These questions are for use in the Virginia High School ...



These questions are for use in the Virginia High School League’s Scholastic Bowl competition at the District level. Shawn Pickrell, Jason Mueller, Marian Suter, Adam Fine and Dan Goff are the authors of these questions.

Districts must observe the following conditions, which must be known by all coaches, competitors and spectators of the competition:

(a) Release of these questions to any entity not affiliated with the District competition or the schools that are members of the given District, without prior approval of Shawn Pickrell, is prohibited. This is meant to keep question security.

(b) The discussion or other reference to these questions with other entities in the Commonwealth of Virginia that are associated in any way with the Scholastic Bowl competition before all District champions have been determined is prohibited. This is also meant to keep question security.

(c) These questions may not be released AT ANY TIME to entities outside the Commonwealth of Virginia, except with prior approval of Shawn Pickrell. Discussion of these questions, however, is permitted between entities within and without the Commonwealth of Virginia This will apply to ANY entity in the Commonwealth of Virginia that receives these questions, be it directly from Shawn Pickrell or indirectly through various means.

First period: 15 tossups

1. The class of them called Placodermi [plah-koh-DER-mee] is now extinct; other classes of them are Agnatha [ag-NAH-thuh], Chondrichtyes [kawn-DRIK-teez], and Osteichthyes [aws-TEEK-theez]. Name this type of aquatic animal.

ANSWER: fish

2. What U.S. state contains the cities of Dothan, Florence, Gadsden, Huntsville, Auburn, Tuscaloosa, Mobile, Montgomery and Birmingham?

ANSWER: Alabama

3. This church is named for its founder, a Roman Catholic priest from the Netherlands who became an Anabaptist leader. What is this peace church, whose members seek to live plainly, from which the Amish broke off in the 17th century?

ANSWER: Mennonite Church USA

4. THIS IS A COMPUTATION QUESTION. Sam bought some one-dollar toys and some three-dollar toys. He bought twice as many one-dollar toys as three-dollar toys, and spent $25 in all. How many of both types of toys did he buy?

ANSWER: 15 (10 $1 toys, 5 $3 toys)

5. The affluent young Lucy Honeychurch becomes attracted to the passionate George Emerson while they are on vacation in Italy. Once they return to England, however, she becomes engaged to Cecil Vyse, an emblem of bloodless English society. Lucy realizes she is does not love Cecil and is still attracted to George. They marry, despite family objections, and spend their honeymoon in Italy. This is the basic plot of what E.M. Forster novel?

ANSWER: A Room with a View

6. While living on Tahiti, this goddess seduced her sister's husband and was then chased around Polynesia until she landed on Maui, where she made her home. Her arch-enemy is, quite naturally, Poliahu [poh-lee-AH-hoo], the goddess of snow. Who is this goddess that lives on or in Kilauea and is the Hawai'ian goddess of fire?

ANSWER: Pele [PAY-lay]

7. In 1969, it declared the provisional Republic of South Vietnam, which was merged into the Socialist Republic of Vietnam after the fall of Saigon. When most people refer to it, they are referring to its armed wing, the People's Liberation Armed Forces. The National Liberation Front is better known by what name that is an abbreviation of the words for 'Vietnam Communist'?

ANSWER: Viet Cong (prompt on VC, accept National Liberation Front or NLF before it is said in the question)

8. What are the two purine bases of DNA?

ANSWER: adenine and guanine

9. Spelled one way, it is a noun that means the ability to see into; spelled another way, it is a verb that means to urge to action, as to riot. What is the word?

ANSWER: insight or incite

10. This word gets its name from the Arabic word for 'season', which probably referred to the seasonal wind changes in the Arabian Sea -- from the southwest for half the year, and from the northeast for the other half. Moisture-laden winds from the ocean and the temperature differences between the sea and land will cause what annual season of intense rainfall that is a large factor in the climates of India and Southeast Asia?

ANSWER: monsoons

11. In addition to being a Professor of Geography, he also served as Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas. He became King of Scotland and awarded himself the Victoria Cross. These were some of the titles held by this African dictator who ruled between 1971 and 1979. What dictator, known for eating pieces of his political opponents, was also Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular?

ANSWER: Idi Amin

12. James Longstreet had overall command, despite having opposed the idea the previous night. The largest artillery duel of the Civil War preceded it. After it, when its leader was asked to rally his division, he replied, "General Lee, I have no division." The High Water Mark of the Confederacy occurred during what attack of 15,000 Confederates against the Federal lines on July 3, 1863, sealing Confederate defeat at Gettysburg?

ANSWER: Pickett's Charge (prompt on Battle of Gettysburg)

13. Although he was married to Gemma Donati, Beatrice Portinari, whom he first saw as a child when he was nine years old, remained his ideal lady, the spiritual inspiration of his poetry and of his Christian devotion. Name this man, considered the greatest Italian poet, who wrote The Divine Comedy.

ANSWER: Dante (dahn-tay) Alighieri

14. Name the German chemist for whom the process of making ammonia from the nitrogen in the air is named.

ANSWER: Fritz Haber (hah-buh)

15. A torture chamber, an armory, a money vault, a garden, a window to the kingdom, and a pool of tears are behind the first six doors opened by Judith in this opera. Her husband begs her not to open the seventh door, but curiosity gets the better of her, and she ends up a prisoner along with his three former wives. What is the title of this 1918 opera by Bela Bartok about a noble residence?

ANSWER: Duke Bluebeard's Castle

Second period, 10 directed questions per team

Questions with an “A” after their number will be read to the team that selects set A of questions; questions with a “B” after their number will be read to the team that selects set B of questions.

1A. THIS IS A COMPUTATION QUESTION. What is the volume of a pyramid that is 5 inches high and a 6-inch square at the base?

ANSWER: _60 cubic inches_ (It is 1/3 times the area of the base times the height)

1B. There are four demonstrative pronouns in English grammar. Name the two singular demonstrative pronouns.

ANSWER: this and that

2A. What principle named for its creator states that 'In a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence?'

ANSWER: the Peter principle

2B. THIS IS A COMPUTATION QUESTION. What is the remainder of 530 divided by 11?

ANSWER: 2

3A. He was the hero of a novel written by Nikos (nee-kose) Kazantzakis (kah-zahnt-uh-kis) and the title character in a movie. Name this Greek literary hero played by Anthony Quinn in the movie.

ANSWER: Zorba the Greek

3B. What Roman Emperor was responsible for splitting the Roman Empire into two and establishing the system of the Tetrarchy?

ANSWER: Diocletian

4A. Anton LaVey is associated with what Church founded in 1966?

ANSWER: Church of Satan

4B. Goethe (GUR-tuh), Lord Byron, and the sculptor Benvenuto Cellini (che-LEE-nee) inspired notable works by which French Romantic composer, best known for his "Symphony Fantastique"?

ANSWER: Hector Berlioz

5A. What is the third phase of mitosis?

ANSWER: anaphase

5B. What 'point' of infinite space-time curvature is generally thought to be the 'center' of a black hole?

ANSWER: singularity

6A. Both this man and Michael Vick graduated from Warwick High School in Newport News, and are now NFL quarterbacks. Who is this former Virginia Cavalier, now quarterback for the New Orleans Saints?

ANSWER: Aaron Brooks

6B. What is the surname shared by Robert, Amy, James Russell, and the Massachusetts textile town where Samuel Slater built his mill?

ANSWER: Lowell

7A. What is the Latin verb, porto [POR-toh], or I carry, in the passive voice, with the same person, tense and number?

ANSWER: portor [POR-tor]

7B. What 2005 movie starring Diane Lane as Sarah and John Cusack as Jake featured a woman seeking love through the online personals?

ANSWER: Must Love Dogs

8A. What compound, also known as potassium nitrate, has chemical formula KNO3 and is used in making gunpowder along with sulfur and charcoal?

ANSWER: saltpeter

8B. What man, the first Admiral of the US Navy, said 'Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!' during the Battle of Mobile Bay?

ANSWER: David Farragut

9A. What mountain in Argentina is the highest in the Western Hemisphere?

ANSWER: Mount Aconcagua

9B. THIS IS A COMPUTATION QUESTION. What is 3 to the fifth power?

ANSWER: _243_

10A. THIS IS A COMPUTATION QUESTION. What is i to the 334th power?

ANSWER: -1

10B. What is the SI unit for electric current?

ANSWER: ampere or amp

Third period, 15 toss-ups

1. He was convicted of embezzling bank funds while working as a bank teller and in 1898 entered a penitentiary at Columbus, Ohio. While in prison, he wrote to earn money for support of his daughter. Name this American author of such books as Cabbages and Kings and The Four Million and such short stories as "The Furnished Room" and "The Gift of the Magi." (madge-eye)

ANSWER: O. Henry or accept William Sydney Porter

2. It once referred to a section of medieval Venice reserved for Jews. Later it referred to the closed-in areas where Jews were starved and segregated before the Germans gassed them. Today, it simply refers to a poor section of a city, usually inhabited by a specific ethnic group. What is this six-letter word?

ANSWER: ghetto

3. This son of Palestinian refugees spent seven years in a Jordanian prison for attempting to overthrow the Jordanian monarchy and set up an Islamic caliphate. After his release, he fled to Iraq and took control of Ansar al-Islam. On December 27, 2004, Osama bin Laden declared this man his 'prince in Iraq'. Who is this man that is believed to lead the Iraqi insurgency against the US and Iraqi forces?

ANSWER: Abu Musab al-Zarqawi [zar-KAH-wee]

4. Its atomic structure was a mystery for many years after its discovery, but in the 19th century, a German chemist deduced that its structure was a ring of carbon atoms each of which were bonded to a single hydrogen atom. What is this colorless, sweet-smelling liquid with chemical formula C6H6?

ANSWER: benzene

5. I offer a highly wanted video game at the impossibly low price of $2. However, when you come to buy my video game, I then claim the game you want is out of stock but offer other video games at regular or even inflated prices. I am guilty of what type of retail fraud?

ANSWER: bait and switch

6. His use of montage and intricate camera angles in his films clashed with his nation's theory of social realism, which viewed the director's role as a simple purveyor of propaganda. Often forced to publish articles criticizing himself, he nonetheless gained fame with October, a movie about the Revolution of 1917. Who was this oppressed Russian filmmaker of The Battleship Potemkin?

ANSWER: Sergei Eisenstein

7. This dynasty rose to prominence during the Hundred Years' War, when they became Dukes, first of their namesake duchy, then of Vendome [VAWN-dome]. By 1555, they were rulers of Navarre. Members of this dynasty also became rulers of the Two Sicilies and of Parma, and continue to rule today in Spain. What is this royal family that ruled France on and off between 1589 and 1848?

ANSWER: Bourbon dynasty (or Borbon as it is in Spain)

8. THIS IS A COMPUTATION QUESTION. What is the sum of the interior angles of an octagon?

ANSWER: 1080 degrees

9. It is striated, usually involuntary, contains intercalated discs, and does not fatigue. Name this type of muscle found only in the heart.

ANSWER: cardiac muscle

10. The story's narrator, Raymond Smith, meets poet-woodsman-Buddhist Japhy Ryder, whom he immediately recognizes as a spiritual model. The novel, much of which occurs on the West Coast, tells of the growth of their friendship and Smith's attempts to gain personal understanding. Name this autobiographical novel by Jack Kerouac. (care-uh-wack)

ANSWER: The Dharma Bums

11. Sometimes, such as in programs that wait to accept requests or programs that monitor a server every few minutes, this is programmed on purpose. More often, however, they are the result of accidentally programming a piece of code so the condition required to leave it is never met. What is this programming feature, usually a bug, which occurs when a set of instructions is repeated endlessly?

ANSWER: infinite loop

12. Over a hundred volunteers flocked to the Arizona border on April 1, 2005 to assist in this project. What is the name of this group, devoted to patrolling the Mexican border and turning back illegal immigrants, named after a group of Revolutionary soldiers?

ANSWER: Minuteman Project

13. He appeared in the 1991 movie _Jungle Fever_ as crack addict Gator Purify. In _Pulp Fiction_ he appeared as hit man Jules Winfield. On the Dave Chappelle Show, he appeared in a skit where he sells a beer that was a parody of Sam Adams beer. Who is this actor that most recently played Mace Windu in the Star Wars trilogy?

ANSWER: Samuel L. Jackson

14. This five-act play is based on the life of a legendary Roman hero of the late 6th and early 5th centuries BC. During this play, the hero is exiled by the Romans and joins the Volscians, but is convinced by his mother Volumnia not to destroy Rome. Name this work, one of the latter political tragedies by William Shakespeare.

ANSWER: Coriolanus

15. The Adena culture that lived in this state is believed to have built the Serpent Mound. Its Indian population split between the British and the Americans during the Revolution. Shawnee leader Cornstalk and Delaware leader White Eyes supported the Americans, being rewarded by accidentally being killed by American militias. Its U.S. Senators have included Mark Hanna, John Glenn, two Robert Tafts and Warren G. Harding. What is this state that in 1835 fought a war with neighboring Michigan over Toledo?

ANSWER: Ohio

Spare questions

Try to replace the question discarded with the spare question in a subject area – i.e. science for science, social studies for social studies, etc.) Be sure to mark off the questions as they are used.

1. This American-born author is best known for his science fiction short stories, such as "Repent, Harlequin!," "Said the Ticktockman," and "A Boy and His Dog." Who is this author that shares his surname with the African-American author of the novel Invisible Man?

ANSWER: Harlan Ellison

2. THIS IS A COMPUTATION QUESTION. What are 12 times 17 times 6?

ANSWER: 1224

3. At some smaller schools, the central event will be a basketball or soccer game. During the week before the central athletic event, events such as various dress-up days and a parade are held. Usually, a senior male and female will be crowned 'King' or 'Queen' of that event. What annual event features alumni returning for activities such as a football game and dance?

ANSWER: Homecoming

4. 4 pi times 10 to the -7 power Teslas times meters per ampere is the exact value of what physical constant symbolized by mu sub zero?

ANSWER: permeability of free space

5. In what country's early history are the following names prominent? Agustin de Iturbide [ee-TOOR-bee-day], Vicente Guerrero, Jose Maria Morelos and Miguel Hidalgo.

ANSWER: Mexico

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download