(upbeat ambient music) - [Narrator] This program was made possible by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you.

Thank you.

(tranquil ambient music) - Hello and welcome to the WCTE TV Academic Bowl for middle school.

We have reached the finals of our elimination bracket in our tournament and so the winner today will play Portland West in the championship matches, and our loser of today's match will be our third place team overall.

We're coming to you from the Millard Oakley STEM Center on the campus of Tennessee Tech University.

My name is Molly Risley and I'll be your moderator.

Let's meet our teams.

- Hi, I am Miranda Hales, I'm from Prescott (upbeat ambient music) South Middle School and I play clarinet.

- My name is Leo Jones and I go to Prescott Middle School, and I play the clarinet.

- Hello, my name is Trey Richmond, I go to Prescott South Middle School and I like to cook.

- Hello, my name is Charles Tracks, I am from Prescott South Middle School and I am also in archery.

- Hi, my name is Hope Hancock and I go to Prescott South Middle School and I like playing volleyball.

- My name is Cara Hoskins.

I go to Prescott South Middle School and I do dance.

- Hi, my name is Lily Worsham.

I am at Prescott South Middle School and I'm an actor.

- Hi, I am Amy Baggin, I'm the coach at Prescott South Middle School, and fun fact is that I love my team dearly.

- Hi, my name's Fisher Phillips and I drum and I'm on the Upperman fishing team.

I'm from Upperman Middle School.

And, I dunno.

Yeah, that'd be it.

(Fisher chuckles) - I'm Sam Brown from Upper Middle School and a fun fact I have is that I can play soccer.

- I'm Ryan Overpec, I'm with Upperman Middle School academic team.

I'm a podhead.

- Hi, my name is Andrew Gerian, I go to Upperman Middle School.

I'm in academic team.

- I am Spencer Stron from Upperman Middle School, and one fun fact that I have is I really like to play drums and the piano.

- My name is Caleb Bates.

I'm an English teacher and academic team coach for Upperman Middle School, and I enjoy foraging for mushrooms.

- Hi, my name is William Barnes, I'm a student at the University of Tennessee and I'm a judge for the Academic Bowl.

- Hi, I'm Frank Holloway, I'm an engineer and I'm one of the judges in the Academic bowl this year.

- Hi, I am Dr. Paulie Hinton.

I'm a professor of history at Tennessee Tech University, and I'm one of the judges for Academic Bowl.

- All right, here we go guys, get those buzzers ready.

We're starting with a tossup.

- No.

- In the gospels, this man wore camel hair and ate locusts.

(buzzer sounds) Upperman, Fisher.

- John the Baptist.

- John the Baptist is correct.

- Good job Fisher.

- Okay.

- Your bonuses.

Given a clue about anatomy used in stories, for 10 points, identify the part of the body that is being described, in a pose story, this body part is used as the telltale for the murder the narrator committed.

- Heart.

- [Molly] Heart is correct.

This other part of the body is used in a story from the Bible to give Samson his strength.

- Hair.

- Hair.

- Hair is correct, so 20 on the bonus, good job.

Next toss up, this man captured the Ottoman city of Azov in 1696 and led his country against Sweden in the Great Northern War reigning from 1672 to 1725.

(buzzer sounds) That's Upperman, Andrew.

- Peter The Great.

- Peter The Great is correct.

- Good job.

- Your bonuses, given a clue about a character from Greek mythology for 10 points each, identify the character, he slew the minotaur, the half man and half bull creature that lived in the labyrinth.

- Theseus.

- Theseus is correct.

This other Greek was changed to a rock as punishment for stealing fire from the Gods.

- Prometheus.

- Prometheus.

- Prometheus is correct.

So 20 points on that bonus.

Great job.

Next toss up, this music form was developed in the early 20th century.

It was performed by such musicians as Louis Armstrong.

(buzzer sounds) That is Upperman, Andrew.

- Jazz.

- Jazz is correct.

- Way to go man.

(hands smacks) - Your bonuses for Upperman, answer the following for 10 points each about hall of fames that deal with professional sports.

The hall of fame for this professional sport is located in Springfield, Massachusetts and has an exhibit that includes displays on inductees like Jason Kidd, Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant.

(buzzer sounds) - No, you can't buzz.

- NBA.

- NBA.

- The NBA whole thing.

- It's a bonus.

- [Molly] Judges.

- Did he say NBA?

- NBA.

- We said, no, we said NBA Hall of Fame.

He said he said NBA Hall of Fame.

- That's what I said.

- Yeah.

- It's not correct.

So we're looking for basketball.

We're looking for the sport.

Okay.

This other professional sport has a hall of fame located in Canton, Ohio and features exhibits on greats like Jerry Rice, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning.

- Football.

- Football is correct.

For 10.

All right, your next toss up.

This character is shown his own poorly attended funeral, and the crochet's grief over tiny Tim's death.

(buzzer sounds) That is Prescott, Leo.

- Ebenezer Scrooge.

- Ebenezer Scrooge is correct.

Bonuses for Prescott.

For 10 points each answer the following about cities named Victoria.

Sitting on Vancouver Island, the city of Victoria is the capital of this Canadian province.

- British Columbia.

- British Columbia.

- British Columbia.

- British Columbia is correct.

Victoria is also a city that is capital to this island nation, the smallest country in Africa as well as the least populated sovereign African country.

Answer.

- No answer.

- That would be Seychelles.

It's beautiful.

All right, so you got 10 on the bonus and 10 on the tossup for a total of 20.

Next tossup.

He rescued James, has coaches Annie and Clarabelle, and is helped by Toby and Percy.

He lives on the Island of Sodor.

Is.

(buzzer sounds) - That is Upperman, Sam.

- Thomas The Tank Engine.

- [Molly] Thomas The Tank Engine is correct.

- The Tank Engine.

- All right, here are your bonuses, given a topic or area dealt with in a constitutional amendment that is found in the Bill of Rights, for 10 points each, identify the amendment referenced.

This amendment provides that no soldier shall in time of peace be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner.

- Amendment, the third.

- [Molly] That is the third amendment, correct.

This other amendment states that the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury.

- Amendment six.

- And a right to counsel.

- Six.

- Six is correct, so you got both of those for 20 points.

Next toss up, in 1754, Ben Franklin's plan of union was produced in a meeting that took place in this city.

(buzzer sounds) That is Prescott, Charles.

- Albany.

- Albany is correct.

Bonuses for Prescott.

For 10 points each, answer the following about noted landmarks in European cities.

St. Mark's Square is the primary public square of this Italian city that is noted for its gondola rides.

- Venice.

- Venice.

- [Molly] Venice is correct.

With a fountain in the middle and a column with the statue of Admiral Nelson to honor his naval victory over Napoleon, Trafalgar Square is a public square in the center of this other European city.

- Paris.

- Paris.

- Paris.

- Paris is a good guess, but it's London.

So you only got 10 on that bonus and 10 on the tossup, gives you 20 total.

Next tossup.

Caused by the impressment of American sailors, this war saw the burning.

(buzzer sounds) That is Prescott, Charles.

- War of 1812.

- War of 1812 is correct.

Good buzz.

In your bonuses.

For 10 points each, identify the Muppet from Sesame Street or other Muppet shows from the following description, this Muppet refers to himself in the third person and is a red monster with a goldfish, Dorothy.

- Elmo.

- Elmo is correct.

This blueford long nosed Muppet is often shot out of a cannon and plays the trumpet at the end of the Muppet Show theme.

- Grover.

- Grover is incorrect.

We are looking for Gonzo.

So you got 10 on that bonus and 10 on the tossup for a total of 20.

Next tossup.

A bridge named for this city now resides in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

An 82 story glass pyramid called "The Shard" is the city's tallest building and the world's largest Ferris wheel in this city's eye.

(buzzer sounds) That is Prescott, Miranda.

- London.

- London, there it is.

For 10 points each, identify the woman from the early days of our country described in the following clues, this Philadelphia seamstress is credited with making the first flag.

- Betsy Ross.

- Betsy Ross is correct.

This woman brought water to thirsty soldiers at the Battle of Monmouth.

Answer.

- Martha Washington.

- That would be Molly Pitcher.

So you got 10 on the bonus and 10 on the toss up for a total of 20.

All right, next toss up.

Though this theory requires random mutations, it also relies on the non-random.

(buzzer sounds) That is Upperman, Andrew.

- Evolution.

- Evolution is correct.

Bonuses for 10 points each, answer the following about the Earth's atmosphere, the majority of Earth's atmosphere is made up of this gas, one with an atomic number of seven.

- Nitrogen.

- Nitrogen.

- Nitrogen.

- Nitrogen is correct.

Gases in the atmosphere refract this color of light more than any other.

- Blue.

- Blue is correct.

So 20 on the bonus, good job.

Next toss up.

The background of this painting contains a curvy road leading to the title figure.

The woman in this painting has her hands crossed (buzzer sounds) with no.

That is Upperman, Andrew.

- The scream.

- That's incorrect, I'm gonna finish it for Prescott.

Has her hands crossed with no visible eyebrows and a famous half smile, name this painting.

(buzzer sounds) - Miranda.

- Mona Lisa.

- Mona Lisa is correct.

Also (indistinct).

All right, your bonuses, given a description of a character from the Harry Potter series, for 10 points each identify that character.

He is Hermoine Granger's.

(buzzer buzzes) And we are out of time.

At the end of round one, we have Prescott South with 90, Upperman with 140, and we'll be right back with a really exciting lightning round.

Stay tuned.

And we're back with a really close game for you here at the Miller Oakley STEM Center on the beautiful campus of Tennessee Tech University.

We've got Prescott South Middle School and Upperman Middle School, and we're getting ready to start the lightning round, but we want to make you aware of some new players joined us.

So on Prescott's team, we've got Lily.

Here she is.

And joining us for Upperman Middle, we've got Spencer.

All right.

So Prescott South is gonna get to choose.

Your choices are the letter V or the letter O.

- V. - And they have chosen V. So they're gonna give me all the correct responses on the paper in front of me, let's start with the letter V, and we've got 60 seconds on the clock.

Here we go.

In order to fight smallpox, Edward Jenner invented the first one of these in 1698.

- Vaccine.

(buzzer sounds) - Okay.

- Oh, oops.

- [Molly] It is the nickname of the NFL franchise from Minnesota.

- Pass.

- [Molly] This was the 1,300 room palace begun by Louis the IV.

- Versailles.

- [Molly] She was a Roman equivalent of Aphrodite.

- Venus.

- Venus.

- [Molly] This Italian city was the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

- Verona.

- [Molly] In Norse mythology, they're the female figures who choose those who die in battle.

- Valkyries.

- [Molly] This presidential check can be overwritten by a two thirds vote in Congress.

- Veto.

- [Molly] The Southeast Asian country's capital is Hanoi.

- Pass.

- It is the pseudonym of the French Enlightenment author of "Can Deed".

- Pass.

- [Molly] Richmond is the capital of this state, - Virginia.

- [Molly] It's the nickname of the NFL franchise from Minnesota.

- Vikings.

- [Molly] The Southeast Asian country's capital is Hanoi.

- Vietnam.

- [Molly] It's a pseudonym of the French Enlightenment author of "Candide".

- Victor.

- Incorrect.

(buzzer buzzes) - Wow, great job you guys.

I got one, two, three, nine for 90.

Nine for 90.

So we got vaccine, Vikings, Versailles, Venus, Verona, Valkyries, Veto, Vietnam and Virginia.

The guy we did not know who wrote "Candide".

his name is Voltaire.

Voltaire.

All right.

Great lightning round for you, let's see what happens with Upperman Middle who are gonna answer questions where all the responses start with a letter O.

60 seconds on the clock, here we go.

In Norse mythology, he is the husband of the goddess Frig.

- Odin.

- [Molly] This city is the most populated of the Cornhusker state.

- Omaha.

- [Molly] The SI unit of resistance is named for this German physicist.

- Ohm.

- Ohm.

- This African American was known for his victories at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

- Pass.

- [Molly] He assassinated JFK in Dallas, Texas.

- Oswald.

- Oswald.

- [Molly] It is last letter of the Greek alphabet.

- Omega.

- Omega.

- [Molly] Home to Honolulu is the most populated of the Hawaiian Islands.

- Oahu.

- [Molly] Anna and Elsa built him together as kids to serve as a symbol of their love.

- Olaf.

- Olaf.

- [Molly] This Tennessee city where the uranium for the atomic bomb was enriched as part of the Manhattan Project.

- Oak Ridge.

- This passage West started an independence Missouri and names a computer game in which one can die of dysentery.

- Oregon Trail.

- Oregon Trail.

- [Molly] This African American was known for his victories at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

(buzzer buzzes) All right, we're out of time.

Another nine for 90 round, fantastic job.

So you got Odin, Omaha, Ohm, Oswald, Omega, Oahu, Olaf, Oak Ridge, and Oregon Trail.

The African American known for his victories at the 1936 Berlin Olympics is Jesse Owens.

- Oh.

- I knew it was like Jesse something.

- And if you wanna watch a great film about it, you should watch the film called "Race" as in.

All right.

We're gonna go right into our next round with tossups.

So hands on buzzers everybody.

Here we go.

This woman was 130 years old when she had her third son, Seth.

(buzzer sounds) - That is Upperman, Ryan.

- Methuselah.

- That's incorrect.

I'm gonna finish it for Prescott.

One of her children was exiled to Nod after murdering his brother, she was tempted by a serpent to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Name this mother of Cain and Abel, the first woman in the Bible.

(buzzer sounds) That's Prescott, Lily.

- Eve.

- Eve is correct.

Here are your bonuses, for 10 points each, answer the following about science fields.

This branch of scientific study includes this study of fossils to classify organisms from ancient life on earth.

- Archeology.

- Archeology.

- Incorrect, we're looking for paleontology.

This other branch of scientific study focuses on human activity and is particularly important for learning about prehistoric societies.

- Anthropology.

- Incorrect.

We're looking for archeology there.

So no points on the bonus.

You did get 10 on the tossup, and we've got another tossup coming your way.

This nerve connects the eye to the brain.

Also known.

(buzzer sounds) That is, Upperman, Andrew.

- Optical nerve.

- Optic nerve is correct.

Bonuses, for 10 points each, answer the following about the country of Canada, located in Ontario, this city is the most populous Canadian city.

- Ottowa.

- Quebec.

- Toronto.

- Toronto is correct.

This other city that is also in Ontario serves as the federal capital for all of Canada.

- Quebec.

- Ottawa.

- [Molly] Ottawa is correct.

So 20 on the bonus.

Next toss up.

This adjective meaning disagreeable, unpleasant, and disgusting has been to describe a large Himalayan snowman in tall tales and fictional.

(buzzer sounds) That is Upperman, Ryan.

- Abominable.

- Abominable is correct.

Your bonuses.

Given a clue about food or drink, for 10 points each, identify the substance.

Based in Atlanta, what soft drink was created by John Pemberton in 1886?

- Coca-Cola.

- Coca-Cola is correct.

What type of grape was developed by Ephraim Bull in Massachusetts shares its name with the state capital of New Hampshire?

- No answer.

- All right, we're looking for Concord.

So 10 on the bonus and 10 on the tossup, gives you 20 there.

Next tossup.

This very first section of the US constitution is a brief introductory statement of the.

(buzzer sounds) That is Upperman, Andrew.

- Preamble.

- Preamble is correct.

Your bonuses.

Answer the following about the year 1796, for 10 points each.

In 1796 this state entered the union as the 16th State.

- Tennessee.

- That's right.

The state you're in.

Also in 1796 during his farewell address, this president warned of foreign entanglements.

- I don't know.

- No answer.

- All right, the president in 1796 was good old George Washington.

- Oh.

- So you got 10 on the bonus and 10 on the tossup, that gives you 20.

Next tossup.

The agency was formed in 1862 to raise funds for the Civil War.

It is operated by the Department of the Treasury, and is infamous for its lengthy audits of both.

(buzzer sounds) - Prescott, Charles.

- The IRS.

- The IRS or Internal Revenue Service, you got it.

All right, your bonuses.

For 10 points each, identify the weapon being described.

This green gas from the halogen with the atomic number 17 was used as a weapon during World War I.

- Chlorine.

- Chlorine is correct.

This other weapon is a kind of vehicle that is referred to by the German word Panzer.

- Tank.

- Tank.

- Tank is correct.

Got 'em both.

20 points on the bonus.

Next toss up.

In a story by this author, a title character loses a race against a slower but more diligent.

(buzzer sounds) That is, Upperman, Sam.

- Hair.

(buzzer sounds) - Incorrect.

I'm gonna, Prescott, Charles.

- Asop.

- Aesop is correct.

All right, so in the story by this author.

So Aesop.

Bonuses for Prescott, given a clue about a famous fictional character, for 10 points each, identify the author that created the creature.

Frankenstein's monster destroys the young medical student who has created him in a novel by this author.

- Mary Shelley.

- Shelly is correct.

Count Dracula is a Transylvanian vampire and title character who lives on the blood of young women in a novel by this author.

- Roberts.

- Incorrect.

We're looking for Bram Stoker.

So you got 10 on the bonus and 10 on the tossup for a total of 20.

Next tossup.

In a novel by this author, a professor and his nephew embark on a journey which ends with them emerging from a volcano in Italy.

(buzzer sounds) That is Prescott, Charles - "A Journey to the Center of the Earth".

- It's incorrect.

I'm gonna finish it for Upperman.

This author writes of another professor that sets out to destroy the submarine Nautilus, which is manned by Captain Nemo.

(buzzer sounds) Upperman, Ryan.

- "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea".

- That's incorrect.

So the question is looking for the author, in a novel by this author and it's Jules Verne.

- Oh.

- So nobody gets that one.

We're going on to the next tossup.

In this biome, low temperatures lead to stunted vegetation.

There also tend to be long periods of daylight or darkness.

(buzzer sounds) Prescott, Charles.

- Arctic.

- That's incorrect.

I'll complete it for Upperman.

Sometimes up to four months at a time, name the biome where a layer of permanently frozen subsoil.

(buzzer sounds) Upperman, Sam.

- Permafrost.

- Incorrect.

Frozen subsoil called permafrost exists, and we're looking for tundra.

So nobody gets that one, we'll go to the next one.

Get your pencil and paper ready for this math toss up.

On a wintry day in Oneida, the minimum predicted temperature is two degrees, and the mean predicted temperature is 8.5 degrees.

What is the maximum predicted temperature?

(buzzer sounds) Upperman, Ryan.

- 70.

- [Molly] That's incorrect.

Can you take it Prescott.

(buzzer sounds) Leo.

- 15.

- [Molly] 15 is correct.

All right.

Your bonuses, for 10 points each answer the following about the French Revolution.

This queen of France was a symbol of royal extravagance and was guillotined in 1793.

- Marie Antoinette.

- Marie Antoinette is correct.

Antoinette was married to this king of France who was also executed in 1793.

- Louis the 16th.

- Louis the 16th is correct.

20 on the bonus.

Next toss up.

One man who visits him in the Carpathian Mountain says, "This character has ice cold hands, pointed pale ears and peculiarly sharp white teeth."

Quincy Morris and Jonathan Harper use knives on this character as he attempts to return to Transylvania.

(buzzer sounds) Miranda.

- Dracula.

- Dracula is correct.

Bonus points or bonus questions for 10 points each, answer the following about great works of art found in the Vatican.

Found in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, the Pieta depicting Mary and Jesus was a great work of art by this renaissance great.

- Raphael.

- That's incorrect.

That one is Michelangelo.

This other renaissance great created the school of Athens that's also found in the Vatican.

- Raphael.

- Raphael.

- That one is Raphael.

So 10 on the bonus and on the toss up.

(buzzer buzzes) All right.

And that buzzer brings us to the end of a very, very close one.

All right, let me remind you, this was the finals of our elimination bracket.

Let's give everybody a hand.

(people applauding) All right.

(upbeat ambient music) With 290 points, Prescott South is gonna be our third place finishing team for our tournament.

And with 300 points, Upperman is gonna go on to play Portland West in our championship match.

Great job, everybody.

Come on back and see the championship round.

(upbeat ambient music) - [Narrator] This program was made possible by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you.

Thank you.