QUIZ NATION: 2008-10-05

1. This company was the first multinational corporation in the world and it was the first company to issue stocks. By 1669, it was the richest private company the world had ever seen, with over 150 merchant ships, 40 warships, 50,000 employees, a private army of 10,000 soldiers, and a dividend payment of 40%. The company was instrumental in introducing European ideas and technology to Asia. It supported Christian missionaries and traded modern technology with China and Japan. Name the company (A very specific name required).
The Dutch East India Company

2. Edward Temple, a civil war veteran and banker, founded Banker’s Life in 1879 to provide affordable life insurance to his fellow bankers and their families. Now based in Des Moines, Iowa, this company is rated as the 9th largest U.S life insurance company by Fortune magazine. The company name changed to its current one in 1985. It also has a presence in India. Name the company.
Principal Financial Group

3. The name seems to derive from Burroughs-Wellcome's 1884 trademark for their process of making compressed pharmaceuticals. The connotation was soon applied to other small things and to the "compressed' journalism that condensed stories into a simplified, easily-absorbed format. What term is being described?
Tabloid

4. CVC Capital Partners founded in 1981 as Citicorp's European private equity arm has formed a new entity, Alpha Prema, to buy a stake in which world reknowned entity owned by Bambino Holdings, Bayerische Landesbank & others?
Formula One Administration

Bambino Holdings is an Ecclestone family company. Bayerische Landesbank, JPMorgan and Lehmann Brothers acquired the 75% stake from Slec Media in F1 against the debt that the latter owed them.

5. ILFC or International Lease Finance Corporation is the world's largest aircraft lessor. It leases Boeing and Airbus aircrafts to airlines from all over the world including Air France, KLM and Lufthansa. General Electric's GECAS is its biggest rival. Which giant corporation owns ILFC?
AIG

6. Based at Donington Hall, close to Nottingham East Midlands Airport, this airline is the second largest full-service scheduled airline in the United Kingdom. Its roots lie in the formation of Air Schools Ltd in 1938, specializing in flying instruction for Royal Air Force pilots. The company was also contracted by Rolls Royce to transport aero engines to customers throughout the world, and in 1959 changed its name to Derby Airways. Its a part of the of the Star Alliance and has also started services to India recently.
BMI Airlines ('British Midland International')

7. Based at Donington Hall, close to Nottingham East Midlands Airport, this airline is the second largest full-service scheduled airline in the United Kingdom. Its roots lie in the formation of Air Schools Ltd in 1938, specializing in flying instruction for Royal Air Force pilots. The company was also contracted by Rolls Royce to transport aero engines to customers throughout the world, and in 1959 changed its name to Derby Airways. Its a part of the of the Star Alliance and has also started services to India recently.
BMI Airlines ('British Midland International')

8. According to New York Times , this T.V network is seen by 130 million people a month, making it the fifth largest network in America, behind NBC, CBS, ABC and Fox. Which network are we talking about?
The Wal-Mart TV Network. ( It is the in-store network showing commercials for products sold in the stores, concert clips and music videos for recording artists products sold in the stores, trailers for upcoming movie releases, and news.)

9. This service designed and controlled by the United States Department of Defense can be used by anyone, free of charge. It’s referred to as NAVSTAR by the US Military. The service is divided into three segments: space, control and user & has a maintenance cost of approximately US$400 million per year. What is being referred to in this context?
GPS (Global Positioning System)

10. It was referred to as "Project Xenon" during it’s development. The official unveiling occurred on Thursday, May 12, 2005 on MTV in a program called MTV Presents: The Next Generation _____ Revealed hosted by actor Elijah Wood with a musical performance by the band The Killers. It was also featured on the cover of Time magazine's May 23, 2005 issue. What is being referred to?
Xbox 360

ATTENTION