(pleasant music) - Welcome to Season 9 of "High School Quiz Show Maine" where 16 schools from across the state are competing to be this year's champion and take home the $1,000 prize for their school's Project Graduation.

In our fourth qualifying match, it's the Eagles of Mount Ararat High School (spirited upbeat music) taking on the Rams of Bangor High School.

(spirited upbeat music) That's coming up next on "High School Quiz Show Maine".

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You matter more.

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Thank you.

(strong ambient music) - Welcome to Season 9 of "High School Quiz Show Maine".

I'm Todd Gutner.

We're just about halfway through the qualifying matches as we work our way towards the Season 9 championship and the $1,000 grand prize.

In our fourth match, we have a former champion taking on a veteran school.

The Eagles from Mount Ararat in Thompson are making their second appearance on "Quiz Show" and are hoping for their first trip to the championship round.

But the Rams of Bangor, who won it all back in Season 2, are hoping for their second crown in their eighth appearance on the show.

Let's get things going by meeting the teams.

For Mount Ararat, we have Isaac, Lyra, Caleb, and Declan with alternates Dash and Ryan.

And they're coached by Jake Prince.

And for Bangor, we have Elias, Rowan, Paige, and Cooper with alternate Parker.

And they're coached by Carl Robbins and Susannah Owen.

Now the competition has four rounds: the Toss-Up Round, the Head-to-Head Round, the Category Round and that fun Lightning Round.

We'll start with the Toss-Up Round.

All answers are worth 10 points.

And this is the only round with no point deductions for wrong answers.

Players must wait, though, for me to complete the question.

And if one team answers incorrectly, the other team will be given a chance to answer.

Is everybody ready?

All right, good luck.

Here comes the first question.

On December 16, 1773, angry colonists staged a protest against taxes by boarding British trading ships and dumping what valuable commodity into Boston Harbor?

(bell dings) Go ahead, Paige.

- Tea.

- Tea is correct.

What long-running Food Network travel show has host Guy Fieri visiting small restaurants across the U.S.

including Bob's Clam Hut in Kittery and The Joint in Wells, Maine?

(bell dings) Go ahead.

Declan.

- "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives".

- You got it, nice.

What noun that refers to a building where horses are kept is also an adjective that describes a molecule that is unlikely to change its composition?

(bell dings) Ah, Isaac?

- Stable.

- Stable, correct.

In a book by J.M.

Barrie, what title character is known as the boy who refused to grow up?

(bell dings) Go ahead, Elias.

- Peter Pan.

- Peter Pan, nice.

Up next, we have a picture question.

Take a look at the monitor right there.

Here it is.

This man was a silversmith by trade but is also famous for his midnight ride that alerted patriots to the arrival of British troops outside of Boston in April of 1775.

What is his name?

(bell dings) - Paige.

- Paul Revere.

- Paul Revere, nice job.

In December, 2024, Bashar al-Assad was removed as the head of government of what Middle Eastern country?

(bell dings) Go ahead, Elias.

- Syria.

- Syria is correct.

Parasitism benefits one organism at the expense of another.

What related term refers to a symbiotic relationship that benefits both organisms equally?

(bell dings) Cooper on the end.

- Mutualism.

- That is the right answer.

Which Renaissance artist painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican?

(bell dings) Go ahead, Lyra.

- Michelangelo.

- Yes.

A person visiting a website for the first time might click on the FAQ page.

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

(bell dings) Elias.

- Frequently asked questions.

- That is right.

Next up, we have a video question.

Again, the monitor.

- Hi, I'm Aislinn Sarnacki, the host of "Borealis" on Maine Public Television.

And here's my question for you.

Castor canadensis is the largest rodent in North America.

And it's the only animal known to build its habitat.

What is the common name for this animal?

(bell dings) - Isaac.

- Beaver.

- Beaver is right.

Next question.

What two-word name that mentions a valuable fabric is given to the network of trade routes that connected ancient China with the Roman Empire?

(bell dings) Lyra.

- The Silk Road.

- Silk Road, yes.

Cole Escola won a Tony Award in 2025 for playing the lead role in "Oh, Mary!

", a play about which former first lady of the United States?

(bell dings) Isaac.

- Mary Todd Lincoln.

- That is also right.

A round transparent dish used in a lab to grow cells is named for what German microbiologist who invented it in the 19th century?

(bell dings) Caleb.

- Petri.

- Petri, yes.

Which of these marine animals is a cephalopod?

Is it a shark, squid, or sea urchin?

(bell dings) Isaac.

- Squid.

- Squid, correct.

All right, here comes the first math question.

You have a piece of paper, you have a pencil.

Simplify the fraction 45 over 6 to a reduced mixed number.

(bell dings) Declan, go for it.

- 7 1/2.

- That is right.

Nice job, Declan.

Next question.

One of "Aesop's Fables" tells the story of the ant who stored food so he'd be prepared for winter and what other insect who didn't plan for the future?

(bell dings) Elias.

- Grasshopper.

- Grasshopper, yes.

What word that begins with H is the name for the nutrient-rich decayed organic matter that is naturally present in garden soil?

(bell dings) Rowan.

- Helium.

(buzzer buzzes) - That's incorrect.

Mount Ararat, you wanna give it a shot?

(buzzer buzzes) The answer is humus, that's the one.

All right, predating the Zapotec culture and long before the Aztec, what civilization arose around 1200 BCE and is considered the mother civilization of Central America?

(bell dings) Caleb.

- Mayan.

- That's incorrect.

Bangor?

(bell dings) Go ahead, Paige.

- Inca.

- Also incorrect, it's the Olmec.

Next question.

The heaviest lizard on earth is what venomous lizard named for an island in Indonesia?

(bell dings) Go ahead, Elias.

- Komodo dragon.

- Yes, the Komodo.

What National Emergency Response System that broadcasts information about missing and abducted children shares its name with a certain shade of golden yellow?

(bell dings) Paige.

- Amber.

- Amber, yes.

In the traditional Scottish athletic event known as the caber toss, the caber is which type of object?

Is it a wooden pole, a metal ball, or a plastic hoop?

(bell dings) Isaac.

- A wooden pole.

- Wooden pole, right.

Formerly known as Ayers Rock, what is the indigenous Aboriginal name for the enormous red sandstone formation that is one of Australia's landmarks?

(bell dings) Elias.

- Uluru.

- That is also right.

What word that comes from the Greek for beautiful writing refers to the art of ornamental penmanship?

(bell dings) Caleb.

- Calligraphy.

- Yes.

All right, our second math question.

Here it comes.

Of the numbers 2, 4, 5, and 6, which is not a factor of 40.

(bell dings) Isaac.

- 6.

- 6 is right, nice.

(bell ringing) Oh, and that's the end of our first round.

Ooh, this one's tight, folks: Mount Ararat, 120; Bangor, 100.

This match is good.

Don't go anywhere.

(computer whooshing) We will meet the players when we get back.

(strong ambient 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.

It is, when you're prepping for this show or a big test, what's your go-to study music or playlist?

Mount Ararat: Isaac, you're up first.

- Personally, I like listening to the Talking Heads.

Sort of gotten into it recently.

But, yeah, surprisingly good study music.

- How did you get into it?

Did your folks tip you off to it or something?

- Well, my grandfather actually got their concert tape for his birthday.

And that set it off.

- Awesome.

All right, Lyra?

- I'm probably either listening to instrumental jazz or '80s music.

- Instrumental jazz or '80s music.

I know more about '80s music.

So what's your go-to '80s band?

I know nothing about the jazz.

- I really love The Police.

- Oh, that's great.

Okay, all right, that's old school.

It became Sting at one point.

That was probably '90s-ish, but.

- I love Sting as well.

- Oh, okay.

'80s and '90s, nice.

Caleb, how about you?

- I have to say I don't really listen to music.

I feel like it's distracting to what I'm trying to study.

- Really?

- Yeah.

- Do you do anything for studying, or are you just like in a quiet room, quiet place?

- I'm just dialed in on my work, whatever I'm trying to get done.

- You're dialed in, all right.

How was it on that math test that you did earlier?

(laughing) Were you listening to music when you were studying?

- No, I was not.

(Todd laughing) - Declan, go ahead.

- Oh, I can't trust myself to listen to music while studying.

Distracts me too much.

- Oh, all right.

So you're like Caleb.

- Yeah, me and Caleb.

- [Todd] Focused.

- If I had to listen to something, it'd be everything.

I can't choose one.

- So it's either nothing or everything.

- Yeah.

- Okay, all right.

Let's leave it there.

Thanks, Mount Ararat.

We'll go over to Bangor.

Elias, how about you?

- I have to confess that I don't really study for anything.

(Todd laughing) I'm being completely honest here.

- But you listen to everything, right?

- Not really, I'm very focused on either 21 Pilots or AJR whenever I- - Okay, all right.

You got a couple of bands right there.

Rowan, your turn.

- I like listening to Wilco, specifically "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot".

- Is that your favorite song?

- No, it's their album.

- Their album?

- Yeah.

- All right, cool; have you seen 'em in concert?

- I want to though.

- You want to, all right.

It's on your wishlist.

Paige, how about you?

- I like a little bit of Pearl Jam, a little bit of Fleetwood.

- All right, so you're also kind of old school, '90s-ish, '80s-ish, that sort of thing.

- Definitely.

- I like it a lot.

And Cooper, wrap it up for us.

- I like listening to classical music when I study.

- Yeah, I mean, that makes sense, right?

- Yeah.

- Those are the most brilliant probably humans on the planet at one time.

And you're trying to become that too, right?

- Yeah, something like that.

- How are you doing?

- Good.

- Oh, good; okay, great.

You're on your way to becoming one of the- - Yeah, something like that.

- Something like that, right?

Thanks a lot, Cooper.

The Head-to-Head Round is next.

But let's see how well you do with our viewer question of the week.

(dramatic music) - Hi, I'm Paul Riley from Safety Insurance.

And here is your America at 250 Viewer Question of the Week.

Although Captain Mowat led the 1775 destruction of the seaport we now know as Portland, who was the British admiral that ordered the attack?

(suspenseful percussive music) The answer is Captain Samuel Graves, ordered as retaliation for the attack on British ships in Machias earlier that year.

The bombardment lasted over nine hours in which 3,000 projectiles were fired, which equals one every 11 seconds.

(percussive music fades) - It's now 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.

Our clock is set at 90 seconds.

You guys ready?

- Mm-hmm.

- All right, here we go, first question.

The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the U.S.

from what country?

(bell dings) - France.

- France, yes.

Which is the smallest U.S.

state by land area?

(bell dings) Rhode Island.

- Rhode Island, right.

How many inches are in one yard?

(bell dings) - 36.

- Correct.

Chinstrap and emperor are species of what flightless, aquatic bird?

(buzzer buzzes) Penguins.

The title of a book by Seth Grahame-Smith mentions "Pride and Prejudice" and what undead creatures?

(bell dings) - Zombies.

- Zombies, right.

In 1859, what man led a raid on the armory at Harper's Ferry, West Virginia?

(bell dings) - John Brown.

- Good job.

The radius, the ulna, and the humerus are bones in which limb of the body?

(bell dings) - Arm.

- Arm, correct.

In Congress, Marjorie Taylor Greene represents the 14th district of which state?

(buzzer buzzes) Georgia.

What month of the Islamic calendar is observed as a period of fasting and prayer?

(buzzer buzzes) Ramadan.

What word indicates a score of zero in tennis?

(bell dings) - Nil.

- One more time.

- Nil.

- That's incorrect, it's love.

Meaning out of many one, what Latin phrase appears on U.S.

coins?

(buzzer buzzes) E pluribus unum.

Kr is the chemical symbol for what noble gas element?

(bell dings) - Krypton.

- Good job.

1 million is equivalent to 10 to the what power?

(bell dings) Yep?

- Third.

- Incorrect, sixth.

The title of a long running TV sitcom says it's... (bell ringing) Ooh, that's the end of the round.

It's still real tight though.

We have a score of Mount Ararat, 160; Bangor, 110.

The Category Round is next, so don't go anywhere.

- [Announcer] Production support for "High School Quiz Show Maine" is provided by- - [Narrator] The Worthington Scholarship Foundationm dedicated to the success of Maine students by providing scholarships and personalized support throughout their college journeys.

Learn more at worthingtonscholars.org.

- The custodians clean the schools.

We drive the buses.

We get the fields ready to go.

I've learned over the years that becoming involved with MEA makes a big difference.

It takes everybody's collective voice to make a change.

My name is Jay Nicholson, and I am MEA.

- [Announcer] And by viewers like you.

Thank you.

(strong ambient music) - Next up is the Category Round with the following choices: Double or Nothing, Only in New England, Back in the U.S.S.R., Choose This and Smile, This is D Place, and Let's Get Mythical.

Each team will alternate control of two categories.

Questions have increasing point values.

With each question, they can choose to answer it and either gain or lose points.

They can skip it and neither gain nor lose points.

Or once per category, they can toss and force the other team to answer.

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

Bangor, you're trailing by like this much.

So you're gonna start off with the Category Round.

Paige, what are you gonna select?

- [Paige] Can we do Let's Get Mythical?

- Let's Get Mythical, you can.

These are gonna be questions about world mythology.

Here we go.

What chief god in Norse mythology is accompanied by two ravens that represent thought and wisdom?

- Odin.

- Odin.

- Odin.

- Odin.

Sounds like you all knew that one, nice job.

Let's Get Mythical for 15.

The queen of the gods in Greek mythology is which goddess who was the wife of Zeus and the goddess of marriage.

- Hera.

- Hera.

- Hera.

- Okay, you guys really know this stuff.

Let's Get Mythical for 20.

The pharaohs of ancient Egypt claim to be descended from which Egyptian god of the sun whose name consists of two letters?

- Ra.

- Ra.

- Okay, we'll keep the theme going.

Keep getting 'em right.

Let's Get Mythical, 25.

Which month of the year is named for the Roman god of beginnings who had the ability to look forward and backward at the same time?

- Janus.

- Janus, January.

- Judges, we good?

- Yeah.

- Yep, nice job; we got that right.

Let's Get Mythical for 30, the last one.

In Greek mythology, a group of nine minor goddesses, including Clio and Urania, presided over art and science.

This inspiring group is most commonly known by what name?

- The nine muses.

- The nine muses.

- You guys were great in that category.

Nice job, you swept it.

Let's head over to Mount Ararat.

And Caleb, you get to select your first category.

(Mount Ararat team speak indistinctly) - [Caleb] We'll take This is D Place.

- This is D Place, questions about places whose names start with the letter D. First one, the headquarters of General Motors Corporation and the original Motown Records Recording Studio are in which U.S.

city whose name starts with D?

- Detroit.

- Detroit.

- Detroit is right.

This is D Place for 15.

Dover is the capital city of which U.S.

state?

- Delaware.

- Delaware.

- Delaware.

- Delaware is also right.

This is D Place for 20.

The mainland of which Scandinavian country shares its only land border with Germany?

- Denmark.

- Denmark.

- Denmark, yes.

This is D Place for 25.

Which national park in California is considered the hottest, the driest, and the lowest national park in the United States?

- Death Valley.

- Death Valley.

- Yes.

This is D Place for 30.

In October, Senegal's capital city will host the 2026 Youth Olympic Games and is the first African country to host an Olympic sporting event.

In what city will the 2026 Youth Olympic Games be held?

- Skip it.

- Skip.

- You wanna skip it?

All right, the answer is Dakar.

All right, that wraps up This is D Place.

That category is over.

We go back to Bangor.

Paige, what's your second category gonna be?

- [Paige] We'll do Only in New England.

- Only in New England, these will be questions about cultural icons and traditions in New England.

Here's the first one.

In 2024, the state of Vermont produced more than 2 million gallons of what condiment that is typically consumed at breakfast time?

- Maple syrup.

- Maple syrup, right.

Only in New England, 15.

Dating back to 1952, the Beanpot Championship is an annual tournament in which teams from Boston University, Boston College, Harvard and Northeastern compete in what sport?

- Hockey.

- Hockey.

- Hockey, nice.

Only in New England, 20.

Seen on Interstate 95 in Providence, Rhode Island, Nibbles Woodaway is the nickname of a nine-foot tall, blue statue of what kind of bug that is known for eating wood?

- Termite.

- Termite.

- Termite, yeah.

Only in New England, 25.

Sally's and Frank Pepe's are two Connecticut restaurants famous for making the New Haven style of what popular food baked in a coal-fired oven?

- We'll skip.

- We'll skip it.

Pizza; New Haven, pizza capital of the world.

All right, Only in New England, 30.

Every four years, the tiny towns of Dixville Notch and Hart's Location, New Hampshire, have traditionally been the first in the nation to fulfill what civic obligation?

- Vote.

- Vote is correct, nice job.

All right, we're gonna go over to Mount Ararat.

Caleb, your second category?

- [Caleb] We'll do Choose This and Smile.

- Choose This and Smile, this category's questions are all about teeth.

Here's the first.

The last teeth to develop in an adult human are a set of four molars commonly known by what name?

- Wisdom teeth.

- Yes.

Choose This and Smile, 15.

Although they're sometimes called premolars, what name meaning two-pointed is more commonly used for the teeth that are located between the canines and the molars?

- Skip.

- Answer is bicuspids.

Choose This and Smile for 20.

In 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan, became the first U.S.

city to add what mineral to its drinking water to help reduce tooth decay among children?

- Fluoride.

- Fluoride.

- We'll take that, right?

Yes, fluoride; nice job.

Choose This and Smile for 25.

From the Greek words for straight tooth, what is the name for a dental professional who specializes in correcting the alignment of the teeth?

- Orthodontist.

- Orthodontist.

- Orthodontist, nice.

Choose This and Smile for 30, the last question in the category.

Inside a tooth between the enamel and the pulp is a layer of what calcified substance that protects the inner tooth?

- Toss.

- Toss.

- You wanna toss it over to Bangor.

All right, Bangor, I'm gonna reread it.

Inside a tooth between the enamel and the pulp is a layer of what calcified substance that protects the inner tooth?

Paige, I'm gonna need an answer.

- We don't have anything.

- Okay, the answer is dentin.

That was a good strategy, Mount Ararat.

That wraps up our Category Round.

The score, it's super, super close: Mount Ararat, 285; Bangor, 255.

Of course, the Lightning Round is next.

Anything happens in that round.

So sit tight, we'll be right back.

(strong ambient music) Okay, we're heading into the final 90 seconds of gameplay, 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.

An incorrect answer will cost you 20 points.

And the other team does not get a chance to answer.

Our clock is set.

Good luck.

Here we go.

What color is Cookie Monster on Sesame- (bell dings) Isaac.

- Blue.

- Yes.

The sum of the interior angles of a triangle equals?

(bell dings) - 180 degrees.

- That is correct, Elias.

Singer/actress Stephani Germanotta is best known- (bell dings) Lyra.

- Lady Gaga.

- Yeah, you got it.

What lake in Oregon is the deepest lake in the U.S.?

(bell dings) - Crater Lake.

- [Todd] Rowan, yes, Crater Lake.

Human hair and fingernails consist mainly of?

(bell dings) Isaac.

- Keratin.

- Correct.

What Canadian city is home to the raptors of the NBA?

(bell dings) Elias.

- Toronto.

- Got it.

What American engineer designed and operated the Steamboat Clermont?

(buzzer buzzes) Fulton.

Semper Fidelis is the motto of what- (bell dings) Isaac.

- The Marines?

- Yes.

Calvin Coolidge was president in what decade of the 20th century?

(bell dings) Rowan.

- '30s.

- Incorrect, the '20s.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the shortest day of the year occurs in which month?

(bell dings) Elias.

- December.

- Got it.

The Lone Star State is the nickname of?

(bell dings) - Texas.

- Yes.

Running, biking and swimming are components of what Olympic- (bell dings) Paige.

- Triathlon.

- You got it.

The adjective vulpine refers to what clever canine animal- (bell dings) Caleb.

- Wolf.

- Incorrect, fox.

What Russian-born ballet dancer presented his famous ballet "Afternoon of a Faun" in 1912?

(buzzer buzzes) Nijinsky.

Liquid flowing up a tube against the force of gravity is an example of what- (bell dings) Declan.

- Suction.

- Capillary action.

(bell ringing) Ooh, that's the end of the match.

And the winner is Bangor with 355 points.

Mount Ararat, so close, 325.

You both are winners in my eyes.

Great, great match.

Thanks to both of you for coming and for playing.

Be sure to tune in next time as Windham takes on Deering.

Thanks for watching.

And we'll see you next time on "High School Quiz Show Maine".

(strong ambient music) - [Announcer] Production support for "High School Quiz Show Maine" is provided by- - [Narrator For Unitil] Energy fuels more than homes and businesses.

It fuels dreams, ideas, and growth.

Unitil champions the critical thinkers and team players of tomorrow, and is proud to support "High School Quiz Show Maine" where learning takes center stage.

- [Narrator For Safety Insurance] Welcome to another edition of New England Survivalists, the game we all get to play.

Prepare to win.

You can ask an independent agent about Safety Insurance and learn more at the Resource Center at SafetyInsurance.com.

- [Narrator For Bangor Savings Bank] Since 1852, Bangor Savings Bank has been dedicated to keeping New Englanders at the heart of what they do.

That means investing in communities they serve and supporting families and businesses.

You matter more.

- [Announcer] And by viewers like you.

Thank you.

(strong ambient music) (strong ambient music continues) (strong ambient music continues) (strong ambient music continues) (strong ambient music fades)