1) While studying in a renowned Institution, 'X' qualified to try for a transfer scholarship at Cal Tech, widely considered the world's most competitive scholarship. The transfer scholarship is rarely won, One among the toughest exam u can ever attend. 'X' was the only applicant in the entire world dat year to get a passing score above 60. The next highest score was 20 points below.Launched ‘Y’ in 90’s, in the first hour, it had 100 subscribers. By mid-1998, the company Picked subscribers at the rate of 1.25 lakh a day! In just over two years, the company's user base was faster than any media company in history. Faster than CNN, Faster than BBC. Identify ‘X’ & ‘Y’.

2) He had a photographic memory, with which he could read entire books within minutes.. He formed an amateur theatrical company and a gymnasium and took lessons in fencing, wrestling, and many other sports. It would be quite surprising for us to know that he was a chain smoker as well. Some of his works are regarded by many scholars as the greatest comprehensive works of its kind. So many places were associated with him including St Louis, Boston, New York, Los Angeles & even Kerala.

3) When Laxmi Merchant, the sister of the legendary Indian opening batsman Vijay Merchant, went to get X's autograph, he scanned through her book for a suitable page, eventually settling upon one containing the names of the 1933-34 MCC touring party. Captained by Douglas Jardine, the team included the Yorkshire slow left-armer Hedley Verity and the Essex all-rounder Stan Nichols. The party had 16 members. To their list of numbered signatures was now appended: “17. X”. id X

4) In 1941, the British Secret Service requested John Waddington Ltd to create silk maps which can be used by World War II prisoners of war held by the Nazis. The maps were hidden inside something that was patented Charles Darrow .Other than maps, hidden inside these were compasses, real money and other objects useful for escaping. They were distributed to prisoners by the International Red Cross. Which product, am I talking about?

5) "The Pet Goat" is a children's story contained in the book 'Reading Mastery II: Storybook 1', by Siegfried Engelmann and Elaine C. Bruner The story is of a girl's pet goat which eats everything in its path. The girl's parents want to get rid of the goat, but she defends it. In the end, the goat becomes a hero when it butts a car robber into submission. Why was this in news related to an incident that happened early this decade?

6) When the prisoner was asked to get ready for his execution, he is supposed to have told his jailor “Wait a while. A revolutionary is talking to another revolutionary." He was reading a book by/about Lenin and the jailor waited for him to put down his book. He was then taken to the gallows for his death. Which famous prisoner ?

7) On his death bed, the author asked his close friend Max Brod and lover Dora Dymant to destroy all the manuscripts of his un-published works. Dora dutifully obeyed his request, but Brod did not do so. Some of the most acclaimed works of the author were brought to light by Brod's decision. Identify the man who died from TB at the age of 40.

(HINT: Think of movie NO SMOKING)

8) The story, based on a play by Joseph David, centers around the fictional kingdom of Kumarpur. Dilbahar, one of the two wives of the King, tries to seduce Adil, the minister of the court. When Adil refuses her approach, she imprisons him and exiles his daughter who gets raised by nomads. The nomads finally invade the kingdom, release Adil and expose the schemes of Dilbahar. Adil's daughter gets married to the Prince of the Kingdom. Which famous movie ?

9) identify the person: