[MUSIC] >> Hi.

I blend in with the locker so you can green screen whatever you'd like.

On top of me, I am your host, Olivia Manning, and welcome to the first semi-final episode of this season of Scholastic Hi-q.

The only show where knowledge rules.

We've got two fantastic returning teams with us today.

On the top, we've got Rylan, Jad, Camden and Mitchell representing Cumberland, and on the bottom we've got Jaxson, Shaun, Ben and Rachel on Belleville East.

Now you all are seasoned professionals.

You know how the game works, but just for me, more so than you because it's been a while.

I have in my hand a series of toss up questions.

I will ask these to the room.

Either team can buzz in to win ten points.

A team that moves on then moves on to a bonus round, which they can answer for a coveted 20 points, or the other team can swoop in and steal for ten bonus points.

There will be no media questions this episode, but there will still be math questions and a lightning round, so keep your eyes and toes peeled for that.

The dreaded interruption rule.

You all know it, but I'll say it once more if while I am reading any question whatsoever, you interrupt me if you get it right.

The question that is we move on with our day and you get your points.

If you get it wrong, you lose your chance and the other team gets a few bonus points.

With all of that out of the way, are we ready to semifinal?

Hi Q yeah, we ball.

Anyway, our first toss up question what boy who draws comic strips such as Stinky Sebastian is friends with Rowley Jefferson and is the title character.

Camden.

>> Greg Heffley.

>> Greg Heffley is correct.

Your bonus question Cumberland Tesserae are the tiny stones or pieces of glass used to make larger designs known by what term?

>> Mosaic.

>> Mosaic is correct.

Cratons are stable core regions of what landmasses, which once joined together to form superstructures like Pangaea and Camden continent.

Continent is correct.

Your bonus question what operation returns zero for a singular matrix and is used to solve systems of linear equations in Cramer's rule?

>> Yeah, I don't think so.

>> Determinant.

>> Determinant is correct.

In September 2025, what country's ban on social media led to the resignation of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli amid huge Gen Z protest in Kathmandu?

>> Jaxson, Turkey.

Sorry, Turkey.

>> That is incorrect.

Cumberland.

>> Nepal.

>> Nepal is correct.

Your bonus question.

What formerly enslaved person became an abolitionist known for a speech at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention, now known as ain't I a woman?

True truth is correct.

Oh, what military location?

Which Admiral husband Kimmel was sacked for failing to protect.

Was bombed on December 7th, 19.

>> Jad, Pearl Harbor.

>> Pearl Harbor is correct.

Your bonus question.

Bobby is a chef at a Japanese German fusion restaurant in the 2025 Hulu revival of what animated show depicting Hank and Peggy's life in Arlen, Texas.

>> Can you help?

>> King of the Hill is correct.

What author from Hannibal, Missouri, used a pen name inspired by his buzz.

>> Sorry, Clemens.

>> Clemens is correct.

Your bonus question.

Belleville East.

What devices which can be step up or step down are used to increase or decrease the voltage of an alternating current.

>> Transformer.

>> Transformer is correct.

Clang and GCC are examples of what type of program.

Often shun.

>> Onomatopoeia.

>> That is incorrect.

Cumberland.

I will repeat the question.

Clang and GCC are examples of what type of program often contrasted with an interpreter that converts high level code to low level machine code.

Rylan.

Decoder that is incorrect.

We were looking for Complier Compliers.

No bonus question there.

On to our next toss up.

What cause for which the expedition.

Apologies of the thousands.

Red shirts.

>> Sean.

>> Unification of Italy.

>> The unification of Italy is correct.

Your bonus question.

Belleville East.

After vacating Kel Kellynch Hall.

Anne Elliot visits the City of Bath and reunites with Captain Wentworth in what posthumous novel by Jane Austen.

>> Mansfield Hall.

>> That is incorrect.

Cumberland.

>> Persuasion.

>> Persuasion is correct.

What fresco found on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel is a Michelangelo painting that shows Sean.

>> School of Athens.

>> That is incorrect.

Cumberland.

I will repeat the question.

What fresco found on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel is a Michelangelo painting that shows Christ sending souls to heaven and hell.

>> Ryland last judgement.

>> The Last Judgment is correct.

Your bonus question.

Cumberland.

What condition often treated with a brace or surgery causes an abnormal side to side C or S shaped curve in the spine?

>> Scoliosis.

>> Scoliosis is correct.

This next toss up is a math question.

So pencil and paper ready all around.

What is the negative root of the quadratic equation x squared plus two x -15.

Given the positive root Sean.

>> Five negative five.

>> That is correct.

Your bonus question.

Belleville East Tsar.

Nicholas the first suppressed what 1825 uprising led by liberal Russian army officers which had a name derived from a month.

Decembrist Decembrist is correct.

What adjective names a course at Saint Andrews called the birthplace of golf.

The form of English used in Beowulf and Sean.

>> Old.

>> Old is correct.

Your bonus question.

What German compound word refers to joy at seeing someone else's suffering?

>> Oh.

Um.

Oh.

>> Torsion.

>> So that is incorrect.

Cumberland.

>> No answer.

>> We were looking for schadenfreude.

Schadenfreude is that German word.

Our next toss up.

What war?

After which the Bar-Lev line was constructed, caused Egypt to lose the Sinai Peninsula to Israel.

>> Six-Day war.

>> Six-Day war is correct.

Your bonus question.

Cumberland.

The book of revelation is traditionally attributed to a man from Patmos.

With what first name?

>> John.

>> John is correct.

What region's density is much smaller at the Kirkwood gaps contains Vesta and Camden.

>> Asteroid belt.

>> Asteroid belt is correct.

Your bonus question.

Cumberland.

What?

US state once had an independent monarchy that was overthrown and replaced with a government led by Sanford Dole.

>> Why?

>> Hawaii is correct.

Our next toss up.

What state in which the Harris Station dam impounds the Kennebec River until 1820 was part of Massachusetts and Maine.

Maine is correct.

Your bonus question.

Belleville East.

What term from the Greek for cut vein identifies a medical professional that specializes in drawing and storing blood from patients.

>> Blood drive.

>> That is incorrect.

Cumberland.

Your chance to steal.

>> Heme ologist.

>> That is incorrect.

We were looking for a phlebotomist, a phlebotomist.

Our next toss up.

What?

Game streamed by Levy Rosman and Hikaru Jaxson.

>> Chess.

>> Chess is correct.

Your bonus question.

Belleville East.

The doomed love between young actress Nina and troubled author Constantine Treplev is central to what play by Anton Chekhov.

>> The Seagull.

>> The Seagull is correct in what city was J.carlos Brown arrested over 2025 incident on the Lynx Blue line light rail in which Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska shed, New York.

>> Sorry, New York.

>> That is incorrect.

Belleville East.

I will repeat the question and hopefully pronounce the name better.

In what city was Carlos Brown arrested over a 2025 incident on the Lynx Blue Line light rail, in which Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was stabbed?

>> Shawn, Illinois.

>> That is incorrect.

Charlotte, North Carolina was the city that we were looking for.

No bonus question there.

What Symphony, whose ideé fixe theme occurs in the dream of a witches Sabbath?

>> Shawn Symphonie Fantastique.

>> Symphonie fantastique is correct.

Your bonus question.

Belleville East.

George Washington lived at what?

Virginia estate, which his brother Lawrence, named for a British officer he served under during the war of Jenkins ear.

>> I delegate Rachel.

>> Mount Vernon.

>> Mount Vernon is correct.

What city contains a central square of miracles lies just east of the mouth of the Arno River, and is an Italian city home to a leaning tower.

Sean Pisa Pisa is correct.

Your bonus question.

Belleville East.

In what process performed in the root nodules of legumes is a namesake diatomic gas made useful for plants by converting it into ammonia or NH3.

>> It's just nitrogen.

>> Is it not?

>> It's just nitrogen.

>> Do you want the.

If that's the process.

>> It's not.

>> That.

>> Nitrogen fixation.

>> Nitrogen fixation.

>> Nitrogen fixation is correct.

What man?

Who ordered a settlement called La Navidad built on the coast of Camden?

>> Columbus.

>> Columbus is correct.

Your bonus question.

Cumberland.

What easternmost Canadian province was a discrete UK dominion until 1949, when it officially became Canada's most recent province?

>> Newfoundland.

>> Newfoundland is correct.

What statement written as an inequality for a product says that one cannot measure both position and momentum.

Camden.

>> Heisenberg.

Uncertainty principle.

>> That is correct.

Your bonus question.

Cumberland.

What US battleship, nicknamed Old Ironsides, is the world's oldest active warship and captured the HMS Guerriere in the war of 1812.

>> USS Constitution.

>> USS Constitution is correct.

What team lost the 1986 World Series after a Bill Buckner error and broke the curse of the Bambino.

>> The Red Sox?

>> The Red Sox is correct.

Your bonus question Belleville East What leader of Oceania is portrayed as the enemy of Emmanuel Goldstein and is said to be constantly watching you in George Orwell's novel 1984.

>> Big Brother.

>> Big brother is correct.

What American woman was traveling with Fred Noonan near Howland Island in 19 Camden?

Amelia Earhart Amelia Earhart is correct.

Your bonus question.

Cumberland.

What former Cubs left fielder, who completed his fourth year with the Phillies as a D.H., had a four home run game and 56 total home runs in 2025.

>> Oh, I don't know.

I know.

Maybe I know.

He just led the NL in home runs.

Baez sorry.

>> Baez that is incorrect.

Belleville East.

Your chance to steal.

>> Oh, Tucker.

>> Bauer.

>> Sorry.

>> Bauer.

>> That is incorrect.

We were looking for Schwarber.

Kyle Schwarber.

This next toss up is another math question.

Pencil and paper ready all around.

What integer equals the product of two raised to the negative two power times?

Sean eight eight is correct.

>> That's great.

>> Belleville East.

Your bonus question.

What language with a three letter abbreviation is typically used to interact with relational databases.

>> Its three letter, right?

>> Yes.

>> That's the one.

Whatever it is.

Domain.

Domain.

>> I don't get Jaxson.

>> Domain.

>> That is incorrect.

Cumberland.

>> HTML.

>> That is incorrect.

We were looking for SQL.

Also known as SQL.

Our next toss up.

What?

Singer whose 2005 debut album, music of the sun included Pon de Replay saying when the sun.

When the sun.

>> Rihanna.

>> Rihanna is correct.

Your bonus question.

Cumberland.

The site of her husband, Brently Mallard, who was thought to be dead, kills Louise in what.

Short work by Kate Chopin.

>> The story of an hour.

>> The story of an hour is correct.

And that leads us into our lightning round.

All right.

Lightning round works a little differently.

I have now in my hands four topics.

Each of those topics have ten questions that a team might just have to answer in a mere 60s Belleville East, you get full choice as to your topic.

Your choices are as follows weather 50s America, video game villains and BRICs member countries.

>> You just go Brics members.

>> Brics members.

>> Brics member countries.

>> All right, name these countries that form the international organization BRICs, which include some not in that acronym Belleville East.

Your 60s begins in 321, the largest by area ruled by Vladimir Putin.

>> Russia.

>> Correct.

The only one fully in the southern hemisphere, South Africa.

>> Yes.

South Africa.

>> Correct.

Its most populous member.

>> Um.

>> China.

>> That is correct.

It's only Western hemisphere member.

>> Brazil.

Where's that?

>> Brazil.

>> Brazil.

>> Correct.

Petrostate that borders Oman and Saudi Arabia.

>> That is incorrect.

It's largest economy and the world's second biggest.

>> Yeah.

China.

>> Correct.

Country whose nuclear program was subject to the JCPoA deal.

>> Iran.

>> Correct.

Overthrew Hosni Mubarak in the Arab Spring.

>> Yeah.

>> Tunisia.

>> Incorrect.

It's only landlocked member, which is home to the African Union headquarters.

>> Ethiopia.

>> Ethiopia.

>> Correct.

Its newest member led by Prabowo Subianto.

>> So do you think that is.

>> Argentina or.

>> DRC?

>> That is incorrect.

Alrighty.

We are out of questions that Petrostate that borders Oman and Saudi Arabia is the UAE, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt overthrew Hosni Mubarak in the Arab Spring and the newest member of Brics is Indonesia.

Indonesia joined in January of 2025.

All right Cumberland, your choices once again are Weather 50s America and video game villains.

>> Video game villains.

>> All right.

Name the video game series in which these recurring villains appear.

Cumberland.

Your 60s begins in three, two, one and Ganondorf, who seeks the Triforce.

>> Legend of Zelda.

>> Correct.

Doctor Eggman also called Doctor Robotnik.

>> Sorry, Sonic.

>> Correct.

M bison who clashes with Ryu and Chun-Li.

>> Street fighter.

>> Correct.

Albert Wesker who is fought by Chris Redfield.

>> Resident evil.

>> Correct.

The Knights Templar who oppose an order that included Assassin's Creed.

>> Assassin's Creed.

>> Correct.

Sephiroth who first appeared in its seventh entry.

>> Final Fantasy.

>> Correct.

Doctor wily who creates robot masters.

[MUSIC] Skip GLaDOS created by Aperture Science.

>> Oh, portal.

>> Correct.

Dracula, who is foiled by the Belmont family.

Skip Xiao Khan, who rules Outworld.

[MUSIC] >> Skip.

>> Doctor.

Wily who creates robot masters.

[MUSIC] Okay, we are out of time.

Doctor wily creates robot masters in Mega Man, also known as Rockman, Dracula is foiled by the Belmont family in Castlevania and Shao Kahn rules Outworld in Mortal Kombat.

A wonderful lightning round all around.

Unfortunately, they cannot last forever.

Only about 100 and 20s.

We might have fudged the lower third in that one.

On to the the toss up questions we go.

What poet described himself as now 37 years old, and said that he was hoping to cease not till death in the first part of his Song of Myself.

Shawn Whitman Whitman is correct.

Your bonus question.

Belleville East what piano suite by Modest Mussorgsky, which Maurice Ravel orchestrated, has a movement called the Great Gate of Kiev.

>> Pictures at an exhibition?

>> That is correct.

What man who supported electronic town halls and warned of a giant sucking sound caused by NAFTA, ran for president as a buzz.

Who was that?

Ryland Perot is correct.

Your bonus question.

Cumberland in September 2025.

What country triggered article four of the NATO charter after Russian drones entered its airspace?

>> Poland.

Sorry, Poland.

>> Poland is correct.

Wade's rules govern clusters of what element?

That has a. Trioxide used in Pyrex glass forms many.

Camden.

>> Boron.

>> Boron is correct.

Your bonus question.

Cumberland.

Diana Moon Glampers shoots what title character of a Kurt Vonnegut short story set in the year 2081, when everybody was finally equal.

Harrison Bergeron Harrison Bergeron is correct.

Aristotle claimed what style of play exemplified by the accident.

>> Was.

>> Sorry.

>> Comedy.

>> Comedy is correct.

Belleville East Your bonus question is a math question.

So pencil and paper ready.

That goes for you as well.

What is the dot product of the two vectors 13 comma negative three and four.

Comma negative eight.

Given it equals the sum of two products.

>> 28.

>> 7676 is correct.

What status was extended throughout Italy after the social war and was given by the Antonine Constitution?

>> Shawn, citizenship.

>> Citizenship is correct.

Your bonus question.

Belleville East in what western state were four people killed in August 2025, after an Army veteran opened fire at the Owl Bar in its town of Anaconda?

>> California.

>> California is incorrect.

Cumberland your chance to steal Nevada.

Nevada is also incorrect.

We were looking for Montana.

Montana.

What effect is used both in the radial velocity method of finding exoplanets and in radar speed guns and Camden Doppler effect.

Doppler effect is correct.

Your bonus question.

Cumberland.

The US acquired California and Nevada as part of, what, 1848 treaty ending the Mexican-American war.

>> Guadalupe.

>> Guadalupe Hidalgo.

>> Guadalupe Hidalgo is correct.

What condition is the subject of a. Simon Baron-cohen's es theory once had a subtype called Asperger's Syndrome and occurs along Camden autism.

Autism is correct.

Your bonus question.

Cumberland.

What African country which almost entirely surrounds the Gambia, is governed from Dakar.

>> Senegal.

>> Senegal is correct.

What name is shared by an independent film festival that in 2025 announced a move to Boulder, Colorado, and a kid outlaw partnered with Butch Sundance.

>> Sorry, Sundance.

>> Sundance is correct.

Your bonus question A quarry in what village northeast of Stockholm was the source of eight elemental discoveries, including four named after it, including erbium.

>> Atria.

Atria.

>> That is incorrect.

Belleville East, your chance to steal my dog.

Ben Ytterby is correct.

Ytterby Sweden.

Genes in the A, B, c model regulate formation of what structures which.

Rylan.

>> Flowers.

>> Flowers is correct.

Your bonus question.

Cumberland.

What inheritance system common in medieval Europe gave most or all of a person's property to the eldest legitimate son?

Avoiding division of states of estates.

Sorry.

>> Patrilineal.

>> That is incorrect.

Belleville East.

Your chance to steal Salic law.

That is incorrect as well.

We were looking for primogeniture.

Primogeniture in architecture.

What adjective identifies paired doors that contain multiple glass panes, as well as the nationality of architect John French?

French is correct.

Your bonus question.

Belleville East.

In August 2025, what billionaire governor of Illinois promised to resist attempts by the Trump administration to deploy the military in Chicago?

>> J.B.

Pritzker is correct.

What Planned City was designed by Walter and Marian Griffin is in a territory surrounded by New South Wales and is the capital of Australia.

Canberra, Canberra is correct.

Your bonus question Belleville East.

For his second Labour, Heracles slew what poisonous serpent that grew two heads for every one that was chopped off the hydra.

The Hydra is correct.

What number is the number of valence electrons in a sulfur atom of Sean.

>> Six.

>> Six is correct.

Your bonus question.

A prison known as the panopticon was described by what philosopher who formulated the Felicific calculus as part of his philosophy of utilitarianism.

>> Durkheim.

>> That is incorrect.

Cumberland your chance to steel mill.

>> Sorry, mill.

>> That is incorrect.

We were looking for Bentham.

Jeremy Bentham, what scientist who conducted decades of fieldwork at Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania was a pioneering Camden.

Jane Goodall Jane Goodall is correct.

Your bonus question.

Cumberland.

Johann Gustav Droysen coined what name for the 300 year period after Alexander the Great's death, in which Greek culture dominated the Mediterranean?

>> Hellenistic?

>> Hellenistic is correct.

What novel, which begins as Filby argues about the fourth dimension Camden.

>> Around the world in 80 days.

>> That is incorrect.

Belleville East.

I will repeat the question what novel, which begins as Filby argues about the fourth dimension, describes Weena and other Eloi who live in the far future and is by H.G.

Wells.

>> The Time Machine.

>> The Time machine is correct.

Your bonus question.

In what language did Kalidasa write?

His classic fifth century play, the recognition of Shakuntala.

>> Sanskrit.

>> Sanskrit is correct.

What Asian country.

We are done with today's semi-final episode, as noted by our little ding dong in the back there.

Our winner today is Cumberland.

A huge congratulations to the team of Cumberland and the team of Belleville East for making it through this incredible semi-final episode once again.

I am Olivia Manning reminding you that here at Scholastic Hi-q Knowledge Rules.

Let the music play.

[MUSIC]