>> JOIN US TONIGHT AS THE SEMIFINALS BEGIN WITH NUMBER ONE SEED, MOUNT GREYLOCK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, GOING UP AGAINST NUMBER FOUR SEED, WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL.

THE 63RD SEASON OF WESTERN NEW ENGLAND'S AWARD-WINNING HIGH SCHOOL QUIZ SHOW CONTINUES TONIGHT AS SCHOOLS MATCH WITS.

>> THE MEMBERS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMMING ON PUBLIC TELEVISION.

THE MTA: OVER 175 YEARS OF COMMITMENT TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES OUR COMMUNITIES DESERVE.

>> YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE FROM THE FIRST COUPLE OF MINUTES THAT YOU WALK ONTO THIS CAMPUS.

YOU REALIZE THAT IT'S NOT JUST A CAMPUS, IT'S A COMMUNITY.

IT'S A FAMILY.

[ ♪♪♪ ] [ THEME MUSIC PLAYS ] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "AS SCHOOLS MATCH WITS," COMING TO YOU FROM THE CAMPUS OF WESTFIELD STATE UNIVERSITY.

I'M YOUR HOST, BETH WARD.

THIS SEASON, HIGH SCHOOLS FROM THROUGHOUT OUR REGION WENT HEAD TO HEAD IN QUALIFYING MATCHES TO SEE WHO COULD SCORE ENOUGH POINTS TO MAKE IT TO THE TOP EIGHT.

WELL, THE QUARTERFINALS ARE OVER AND THE SEMIFINALS BEGIN TONIGHT.

AS YOU CAN SEE, MOUNT GREYLOCK REGIONAL, PIONEER VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, LONGMEADOW, AND WESTFIELD HAVE MOVED ON TO THE SEMIFINALS.

IN TONIGHT'S FIRST SEMIFINAL MATCHUP, WE HAVE WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL GOING UP AGAINST MOUNT GREYLOCK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL.

LET'S MEET THE TEAMS, STARTING WITH MOUNT GREYLOCK REGIONAL, COACHED BY BLAIR DILS.

>> I'M CHE GUERRA.

I AM A SENIOR AT MOUNT GREYLOCK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL.

>> I'M QUIN REPETTO.

I'M A SENIOR AT MOUNT GREYLOCK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL.

>> HI, I'M CALEB LOW, AND I'M A SENIOR AT MOUNT GREYLOCK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL.

>> I'M PARKER SMITH, A SENIOR FROM MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> AND FOR WESTFIELD, COACHED BY JON TYLER.

>> HI, I'M ANDREW O'SULLIVAN, AND I AM A SENIOR AT WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL.

>> HI, MY NAME IS KAITLYNN GOULETTE, AND I AM A SOPHOMORE AT WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL.

>> HI, I'M CONNER GELINAS, A SENIOR AT WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL.

>> HI, I'M BEN MILLER, I'M A JUNIOR AT WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL, AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR ALTERNATES, LUKE BULAN AND JONAS MILLER.

>> WE START OFF EACH MATCH WITH THE CHALLENGE ROUND.

BOTH TEAMS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO BUZZ IN AND ANSWER QUESTIONS FOR TEN POINTS EACH.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD.

GOOD LUCK TO BOTH TEAMS.

HERE WE GO WITH YOUR FIRST QUESTION OF THE EVENING.

IF YOU TRAVELED DUE WEST FROM THE CITY OF DENVER, COLORADO, WHAT IS THE FIRST STATE BORDER YOU'LL CROSS?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> UTAH.

>> UTAH, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

OF THE FOLLOWING PERIODS OF HUMAN HISTORY, WHICH OF THESE IS THE OLDEST: NEOLITHIC, PALEOLITHIC, OR MESOLITHIC?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> PALEOLITHIC.

>> YES, PALEO IS CORRECT.

WHAT IS THE TITLE OF THE 1981 FANTASY STORY BY CHRIS VAN ALLSBURG ABOUT A MAGICAL BOARD GAME THAT RELEASES THE RAINFOREST-- [ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> "JUMANJI."

>> YES, "JUMANJI" IS CORRECT.

GRAB YOUR PENS FOR THIS ONE.

IN DEGREES, WHAT IS THE MEASURE OF THE COMPLEMENT OF AN ANGLE WHICH MEASURES 44 DEGREES 55 MINUTES?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> 45 DEGREES.

>> I'M SORRY, THAT IS INCORRECT.

WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL, THAT GIVES YOU THE CHANCE TO ANSWER.

>> 45 DEGREES AND 5 MINUTES.

>> YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

>> THAT WAS CLOSE, MOUNT GREYLOCK, BUT NICE JOB FINISHING THAT UP, WESTFIELD.

LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.

IN WHAT CITY WILL YOU FIND THE PICCADILLY CIRCUS-- [ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> LONDON.

>> DIDN'T HAVE TO FINISH THAT.

YES, LONDON IS CORRECT.

TRY THIS ONE.

THE GALILEAN MOONS OF THE PLANET-- [ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> JUPITER.

>> I'M SORRY, THAT IS INCORRECT.

LET ME FINISH THE QUESTION.

GALILEAN MOONS OF THE PLANET JUPITER INCLUDE EUROPA, IO, GANYMEDE, AND WHAT MOON?

ALL RIGHT, WESTFIELD, THAT GIVES YOU THE CHANCE TO ANSWER.

>> CALLISTO.

>> CALLISTO, YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

TO A COMPUTER SCIENTIST, THE ACRONYM G.U.I, SPELLED G-U-I-- [ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> GRAPHIC USER INTERFACE.

>> YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

WHAT FORMER AMERICAN PRESIDENT'S FACE APPEARS ON THE CURRENT U.S. TEN-CENT DIME?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> UH... FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT.

>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

WHAT RUSSIAN PHYSIOLOGIST ANALYZED THE SALIVA OF DOGS FOR HIS STUDY OF-- [ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> PAVLOV.

>> YES, INVOLUNTARY REFLUX ACTIONS.

VERY NICE.

ON THE PERIODIC TABLE OF ELEMENTS, WHICH OF THE ALKALINE EARTH METALS HAS THE SYMBOL Be?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> BERYLLIUM.

>> YES, BERYLLIUM IS CORRECT.

THE ACT OF UNION OF 1707 CREATED-- [ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> THE UNITED KINGDOM OF-- >> GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.

>> I'M SORRY, THAT IS INCORRECT.

LET ME FINISH THE QUESTION.

CREATED THE ISLAND STATE OF GREAT BRITAIN, WHICH MERGED THE PARLIAMENTS OF ENGLAND AND WHAT OTHER NATION?

ALL RIGHT, MOUNT GREYLOCK, THAT GIVES YOU THE CHANCE TO ANSWER.

>> IRELAND.

>> CORRECT ANSWER IS SCOTLAND.

LET'S MOVE ON WITH THE NEXT ONE.

THE POSITIVE SQUARE ROOT OF 85 LIES BETWEEN WHAT TWO-- [ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> NINE AND TEN.

>> TWO CONSECUTIVE INTEGERS, YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

VERY NICE.

"RIVER," "JADED," AND "USED TO BE YOUNG" WERE SONGS RELEASED IN 2023 ON THE "ENDLESS SUMMER VACATION" ALBUM BY WHAT AMERICAN SINGER?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] >> BEYONÉ.

>> I'M SORRY, THAT IS INCORRECT.

GOOD GUESS, THOUGH.

WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL, THEY GOT IT WRONG.

THAT MEANS YOU GET THE CHANCE TO ANSWER.

>> 100 GECS.

>> [ LAUGHS ] CORRECT ANSWER THERE IS MILEY CYRUS.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON.

CAUSED BY REPETITIVE FLEXING OF THE FINGERS OR WRIST OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME-- [ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> CARPAL TUNNEL.

>> YES, DIDN'T HAVE TO FINISH THAT.

VERY NICE JOB.

ARACHNOPHOBIA IS TO SPIDERS-- [ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> HEIGHTS.

>> YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

AS ACROPHOBIA IS TO WHAT, WHICH IS HEIGHTS.

I THINK YOU WERE READING MY MIND ON THAT ONE.

VERY NICE JOB.

DON'T KNOW IF I'VE COME ACROSS THAT BEFORE, SO LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.

LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY TO THIS SENTENCE: "I LOOKED UNDER MY DRESSER TO TRY TO FIND THE COIN I DROPPED."

IN THAT SENTENCE, WHAT PART OF SPEECH IS THE WORD "UNDER"?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> PREPOSITION.

>> YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

THE CITY OF KUALA LUMPUR IS THE CAPITAL OF WHAT-- [ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> MALAYSIA.

>> ASIAN COUNTRY, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

TRIGGERED BY IRAQ'S OCCUPATION OF KUWAIT, THE PERSIAN GULF WAR BEGAN ON AUGUST 2ND OF WHICH YEAR, WAS IT 1980, 1985--?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> 1990.

>> 1990, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

CLIMBING, RAMBLING, AND HYBRID TEA ARE ALL VARIETIES OF WHAT FLOWER?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> ORCHID.

>> I'M SORRY, THAT IS INCORRECT.

WESTFIELD, THAT GIVES YOU THE CHANCE TO ANSWER.

>> VINE.

>> ROSES IS THE RIGHT ANSWER.

SHYLOCK IS A MAIN ANTAGONIST IN WHICH SHAKESPEARE'S-- [ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> "THE MERCHANT OF VENICE."

>> THAT IS PART OF HIS PLAY, YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

MOVING ON, WHAT LATIN EXPRESSION REFERS TO ONE'S OTHER SELF?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> ALTER EGO.

>> ALTER EGO IS CORRECT.

LAKE TAHOE IS A LARGE FRESHWATER-- [ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA.

>> I'M SORRY, THAT IS INCORRECT.

LET ME FINISH THE QUESTION.

IS A LARGE FRESHWATER LAKE THAT STRADDLES THE BORDER OF CALIFORNIA AND WHAT OTHER STATE?

ALL RIGHT, MOUNT GREYLOCK, CAN YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION?

>> NEVADA.

>> YES, JUST NEVADA IS THE RIGHT ANSWER.

THAT MARKS THE END NOW OF OUR CHALLENGE ROUND.

LET'S TAKE A MINUTE TO MEET THE TEAM FROM MOUNT GREYLOCK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL.

>> HI, I'M MACKENZIE GAUDETTE FROM WESTFIELD STATE UNIVERSITY.

WE ASKED THE TEAM FROM MOUNT GREYLOCK, WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST PART OF YOUR "AS SCHOOLS MATCH WITS" EXPERIENCE?

>> I WOULD HAVE TO SAY MEETING LOCAL CELEBRITY AND "AS SCHOOLS MATCH WITS" HOST BETH WARD FOR THE FIRST TIME.

>> I WOULD SAY ONE OF THE LAST EPISODES WE HAD, THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT A CHILDREN'S BOOK ABOUT A SPIDER AND A FLY.

NEITHER TEAM KNEW THE ANSWER, AND THE TITLE TURNED OUT TO BE "THE SPIDER AND THE FLY."

>> GETTING TO USE LOTS OF WORDPLAY IN THE LIGHTNING ROUNDS.

>> I WOULD SAY THE BEST PART HAS BEEN THE AMOUNT OF "ROMEO AND JULIET" QUESTIONS.

WE DID THE PRODUCTION EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND SO IT WAS A LOT OF FUN TO HEAR TRIVIA ABOUT THAT.

[ ♪♪♪ ] >> WE HAVE A VERY TIGHT GAME GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

IT STANDS AT MOUNT GREYLOCK 100, WESTFIELD 90.

STILL A LOT OF GAME TO PLAY.

SO LET'S GET ON TO THE FIRST LIGHTNING ROUND OF THE MATCH.

EACH TEAM WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO BUZZ IN AND ANSWER QUESTIONS FOR FIVE POINTS EACH.

BUZZ IN, ANSWER CORRECTLY, YOU WIN FIVE POINTS.

ANSWER INCORRECTLY, YOUR TEAM LOSES FIVE POINTS.

WELL, TIME TO LOOK FOR THE OVER OR UNDER IN THIS ROUND.

EACH ANSWER CONTAINS EITHER THE WORD "OVER" OR THE WORD "UNDER" SOMEWHERE IN IT.

YOU HAVE 90 SECONDS, STARTING RIGHT NOW.

ANOTHER NAME FOR A SLUMBER PARTY.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> SLEEPOVER.

>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

TERM FOR WHERE AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND ARE.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> DOWN UNDER.

>> DOWN UNDER IS CORRECT.

EXTENSION OF A GAME DUE TO A TIE SCORE.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> OVERTIME.

>> OVERTIME IS CORRECT.

A COMPLETE RECONSTRUCTION AND [ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> DO-OVER.

>> DO-OVER IS CORRECT.

SITUATED BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> UNDERGROUND.

>> UNDERGROUND, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

NOT RECEIVING ENOUGH IN EARNED WAGES.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> UNDERPAID.

>> UNDERPAID IS CORRECT.

A SHORT STOP OR A BREAK DURING A JOURNEY.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> LAYOVER.

>> LAYOVER IS CORRECT.

PERSON WHO'S ABLE TO REPLACE A REGULAR PERFORMER WHEN NEEDED.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> UNDERSTUDY.

>> UNDERSTUDY IS CORRECT.

TO WEAKEN BY WEARING AWAY A BASE OR FOUNDATION.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> UNDERCUT.

>> UNDERMINE IS THE RIGHT ANSWER THERE.

TO WAKE UP REALLY LATE.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> OVERSLEEP.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

BELOW THE LEGAL OR CUSTOMARY AGE TO DO SOMETHING.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> UNDERAGE.

>> UNDERAGE, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

A VERY LIGHT, HOLLOW MUFFIN.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> POPOVER.

>> POPOVER, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

BEING HEAVIER THAN YOU SHOULD BE.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> OVERWEIGHT.

>> OVERWEIGHT IS CORRECT.

LONDON'S RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> UNDERGROUND.

>> UNDERGROUND IS RIGHT.

WHAT YOU DO TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE OF A BRIDGE.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> CROSS OVER.

>> CROSS OVER IS CORRECT.

THE COMPETITOR LEAST LIKELY TO WIN A CONTEST OR GAME.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> UNDERDOG.

>> UNDERDOG IS CORRECT.

TO OFFER LESS MONEY THAN A COMPETITOR.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> UNDERCUT.

>> "UNDERBID" IS THE RIGHT ANSWER THERE.

[ BELL RINGS ] AND THAT MARKS THE END OF OUR FIRST LIGHTNING ROUND.

WE HAVE A SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT TO MAKE IN OUR FIRST LIGHTNING ROUND.

I ASKED THE QUESTION "TO OFFER LESS MONEY THAN A COMPETITOR."

WE WERE LOOKING FOR THE ANSWER OF "UNDERBID," HOWEVER MOUNT GREYLOCK GAVE THE ANSWER OF "UNDERCUT," WHICH OUR JUDGES ARE ACCEPTING AND THE SCORE IS ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON NOW TO THE FIRST-- WITH OUR FIRST SEMIFINAL MATCH WITH THE CAPITALIZATION ROUND.

THAT'S WHERE TEAMS GET THE CHANCE TO PICK A CATEGORY AND A POINT VALUE.

THEY'LL NEED TO ANSWER A QUALIFYING QUESTION FIRST BEFORE THEY CAN CONTINUE ON FOR POINTS.

NOW, IF THEY FAIL TO ANSWER THAT QUALIFYING QUESTION CORRECTLY, THEIR OPPONENTS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CAPITALIZE AND GET THOSE POINTS.

ALL RIGHT, AT THE MOMENT, WESTFIELD, YOU ARE A BIT BEHIND.

THAT ALSO MEANS YOU GET THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO PICK A CATEGORY AND A POINT VALUE.

WHAT'S IT GOING TO BE?

>> WORLD EVENTS FOR 30, PLEASE.

>> WORLD EVENTS FOR 30.

HERE'S YOUR QUALIFYING QUESTION.

AH, WE HAVE A VIDEO QUALIFIER, SO PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREEN.

>> HI, I'M CONGRESSMAN RICHARD NEAL, U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FOR MASSACHUSETTS' FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, WITH YOUR QUALIFYING QUESTION.

IN 1993, I BECAME A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE.

ALSO HAPPENING IN 1993 WAS THE FORMING OF THE E.U., A POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UNION OF 27 MEMBER STATES.

TO QUALIFY, ON WHAT CONTINENT DO THESE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES RESIDE?

>> EUROPE.

>> YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

LET'S MOVE ON.

MORE 20TH-CENTURY EVENTS THAT OCCURRED IN EUROPE FOR TEN POINTS EACH.

TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREEN.

FIRST, ON JUNE 28TH, 1914, ARCHDUKE FRANZ FERDINAND, HEIR TO THE AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN EMPIRE, AND HIS WIFE, SOPHIE, WERE ASSASSINATED IN SARAJEVO.

THE EVENT LED TO WHAT GLOBAL CONFLICT?

>> WORLD WAR I.

>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

TRY THIS ONE.

ON FEBRUARY 11TH, 1929, THE KINGDOM OF ITALY AND THE HOLY SEE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ESTABLISHED THE VATICAN CITY AS AN INDEPENDENT SOVEREIGN ENCLAVE WITHIN WHAT ITALIAN CITY?

>> ROME.

>> ROME, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

AND FINALLY, THE BERLIN WALL WAS A CONCRETE BARRIER ERECTED IN 1961 TO ENCIRCLE WEST BERLIN AND ISOLATE IT FROM THE COMMUNIST-CONTROLLED EAST BERLIN AND EAST GERMANY.

IN WHAT YEAR WAS THE BERLIN WALL FINALLY TORN DOWN?

>> 1990.

>> CORRECT ANSWER-- CLOSE-- IS 1989.

ALL RIGHT, MOUNT GREYLOCK, PLEASE, FIRST TIME OF THE EVENING, PICK A CATEGORY AND A POINT VALUE.

>> WE WOULD LIKE LITERATURE FOR 30, PLEASE.

>> LITERATURE FOR 30.

HERE'S YOUR QUALIFYING QUESTION.

[ WARD READS ON-SCREEN TEXT ] >> "ROMEO AND JULIET."

>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

LET'S MOVE ON, TESTING YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF SHAKESPEARE.

IN WHICH SHAKESPEAREAN PLAY WILL YOU ENCOUNTER EACH OF THE FOLLOWING ROYAL CHARACTERS FOR TEN POINTS EACH?

TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREEN.

FIRST, QUEEN GERTRUDE.

>> "HAMLET."

>> "HAMLET" IS CORRECT.

TRY KING DUNCAN.

>> "MACBETH."

>> "MACBETH" IS RIGHT.

AND FINALLY, HOW ABOUT THE PRINCE OF MOROCCO?

>> "LOVE'S LABOR'S LOST."

>> CORRECT ANSWER THERE IS "THE MERCHANT OF VENICE."

ALL RIGHT, WESTFIELD, ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE PICK A CATEGORY AND A POINT VALUE.

>> SOCIAL STUDIES FOR 30, PLEASE.

>> SOCIAL STUDIES FOR 30.

HERE'S YOUR QUALIFYING QUESTION.

AGAIN WE HAVE A VIDEO QUALIFIER.

TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREEN.

>> HI, I'M MONTE BELMONTE.

>> AND I'M KALIIS SMITH FROM "THE FABULOUS 413" PROGRAM ON NEPM WITH YOUR QUALIFYING QUESTION.

>> THE NORTH AMERICAN 413 TELEPHONE AREA CODE COVERS THE WESTERN THIRD OF THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS.

>> IT ENCOMPASSES BERKSHIRE, HAMPDEN, HAMPSHIRE, MOST OF FRANKLIN COUNTY, AS WELL AS TWO CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS TOWNS ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF ANOTHER COUNTY.

>> TO QUALIFY, NAME THE OTHER COUNTY THAT SHARES THE FABULOUS 413 AREA CODE.

I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER.

>> I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS.

>> [ CHUCKLES ] >> WORCESTER COUNTY.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

LET'S MOVE ON NOW IN THIS CATEGORY.

MORE WITH MASSACHUSETTS COUNTIES FOR TEN POINTS EACH.

TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREEN.

FIRST, IN WHAT MASSACHUSETTS COUNTY WILL YOU FIND HYANNIS, ORLEANS, AND PROVINCETOWN?

>> BARNSTABLE.

>> BARNSTABLE, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

HERE'S THE NEXT ONE.

IN WHAT MASSACHUSETTS COUNTY WILL YOU FIND ROCKPORT, GLOUCESTER, AND NEWBURYPORT?

>> PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

>> ESSEX COUNTY IS THE RIGHT ANSWER THERE.

FINALLY, LET'S TRY THIS ONE.

IN WHAT MASSACHUSETTS COUNTY WILL YOU FIND CHELSEA, REVERE, AND BOSTON?

>> SUFFOLK COUNTY.

>> SUFFOLK COUNTY IS CORRECT.

MOUNT GREYLOCK, ONCE AGAIN, YOUR TURN.

>> WE'LL DO LITERATURE FOR 25, PLEASE.

>> LITERATURE FOR 25.

HERE'S YOUR QUALIFYING QUESTION.

TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREENS, PLEASE.

THE PHRASE "A LONG SONG" IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHICH OF THESE LITERARY DEVICES?

>> ASSONANCE.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT, NICE.

STICKING WITH LITERARY DEVICES, I'LL PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE OF A LITERARY DEVICE, YOU IDENTIFY THE DEVICE USED FOR TEN POINTS EACH.

TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREENS.

FIRST, THIS LINE, TAKEN FROM EDGAR ALLAN POE'S POEM "THE RAVEN": "WHILE I NODDED, NEARLY NAPPING, SUDDENLY THERE CAME A TAPPING, AS OF SOMEONE GENTLY RAPPING, RAPPING AT MY CHAMBER DOOR."

>> CONSONANCE.

>> ONOMATOPOEIA IS THE RIGHT ANSWER THERE.

LET'S TRY THIS ONE.

CHARLES DICKENS' OPENING LINE OF "A TALE OF TWO CITIES."

"IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES, IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES, IT WAS THE AGE OF WISDOM, IT WAS THE AGE OF FOOLISHNESS."

>> ANTITHESIS.

>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

FINALLY, THIS ONE'S FOR FIVE POINTS.

THIS POPULAR TONGUE TWISTER, "PETER PIPER PICKED A PECK OF PICKLED PEPPERS."

>> CONSONANCE.

>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

OKAY, WESTFIELD, ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE PICK A CATEGORY AND A POINT VALUE.

>> MATH AND SCIENCE FOR 30, PLEASE.

>> MATH AND SCIENCE FOR 30.

QUALIFYING QUESTION-- AH, YOU'VE PICKED THE WESTFIELD STATE UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAM QUESTION.

ANSWER THE QUALIFIER AND ALL OF THE CATEGORY QUESTIONS CORRECTLY, YOUR TEAM WINS AN ADDITIONAL TEN POINTS.

ALL RIGHT, GOOD LUCK.

HERE WE GO.

[ WARD READS ON-SCREEN TEXT ] >> ACOUSTICS.

>> ACOUSTICS, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

MORE WITH THE LETTER "A" IN SCIENCE.

EACH OF THE FOLLOWING ANSWERS BEGINS WITH THE LETTER "A" FOR FIVE POINTS EACH.

FIRST UP, WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE NATURAL SCIENCE THAT STUDIES CELESTIAL OBJECTS AND THE PHENOMENA THAT OCCUR IN THE COSMOS?

>> ASTRONOMY.

>> ASTRONOMY, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

IN GEOMETRY, IT'S THE PERPENDICULAR DISTANCE FROM A VERTEX OR A FIGURE TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE VERTEX.

>> AN ALTITUDE.

>> ALTITUDE, YES.

ALSO KNOWN AS ALPHA TAURI, IT'S THE BRIGHTEST STAR IN THE CONSTELLATION TAURUS.

>> ALPHA CENTAURI.

>> ALDEBARAN IS THE RIGHT ANSWER THERE.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S TRY THIS ONE.

THIS TERM DESCRIBES THE RELATIVE STRENGTH OR SOUND WAVES MEASURED IN DECIBELS WHICH WAS PERCEIVED AS LOUDNESS OR VOLUME.

WHAT IS THAT TERM?

>> AMPLITUDE.

>> AMPLITUDE, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

AND FINALLY, THIS ONE'S FOR TEN POINTS, WHAT IS THE TERM FOR THE COLLECTIVE MASS OF GASES THAT SURROUNDS PLANET EARTH?

>> ATMOSPHERE.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

ALMOST HAD THAT ONE.

NICE JOB ON THE OTHER QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT, MOUNT GREYLOCK, ONCE AGAIN, YOUR TURN TO PICK A CATEGORY AND A POINT VALUE.

>> WE'D LIKE SOCIAL STUDIES FOR 25, PLEASE.

>> SOCIAL STUDIES FOR 25.

HERE'S YOUR QUALIFYING QUESTION.

[ WARD READS ON-SCREEN TEXT ] >> OLIGARCHY.

>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

LET'S MOVE ON, STICKING WITH FORMS OF GOVERNMENT THAT DERIVE THEIR NAMES FROM LATIN OR GREEK FOR FIVE POINTS EACH.

TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREEN.

FIRST UP, WHAT FORM OF GOVERNMENT DERIVES ITS NAME FROM THE GREEK FOR "SACRED"?

>> DIARCHY.

>> HIERARCHY IS THE RIGHT ANSWER THERE.

LET'S TRY THIS.

FROM THE GREEK FOR "TWO."

>> DIARCHY.

>> DIARCHY, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

FROM THE LATIN FOR "MOTHER."

>> MATRIARCHY.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

AND GREEK FOR "SELF."

>> AUTARCHY.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

AND FINALLY, FROM THE GREEK FOR "WITHOUT."

>> ANARCHY.

>> YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

WESTFIELD, ONCE AGAIN, YOUR TURN.

>> GENERAL KNOWLEDGE FOR 30, PLEASE.

>> GENERAL KNOWLEDGE FOR 30.

HERE WE GO WITH YOUR QUALIFYING QUESTION.

AGAIN, WE HAVE A VIDEO QUALIFIER.

TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREEN.

>> I'M ACADEMY AWARD WINNING COSTUME DESIGNER RUTH E. CARTER WITH YOUR QUALIFYING QUESTION.

ONE OF THE FILMS I WORKED ON FEATURED CHADWICK BOSEMAN PORTRAYING A MAN WHO, IN 1967, BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN SUPREME COURT JUSTICE.

HAVING BEEN NOMINATED BY PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON, HE SERVED ON THE COURT FOR NEARLY 24 YEARS, RETIRING IN 1991.

TO QUALIFY, NAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN SUPREME COURT JUSTICE.

>> THURGOOD MARSHALL.

>> YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

LET'S MOVE ON.

MORE ABOUT SUPREME COURT JUSTICES FOR TEN POINTS EACH.

TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREEN.

FIRST, THIS IS THE ONLY PERSON TO HAVE BEEN BOTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND SERVED AS CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT.

NAME HIM.

>> WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

HERE'S THE NEXT ONE.

THIS WOMAN WAS THE FIRST FEMALE TO SERVE AS A U.S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE.

SHE SERVED AS AN ASSOCIATE JUSTICE FROM 1981 TO 2006.

NAME HER.

>> SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

FINALLY, NOMINATED AS CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE UNITED STATES BY PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, THIS SUPREME COURT MEMBER HAS BEEN IN THAT OFFICE SINCE SEPTEMBER 29TH, 2005.

NAME HIM.

>> JOHN ROBERTS.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

NICE JOB.

MOUNT GREYLOCK, ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE PICK A CATEGORY AND A POINT VALUE.

>> WORLD EVENTS FOR 25, PLEASE.

>> WORLD EVENTS FOR 25.

HERE'S YOUR QUALIFYING QUESTION.

TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREENS.

MILLARD FILLMORE TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE ON JULY 9TH, 1850, FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT ZACHARY TAYLOR.

FILLMORE WAS THE LAST U.S. PRESIDENT TO BE A MEMBER OF WHAT POLITICAL PARTY?

>> THE WHIGS.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

LET'S MOVE ON.

SINCE FILLMORE'S TERMS, PRESIDENTS HAVE BEEN EITHER DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN.

I'LL NAME A PRESIDENT, YOU TELL ME HIS PARTY AFFILIATION FOR TEN POINTS EACH.

TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREEN.

FIRST, THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

>> REPUBLICAN.

>> REPUBLICAN, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

TRY WOODROW WILSON.

>> DEMOCRAT.

>> DEMOCRAT IS CORRECT.

AND FINALLY, FOR FIVE POINTS, HOW ABOUT GEORGE H.W.

BUSH.

>> REPUBLICAN.

>> YES, REPUBLICAN IS CORRECT.

AND THAT MARKS THE END OF OUR CAPITALIZATION ROUND.

NOW LET'S TAKE A MINUTE TO MEET THE TEAM FROM WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL.

>> HI, I'M MACKENZIE GAUDETTE FROM WESTFIELD STATE UNIVERSITY.

WE ASKED THE TEAM FROM WESTFIELD, WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST PART OF YOUR "AS SCHOOLS MATCH WITS" EXPERIENCE?

>> THE BEST PART FOR ME HAS BEEN SEEING OUR TEAM COME TOGETHER AND REALLY MASTER THE STRATEGY WE'VE DEVELOPED OVER THE YEARS.

>> MY FAVORITE PART HAS BEEN WATCHING THE AIRINGS OF OUR EPISODES WITH THE REST OF MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

>> THE BEST PART THIS YEAR OF MY "ASMW" EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THE UNDENIABLE WIT AND CHARM I POSSESS EVERY TIME I STEP IN FRONT OF A CAMERA.

>> SO, UNFORTUNATELY, THE BEST PART OF MY "AS SCHOOLS MATCH WITS" EXPERIENCE IS PROBABLY LOSING LAST YEAR, TRAGICALLY, BUT WE'RE HOPING TO TURN IT AROUND THIS YEAR.

[ ♪♪♪ ] >> THERE ARE NO NERVES IN THIS STUDIO WHATSOEVER.

[ LAUGHS ] WE DO HAVE A VERY CLOSE MATCH GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

SO LET'S MOVE ON TO THE FINAL LIGHTNING ROUND OF THE EVENING.

EACH TEAM WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO BUZZ IN AND ANSWER QUESTIONS FOR FIVE POINTS EACH.

BUZZ IN, ANSWER CORRECTLY, YOU WIN FIVE POINTS.

ANSWER INCORRECTLY, YOUR TEAM LOSES FIVE POINTS.

WELL, HOPEFULLY YOU WON'T FIND THIS ROUND HARDER THAN THE LAST.

EACH ANSWER IS A WORD WITH THE LETTER SEQUENCE D-E-R SOMEWHERE IN IT, AS IN THE WORD "HARDER."

YOU HAVE 90 SECONDS, STARTING RIGHT NOW.

TO THINK SOMETHING OVER VERY CAREFULLY.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> PONDER.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

IT GENERALLY FOLLOWS A FLASH OF LIGHTNING.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> THUNDER.

>> THUNDER, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

LINE THAT SEPARATES ONE STATE OR COUNTRY-- [ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> BORDER.

>> BORDER, YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

DOCTOR DEALING WITH THE HEALTH OF THE SKIN.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> DERMATOLOGIST.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

IT'S WHAT CHARLOTTE WAS WHO SPUN-- [ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> SPIDER.

>> SPIDER, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

PERFORMERS WHO LEAD RHYTHMIC CHANTS.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> CHEERLEADER.

>> CHEERLEADER, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

A CLASS FOR CHILDREN THAT COMES BEFORE FIRST GRADE.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> KINDERGARTEN.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

THE KEEPER OF THE NET IN SOCCER AND HOCKEY.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> GOALKEEPER.

>> THAT IS INCORRECT.

WHAT YOU CLIMB TO GET TO A HIGHER SPOT.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> LADDER.

>> LADDER IS RIGHT.

A LIGHT, ENGINELESS AIRCRAFT.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

[ BUZZER SOUNDS ] "GLIDER" IS THE RIGHT ANSWER THERE.

A LEFTOVER NUMBER WHEN ONE INTEGER IS DIVIDED BY ANOTHER.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> REMAINDER.

>> REMAINDER, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

THE STATES OF THE CIVIL WAR SOUTH.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> CONFEDERACY.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

VERTICAL PLATE ON A BOAT USED FOR DIRECTING ITS COURSE.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> RUDDER.

>> RUDDER, YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

SEAFOOD AND CLAM ARE DELICIOUS VARIETIES.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

[ BUZZER SOUNDS ] "CHOWDER" IS THE RIGHT ANSWER.

LIQUID REFRESHMENT MADE FROM APPLES.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> CIDER.

>> CIDER IS THE RIGHT ANSWER.

ELEPHANTS, RHINOS, AND HIPPOS.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] MOUNT GREYLOCK.

>> PACHYDERMS.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

[ BELL RINGS ] BLANKS KEEPERS, LOSERS WEEPERS.

"FINDERS" IS THE RIGHT ANSWER.

HOWEVER, THAT BELL MARKS THE END OF OUR LAST LIGHTNING ROUND.

IT ALSO MARKS THE END OF A VERY CLOSE MATCH.

WHAT A GREAT WAY TO START OUR SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS.

I WANT TO SAY TO WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL, WHAT A FANTASTIC JOB TO YOUR TEAM.

TO MAKE IT THIS FAR TRULY IS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.

TONIGHT'S WINNER, MOUNT GREYLOCK, VERY NICE JOB.

WE WILL SEE YOU IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE.

TO SEE THIS SEASON'S ROSTER AND FOR MORE INFORMATION, BE SURE TO LOG ONTO OUR WEB PAGE AT NEPM.ORG OR YOU CAN LOOK FOR US ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM.

I'M YOUR HOST, BETH WARD.

GOOD NIGHT AND BE SURE TO TUNE IN AGAIN FOR THE SECOND SEMIFINAL MATCHUP BETWEEN PIONEER VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY AND LONGMEADOW HIGH SCHOOL.

THAT'S NEXT TIME ON "AS SCHOOLS MATCH WITS."

>> THE MEMBERS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMMING ON PUBLIC TELEVISION.

THE MTA: OVER 175 YEARS OF COMMITMENT TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES OUR COMMUNITIES DESERVE.

>> TO EXCEL IS TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO GROW AND TRANSFORM AND EVOLVE INTO A BETTER PERSON.

WESTFIELD STATE IS A FIT FOR ME BECAUSE IT'S A CAMPUS THAT'S BIG ENOUGH TO HOST A COMMUNITY IN WHICH I CAN GET TO KNOW DIFFERENT KINDS OF PEOPLE.

>> THE IMPACT I WANT TO LEAVE AT WESTFIELD STATE IS TO BE A LEADER, TO GET INVOLVED.

EACH PERSON HAS THEIR OWN EXCELLENCE.

HOLD UP!

WE DROP THIS BEAT LIKE... DROP LIKE THAT!

[ ♪♪♪ ]