(bright ambient music) - Welcome to season eight (drum rolling) of "High School Quiz Show: Maine," where we're halfway through the qualifying matches.

16 schools are being whittled down to 8, but only one will take home $1,000 prize for their school's project graduation.

In our fifth qualifying match, it's the Crusaders of John Bapst Memorial High School (triumphant music) taking on the Panthers of Medomak Valley High School.

(triumphant music) That's coming up next on "High school Quiz Show: Maine."

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(upbeat music) - Welcome to season eight of "High School Quiz Show: Maine."

I'm your host, Todd Gutner.

We're just over halfway through the qualifying matches as we work our way towards the season eight champion and the $1,000 grand prize.

In our fifth match, we have former champion taking on a newcomer.

The Crusaders of John Bapst Memorial in Bangor are making their sixth appearance on the show, and they're a former champ, taking home the crown in season four, but the Panthers of Medomak Valley High School in Waldoboro are hoping their first time here includes a trip to the finals.

Let's get things going by meeting the teams.

For John Bapst, we have Elinora, Jed, Ada, and Griffin with alternates, Oscar and Indy, and they're coached by Jacob Mattis.

And from Medomak, we have Chris, Mia, Gavin, and Seamus with alternate, Kelsey, and they're coached by Kevin Richardson.

The competition has four rounds.

We have a tossup round, head-to-head round, the category round, and the fun lightning round, too.

We'll start with the tossup round.

All answers are worth 10 points, and this is the only round with no point deductions for wrong answers.

Players must wait for me to complete the question, and if one team answers incorrectly, the other team will be given (text whooshing) a chance to answer.

Good luck to both of you teams.

Are you guys ready to roll?

- Yes.

- All right, let's do this.

Here's the first question.

"Cowboy Carter" is a 2024 country music album released by what recording artist who's not usually known for country music?

(bell dinging) Gavin, Medomak.

- Beyonce.

- Beyonce is right.

What term that comes from the Latin for standing sun refers to the period that occurs twice each year when the sun reaches its highest or lowest position on the horizon?

(buzzer buzzing) That would be solstice, that's the answer.

Charlize Theron and Anna Taylor-Joy both have played a character with what name in the "Mad Max" film franchise?

(bell dinging) Chris, Medomak.

- Bayonetta?

- [Todd] That's incorrect.

John Bapst, do you want to guess?

(bell dinging) Go for it, Jed.

- Furiosa.

- That is right, nice job.

The 20th Amendment to the Constitution specifies that the terms of the president and vice president of the United States begin and end in which month?

(buzzer buzzing) - Griffin.

- January.

- That's right.

Up next, we have a picture question, so take a look at the monitor right over here.

Name this Polish physicist and chemist who conducted groundbreaking research on radioactivity, helping her become the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two scientific fields?

(bell dinging) Jed, John Bapst.

- Marie Curie.

- That is right.

Which 1975 movie about a great white shark is widely considered to be the first summer movie blockbuster?

(bell dinging) Mia.

- "Jaws."

- Jaws is right.

The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council are the US, China, France, the United Kingdom, and which other country?

(bell dinging) Mia again.

- Russia.

- That is also right again.

In the early 20th century, which neighborhood of New York City was the scene of a cultural and artistic renaissance led by writers and intellectuals such as Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston?

(bell dinging) Gavin, Medomak.

- Harlem.

- Harlem, right.

In 2022, which Jamaican sprinter filed an application to trademark his famous victory pose in which he leans back and points at the sky?

(bell dinging) Griffin.

- Usain Bolt.

- That is right.

Next up, we have a video question, so once again, have a look at the monitor.

- I'm Aislinn Sarnacki, host of "Borealis" on Maine Public, and here's my question for you.

The Maine state seal features several iconic Maine images like the moose, a sailor, a farmer, and of course, the word, dirigo, which means I lead.

It also features a star.

What's that star?

(bell dinging) - Jed, John Bapst.

- The North Star.

- The North Star is the right answer.

Next question.

The decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which led to the US Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, originated with a court case in which state where Thomas Dobbs worked for the State Department of Health?

(buzzer buzzing) Answer is Mississippi.

Officially called the free throw lane, what is the most commonly used three-letter name for the painted area on a basketball court between the baseline and the foul line?

(bell dinging) Ada.

- Box.

- [Todd] That's incorrect.

Medomak, you wanna give it a guess?

(buzzer buzzing) Chris, I think you got that in, right?

- Yeah.

- Go for it, Chris.

- The cup?

- Incorrect, it's the key, the key.

Which of these things is most likely to have an SPF number?

Motor oil, sunscreen, or gasoline?

(bell dinging) Jed.

- Sunscreen.

- Yes.

Math question, you should have paper, you should have pencil.

Here's the question.

What is the value of five to the negative third power?

(bell dinging) Jed, John Bapst.

- One over 125.

- That is correct, nice job.

That was quick.

In the "Harry Potter" novels, Harry, Ron, and Neville all are members of which house at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and wizardry?

(bell dinging) Eleanor.

- Gryffindor.

- You got it.

A helicopter is an example of a VTOL aircraft.

In this context, what does the abbreviation VTOL stand for?

(bell dinging) Go ahead, Chris.

- Vertical Travel Over Land?

- [Todd] That's incorrect.

John Bapst, do you wanna try?

(bell dinging) Go for it, Elinora - Vehicle Travel Over Land?

- It's actually Vertical Takeoff and Landing.

Good tries, though.

(chuckles) All right, next question.

The smallest species of fox is the fennec, which lives in what kind of biome, where it sleeps during the day and hunts at night?

(bell dinging) Jed.

- The desert.

- The desert is correct.

In 2007, which representative from California became the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House of Representatives?

(bell dinging) Go ahead, Mia.

- Nancy Pelosi.

- That is it, that is right.

A waterspout is a tornado that most often forms in which of these conditions?

During a snowstorm, in a rainforest, or over a lake or ocean?

(bell dinging) Gavin.

- Over a lake or ocean.

- That's the right answer.

In Greek mythology, the Oracle of Delphi was a priestess who delivered prophecies directly from which god?

(bell dinging) Chris.

- Zeus.

- That's incorrect.

John Bapst?

(buzzer buzzing) Answer is Apollo.

In William Shakespeare's play, "Othello," what negative emotional state does Iago refer to as the green-eyed monster?

(bell dinging) Elinora.

- Jealousy.

- Nice job.

At the center of Trafalgar Square in London is a memorial to what admiral who died at the Battle of Trafalgar?

(bell dinging) Griffin, John Bapst.

- Nelson.

- Nelson, nice job there.

(timer ringing) All right, that's the end of our first round.

We've got a good one.

John Bapst, 110, and Medomak Valley, 60.

Looks like a great match is underway, (text whooshing) so don't go anywhere.

We'll meet the players when we get back.

(upbeat music) Before we go to the head-to-head round, we like to pause and get to know our players with a slightly silly question, and the question this time is if you could create your own podcast, what would it be called, and what would it be about?

We'll begin with John Bapst and Elinora.

- I would create a music journalism podcast called "Music of Maine," and I would interview Maine musicians, I think.

- Ooh, that's pretty cool.

Do you have a favorite, like, type of music genre?

- I like folk.

- Folk, yeah.

- Folky stuff.

I like everything.

- I kind of dig that, too.

Jed, go for it.

- I would call mine "Outdoors Maine," and it would just be about, you know, different outdoor activities, hiking, skiing.

- Yeah.

Do you have a favorite?

- I'm a big skier.

- Skier?

- Yeah.

- Downhill, right?

- Downhill.

- Yeah?

What's your favorite mountain to go to?

- I like my home mountain, Hermon.

- Hermon, nice, awesome.

Ada?

- Mine would be about fiber arts, so "Fiber Arts of Maine."

That's what I would call it.

- [Todd] One more time, fiber arts?

- Yeah.

- Educate me, what is fiber arts?

- It's just basically making art from, like, sheep wool or any type of wool, yeah.

- Oh, really cool.

Oh, that's awesome, all right.

Griffin?

- Mine would be called "Mainely Bricks."

It would be about LEGOs, 'cause I'm a big (Todd chuckling) LEGO enthusiast, yes.

- Are you?

Do you have, like, a ton of them still hanging around the house?

- I've got way too many.

- Way too many?

(laughs) - Too many.

(chuckles) - All right, thank you, Griffin.

Medomak Valley, Chris, what are your thoughts?

- I think I'd be called "Three Gentlemen Sit and Ponder," and it would be me - Okay.

- And my two best friends just, we think of a lot of random things.

- Yeah.

- So always just a what-if scenario, - Yeah.

- Or an innovation that could be created.

- I love it, you want to give them a shout-out?

What are their names?

- Brett Halliday and James Butterfield.

- All right, cool.

Mia?

- If I were to create a podcast, I would call it "Mia's Book Review," and I would talk about books I read, and give my opinions.

- Do you have a favorite book?

- I'm a big- - Like the first one comes to mind, what is it?

- I'm a big fan of the "Red Rising" series.

- Okay, I have no idea what that is.

(laughs) (contestants chuckling) Gavin, your turn.

- If I could have a podcast, it would probably be called "Dinosaur Time."

- [Todd] Yeah?

- It's about dinosaurs.

I'm pretty big dinosaur guy, so.

- Do you have a favorite that you've researched and learned about?

- I gotta go with the Allosaurus.

- Allosaurus, why?

Why Allosaurus?

- I like those claws that it has.

It's just very versatile, you know, it's fast.

- Is that a huge one or a smaller one?

Oh, it's fast?

- It's medium-sized.

- [Todd] Medium-sized?

- Jurassic Period.

- Cool, awesome, thank you, Gavin.

Seamus, wrap us all up here.

- If I had a podcast, I'd probably call it "Seamus' Shenanigans," (Todd chuckling) and I'd probably just talk about soccer and whatever else is on my mind.

- Is that your favorite sport?

- Yeah.

- Do you play for Medomak?

- Yeah.

- Ah, good for you.

How'd you guys do this year?

- Pretty good, we- - Say it, say it.

- Yeah, we went to the regional final, and we lost to John Bapst, so.

- Oh my, oh boy.

(contestants chuckling) So this is fueling the rivalry?

- It's a little personal.

- All right, it is personal, isn't it?

Well, the head-to-head round is next, but let's see how well you do with our Viewer Question of the Week.

(upbeat music) - Hi, I am Paul Riley from Safety Insurance, and this is your Viewer Question of the Week.

(screen whooshing) Sebago Lake may not be Maine's largest, but it is the deepest lake in the state.

How many feet deep is it?

Keep track of your answers and tune into the semi-finals for part two of the Viewer Question Challenge.

(upbeat music) - Okay, it's time for the head-to-head round.

Players alternate facing off one-on-one right here at the desk.

Correct answers are worth 10 points.

Incorrect answers will cost you 10 points.

(text whooshing) There are 90 seconds (text whooshing) on the clock, players ready?

Here we go, first question.

Asmara is the capital city of which African country that officially gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993?

(upbeat percussive music) (buzzer buzzing) Eritrea.

The United Nations International Court of Justice is based in a building called- (bell dinging) - Hague.

- Yes.

Which French Impressionist artist is famous for painting the water lilies- (bell dinging) - Claude Monet.

- Monet, yes.

The ninth letter of the Greek alphabet is which letter whose name is a synonym for something very small?

(buzzer buzzing) Iota.

What common disaccharide is formed when glucose and fructose are combined?

(bell dinging) - Sucrose.

- That's correct.

What British author called his character, David Copperfield, his favorite child?

(buzzer buzzing) Dickens.

The sun primarily makes energy by fusing hydrogen into what gas?

(buzzer buzzing) Helium.

Graceland Mansion, Elvis Presley's former home, is located in what US city?

(bell dinging) - Memphis.

- Memphis is correct.

Revered for her work with the poor in India, what nun was declared a saint by Pope Francis in 2016?

(buzzer buzzing) Mother Teresa.

In 1783, Great Britain recognized America's independence under what treaty?

(bell dinging) - Paris.

- Paris is right.

What Arctic marine mammal with a single tusk is sometimes called the- (bell dinging) It's over here.

- Narwhal.

- Narwhal, correct.

In 1804, what two American explorers- (timer ringing) Ooh, that's the end of our head-to-head round, and right now, we've got a score of John Bapst, 150, Medomak Valley, 80.

The category round is next.

(text whooshing) Don't go anywhere.

(upbeat music) - [Announcer] Production support for "High School Quiz Show: Maine" is provided by: - Educators want our students to succeed.

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Application deadline is April 15th.

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- [Announcer] And by viewers like you, thank you.

(upbeat music) - Next up is the category round with the following choices.

Casting a Spell, (text thumping) There's a Museum For That, The Pen is Mighty, Just Peachy, Names and Numbers, and The Ancient East.

Each team will alternate control of two categories.

Questions have increasing point values.

With each question, they can choose to answer and either gain or lose points, they can skip and neither gain nor lose points, or once per category, they can toss to the other team and force them to answer.

Players will have five seconds to confer and decide what to do.

(text whooshing) Medomak Valley, you are trailing.

Who's gonna speak for you guys?

- I am.

- It's gonna be Mia?

Okay, Mia, what category would you like to do?

- [Mia] We'd like Names and Numbers.

- Names and Numbers.

So these will be questions about elements on the periodic table.

- Okay.

- Here's the first one.

Number 15 on the periodic table which element takes its name from the Greek for bringer of light?

- Could be neon.

- Neon?

Neon?

- Neon is incorrect, it's phosphorus.

Names and Numbers for 15.

Element 31 is gallium, which is named for which modern-day country where it was discovered in the 1870s?

Skip.

- You wanna skip that, okay, the answer is France.

Names and Numbers for 20.

Element number 98 takes its name from which US state where a team of scientists that included Stanley Thompson and Glenn Seaborg synthesized it in 1950?

- Think California?

- It might be Georgia.

- Not California?

- Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.

- California.

- California is correct, nice job.

Names and Numbers for 25.

Element number 78 is which precious metal that takes its name from the Spanish word for silver?

(contestants whispering) (timer beeping) - Skip.

- What would you like to do?

- Skip.

- You wanna skip it?

The answer's platinum.

And the last one in Names and Numbers.

The element tantalum is named for Tantalus, a figure in Greek mythology.

What is the name of element 41, which is similar to tantalum, has the symbol, NB, and is named for the daughter of Tantalus?

- Should we toss it?

- I don't know.

- Toss?

Toss.

- You wanna toss this over to John Bapst, okay.

John Bapst, I will reread the question for you.

The element, tantalum, is named for Tantalus, a figure in Greek mythology.

What is the name of element 41, which is similar to tantalum, has the symbol, NB, and is named for the daughter of Tantalus?

- Just say Nesbith.

(timer beeping) - Nesbith.

- Nesbith?

- That's incorrect.

The right answer is niobium, niobium.

That wraps up Names and Numbers.

John Bapst, it's gonna be your turn.

Elinora, what category would you like to do first?

- [Contestant] Ancient East.

- [Elinora] We'll do The Ancient East.

- Okay, so you wanna do The Ancient East.

These will be questions about Ancient China, and here's the first one.

As far back as the Han Dynasty of Ancient China, it was popular to drink what beverage brewed from leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant?

- Green tea.

- Nice job, tea is the right answer.

Next question in Ancient East.

In Ancient Greece and Rome, China was called Seres, which is also the name of what highly desirable fabric fiber that Ancient China produced and the rest of the world wanted?

- Silk.

- Silk is right.

The Ancient East for 20.

The period from about 481 to 221 BCE in China is commonly known by what name that refers to various regions in the country actively fighting with each other for dominance?

- I don't know.

- Skip.

- Skip.

- You wanna skip that?

It's Warring States.

Ancient East, 25.

What pivoting vertical blade that is used to steer ships today was probably invented in China before the first century CE?

- Rudder.

- Rudder is the right answer.

The Ancient East for 30, now.

Around 1000 BCE, the Zhou Dynasty put forth the idea that there can only be one legitimate ruler of the population, and that person must be righteous and just, or they will be replaced.

What is the common English name for this concept whose Chinese name is tianming?

- Toss.

- Just toss it.

- We'll toss it.

- You want to toss over to Medomak Valley?

All right, Medomak Valley, I will reread the question.

Around 1000 BCE, the Zhou Dynasty put forth the idea that there can only be one legitimate ruler of the population, and that person must be righteous and just, or they will be replaced.

What is the common English name for this concept whose Chinese name is tianming?

- Popular sovereignty?

- That's incorrect.

It's a Mandate of Heaven is the right answer.

So that wraps up The Ancient East, I should say.

Medomak Valley, it's back over to you guys.

Mia, what category would you like?

- We'd like Casting a Spell.

- Okay, Casting a Spell.

Spell the following words.

A state of perplexity or uncertainty, spell quandary.

(pencil scratching) - Q-U-A-N-D-R-Y.

- That's incorrect, it's Q-U-A-N-D-A-R-Y.

Moving on, Casting a Spell for 15.

Disguising something so that it blends with its surroundings, spell camouflage.

(pencil scratching) - I think it has a U there.

(timer beeping) - [Todd] Okay, Mia, we're gonna need you to spell it.

- I think it's O-U.

- C-A-M-O-F-L-A-G-U-E. - No, that's not it.

- That's also incorrect, it's C-A-M-O-U-F-L-A-G-E.

Casting a Spell for 20.

The official policy of racial segregation that existed in South Africa until the 1990s, spell apartheid.

- That's T-H. - How's that?

- I think that's it.

- A-P-A-R-T-H-E-I-D. - You got it, nice job.

Casting a Spell for 25.

A style of music closely associated with Bob Marley and other performers from Jamaica, spell reggae.

- R-E-G-G-A-E. - R-E, what?

- R-E-G-G-A-E. - R-E-G-G-A-E. - That's correct, nice.

Casting a Spell for 30.

In math, the power to which a base number is raised to produce a given number, spell logarithm.

- We got that one right.

- How's that?

(contestants whispering) L-O-G-A-R-I-T-H-M. - Nailed it, nice job.

All right, back over to John Bapst, your second category.

What's it gonna be?

- [Elinora] We'll do There's a Museum For That.

- Okay, these will be questions about museums.

Here's the first one.

There's a potato museum in which state that grows the most potatoes in the US?

- Idaho.

- That's right.

There's a Museum For That For 15.

A museum in North Carolina houses more than 300 examples of what musical instrument that has the lowest pitch in the orchestra's brass section?

- Is it oboe?

- Trumpet?

(contestants whispering) (timer beeping) - [Todd] What do you think, Elinora?

- Tuba.

- Tuba is right.

There's a Museum For That for 20.

The collection of the International Museum of Cryptozoology in Portland, Maine includes samples of fecal matter and hair said to be from what legendary creature of the Himalayas?

- Do Yeti.

- Yeti.

- Yeti is right.

There's a Museum For That, 25.

In the city of Prague in the Czech Republic is a museum devoted to the history of what practice that involves scientists searching for a way to turn ordinary metals into gold?

- Alchemy.

- Alchemy?

- Alchemy, yes.

There's a Museum For That for 30.

A museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma is dedicated to the life and music of which American folk singer who wrote the classic tune, "This Land is Your Land"?

(timer beeping) - Skip?

- [Todd] What do you think, Elinora?

(contestants whispering) - Skip.

- We'll skip.

- You'll skip it, the answer is Woody Guthrie, Woody Guthrie.

And that wraps up our category round, folks.

We have a score of John Bapst, 240, Medomak Valley, 110.

Everything can change, though, in the lightning round, (text whooshing) so sit tight, we'll be right back.

(upbeat music) Okay, we're heading into the final 90 seconds of gameplay, it's the lightning round.

Players, you do not have to wait for me to finish the question.

You can buzz in at any time, but do not answer until I call your name.

You get 20 points for each correct answer.

Incorrect answers will cost you 20, (text whooshing) and the other team does not get a chance to answer.

The clock is set.

(text whooshing) Good luck, here we go.

Which US state is the largest by area?

(bell dinging) (lively music) Griffin.

- Alaska.

- [Todd] Yes.

In the Disney movie, "Frozen," what is the name of Elsa's sister?

(bell dinging) Gavin.

- Anna.

- [Todd] Anna, right.

What is the common name for the joint that connects the femur to the tibia?

(bell dinging) (buzzer buzzing) Jed.

- Is it the knee?

- [Todd] It is the knee.

The longest river in Italy has what two-letter name?

(buzzer buzzing) - Po.

007 is the code number for what- (bell dinging) Chris.

- James Bond.

- [Todd] James Bond, yes.

The Hindu god, Ganesha, is depicted with the head of what animal?

(bell dinging) That'll be Seamus.

- Elephant.

- Elephant, right.

Which Louisiana city has a name that means red stick?

(bell dinging) Seamus again.

- Baton Rouge.

- Yes, again.

Who was president of Iraq during the Persian Gulf War of 1990- (bell dinging) Griffin.

- Saddam Hussein.

- [Todd] Hussein.

Albacore and yellowfin are species of what commercial- (bell dinging) Elinora.

- Tuna.

- [Todd] Tuna, right.

Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary became world famous- (bell dinging) - Mount Everest.

- Griffin, yes, Everest.

Robert Burns wrote the lyrics of what traditional New Year's Eve song?

(buzzer buzzing) "Auld Lang Syne."

The Crimean Peninsula separates the Sea of Azov from which other- (bell dinging) Jed.

- Black Sea.

- [Todd] Black Sea, right.

Quasimoto is the title character in which novel?

(bell dinging) Griffin.

- "Hunchback of Notre Dame."

- [Todd] "Hunchback" is right.

Aleppo is the most populous city in which- (bell dinging) Jed.

- Syria.

Syria, yes.

(timer ringing) That's the end of our lightning round.

We've got a score of 400 points, John Bapst is our winner.

They'll be moving on to the quarterfinals in a few weeks.

Our runner up, Medomak Valley, 190 points.

You guys all played great today.

(text whooshing) Congratulations to both teams.

Be sure to tune in next time as Bangor takes on Yarmouth.

Thanks for watching, and we'll see you next time on "High School Quiz Show: Maine."

(upbeat music) - [Announcer] Production support for "High School Quiz Show: Maine" is provided by: energy is about more than just keeping the lights on.

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