Social Science Questions & Answers

The Antarctica Treaty, signed in 1959, was a path-breaking agreement among countries of the world. There are certain regions located beyond the sovereign jurisdiction of any country of the world. Therefore, they require common governance by the international community. These are known as ‘res communis humanitatis’ or Global Commons. It includes not only Antarctica but also the ocean floor and …

The Age of Antonines is often referred to two successive ages of Roman emperors – Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius —who ruled between 138 AD and 180 AD and were famous for their skilled leadership. The age is also known as the transitional phase of the Roman empire. In 138 AD, after a long reign dedicated to the cultural unification …

‘Thor’s Hammer is the hammer of Thor, a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, destruction, fertility, healing, and the protection of mankind. Thor is a major god associated with thunder in Norse mythology. Distinctively shaped, Mjollnir is depicted in Norse mythology as one of the most fearsome weapons, capable of leveling mountains. Though generally recognized and …

The art of moving’ or Parkour involves moving from one point to another as quickly and efficiently as possible. It entails overcoming obstacles using the power of the human body and is practised in several urban areas the world over. Recently, members of the Du Yize Parkour Club of Beijing showed their prowess at the Forbidden City.

Terroir is a French term that means soil or earth and is generally used to refer to all the physical and environmental characteristics in and around a particular vineyard that influence the quality of wine — climate, soil composition and geographical location. Without a direct English equivalent, terroir specifically refers to the consistent, distinctive qualities in wine that are not …

Taipei 101 is a skyscraper located in the international business district of Xinyi (code 101) in Taipei, Taiwan, with 101 floors constructed above the ground and five floors underground. It has a spire at its top at a height of 509.2 metre and was constructed at a cost of $1.76 billion. It features prominently in all important events and visuals …

Sweethearting is a method cashiers use to pass on goods to friends by failing to bill one. They do so by passing two items, and obscuring the barcode of one, so it goes unnoticed. Earlier, security had to be alert to check for such items going out of shops, but now, there are machines to pick out sweethearting. The security …

Sukkot is one of the three “Pilgrim Festivals” in the Jewish tradition. Celebrated on the 15th day of the month of Tishri, i.e. late September to late October, it is a reminder of the type of fragile dwellings in which the ancient Israelites dwelt for 40 years after the Exodus from Egypt. The festival lasts seven days. The first day …

Story goes that Lubdhaka – a poor tribal man and a devout worshipper of Lord Shiva once went into the deep forests to collect firewood. As the darkness engulfed the jungle, Lubdhaka lost his way and could not find his way home. He became extremely terrified as deep growls of animals began to fill the jungle. Seeking protection till daybreak, …

It is an enormous ancient monument, built in Southern England over 3,000 years ago. The monument consists of many large stones, some weighing up to 100,000 pounds, arranged in circular patterns. It may have been used to observe the monuments of the sun and moon and then to create calendars, may be! Stonehenge is a mystery no one really knows.