last week's quiz (#344)

1. This age-old ritual was established in the finance ministry as a succor for those who remain cut off from their families until the interim budget is unveiled in Parliament. Officials in 'lock-in' are able to speak to their loved ones only when the budget speech is delivered by the finance minister. What is this ritual?
   
   The ritual 'halwa' ceremony which heralds the beginning of the quarantine for staff that will be associated with the preparation of the secret document. It has been a tradition which has continued for long. As part of the ritual, 'halwa' is prepared in a big 'khadai' (vessel) and served to the entire staff in the ministry. 
    
2. Which company's head quarters is located in a place called Watch Hill?
   
   The Timex watch group. Watch Hill is situated atop a hill in Middlebury, Connecticut, US.
    
3. Who has come out with a report titled "Little Monsters in Your Closet" and why?
   
   It is a new investigation by Greenpeace. It has found a broad range of hazardous chemicals in children's clothing and footwear across a number of major clothing brands, including  American Apparel, C&A, Disney, GAP, H&M, Primark, and Uniqlo. Also sportswear brands, such as Adidas, LiNing, Nike, and Puma.
    
4. What does this trendy managerial acronym: VUCA stand for? It is said to be originated in the US Army and is now being used more in the business world.
   
   VUCA stands for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity.
    
5. This company has a six year sponsorship deal with the US Olympic committee and has assigned one of its key designers to help the US men team win their first winter Olympic gold in the two man Bobsled event since it last won in 1936. Name the company and what is its contribution?
   
   BMW. The car maker deputed one of its best designers to help build a bobsled. The bobsled contains the same carbon fibres used in BMWs electric cars.
    
6. Which business school is named after this person who is widely credited with saving Levi Strauss through the Great Depression, initiating racial integration at its factories and the global popularisation of the Levi's brand? He also established the Levi Strauss Foundation in the 1890s.
   
   In 1989, the University of California-Berkeley business school was renamed the Haas School of Business in the honour of Walter A Haas.
    
7. Anarchy, Peace, Kilo, Dark Temptation and Harmony are sub brands of which product?
   
   Axe Deodourant spray from Unilever
    
8. Which brand uses the punch line "Wear it well"?
   
   Timex.
    
9. What is the Pope Patent? In 2008 the industry related to this patent celebrated 150 years of its existence.
   
   Patent number 9802, issued to Augustus Russell Pope on June 21, 1853,for his invention of the electric burglar alarm. Pope sold the rights to the patent in 1858 to Edwin Holmes and it was Holmes' dedication to the implementation and success of this invention that made the burglar alarm a viable and recognised device.
    
10. Identify the two competing companies from their logos?
     
    
    
    Club Mahindra and Sterling Holidays. Sterling was the first Indian company to pioneer the concept of time shares. Thomas Cook has now taken a major stake in Sterling.

There were 12 all-correct entries for quiz No. 344. Chinmay Kumar Pradhan from Bhubaneswar wins Rs 2,000. Winner was chosen by drawing lots.