>> JOIN US TONIGHT AS THE QUARTERFINALS COME TO AN END WITH THE FOURTH SEED, WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL, GOING UP AGAINST THE FIFTH SEED, PALMER 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 WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO HELP EVERY STUDENT SUCCEED.

THE MTA: OVER 175 YEARS OF COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC EDUCATION.

>> 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 TO TRY AND SCORE THE MOST POINTS FOR A CHANCE TO MAKE IT TO THE TOP EIGHT.

HERE'S A LOOK AT OUR CURRENT PLAYOFF BRACKET.

AS YOU CAN SEE, MOUNT GREYLOCK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, PIONEER VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, AND LONGMEADOW HIGH SCHOOL HAVE WON THE FIRST THREE QUARTERFINAL MATCHES AND WILL MOVE ON TO THE SEMIFINALS.

IN TONIGHT'S FOURTH QUARTERFINAL MATCHUP, WE HAVE WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL VERSUS PALMER HIGH SCHOOL.

LET'S TAKE A SECOND TO MEET THE TEAMS, STARTING WITH PALMER HIGH SCHOOL, COACHED BY REE MIGLIOZZI.

>> HI, I'M ELIZABETH MILLER, A SENIOR AT PALMER HIGH SCHOOL.

>> HI, I'M BEVERLY CUTTY, AND I'M A SENIOR AT PALMER HIGH SCHOOL.

>> HI, I'M ELLA PEAR, AND I'M A SENIOR AT PALMER HIGH SCHOOL.

>> HI, I'M HANNAH HOANG, AND I'M A SENIOR AT PALMER HIGH SCHOOL.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THE TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR ALTERNATE, JORDAN BIGDA.

>> AND FOR WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL, COACHED BY JON TYLER.

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

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

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

>> HI, I'M BEN MILLER, AND I'M A JUNIOR AT WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE 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, GOOD LUCK TO BOTH TEAMS.

HERE WE GO WITH THE FIRST QUESTION OF THE EVENING.

IF YOU TRAVELED DUE WEST FROM MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA, WHAT IS THE FIRST STATE BORDER YOU'LL CROSS?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] PALMER.

>> MISSISSIPPI.

>> MISSISSIPPI, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

FILL IN THE BLANK IN THIS QUESTION: IN 1663, THE RHODE ISLAND ROYAL CHARTER PROVIDED RECOGNITION TO THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND AND WHAT PLANTATIONS?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> PROVIDENCE PLANTATION.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

A SINGLE MOLECULE OF SULFURIC ACID COMPRISES HOW MANY ATOMS OF HYDROGEN, IS IT TWO, FOUR-- [ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> TWO.

>> TWO, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY TO THIS ONE.

THE COMMON LOGARITHM OF 500 LIES BETWEEN WHICH TWO CONSECUTIVE INTEGERS?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> TWO AND THREE.

>> YES, APPROXIMATELY 2.7, NICE.

COMPLETE THE TITLE OF THIS 2023 FILM, "INDIANA JONES AND THE" WHAT?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] PALMER.

>> "DIAL OF DESTINY."

>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

COMPLETE THIS RELATIONSHIP: MOSCOW IS TO RUSSIA AS ASTANA IS TO WHAT COUNTRY?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> KAZAKHSTAN.

>> YES, VERY NICE.

WHAT CHARLES DICKENS NOVEL BEGINS "WHETHER I SHALL TURN OUT TO BE THE HERO OF MY OWN LIFE OR WHETHER THAT STATION WILL BE HELD BY ANYBODY ELSE--" [ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> "GREAT EXPECTATIONS."

>> I'M SORRY, THAT IS INCORRECT.

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

>> "WUTHERING HEIGHTS."

>> "DAVID COPPERFIELD" IS THE RIGHT ANSWER THERE.

LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.

IF YOU WANT TO VISIT BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK, YOU'LL HAVE TO VISIT WHICH U.S. STATE, IS IT COLORADO, UTAH, NEVADA, OR ARIZONA?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] PALMER.

>> UTAH.

>> YES, UTAH IS CORRECT.

IN THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY WORLD, WHAT DOES THE ABBREVIATION C.P.U.

STAND FOR?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT.

>> YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

LISTEN CAREFULLY: "ROBERT KNOCKED ON THE DOOR, BUT NOBODY ANSWERED."

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

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> CONJUNCTION.

>> CONJUNCTION, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

IN 2023, HALLOWEEN WAS CELEBRATED ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31ST.

ON WHICH DAY OF THE WEEK WILL OCTOBER 31ST FALL IN 2024?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] PALMER.

>> THURSDAY.

>> THURSDAY, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

WHAT NUMBER IS 150 PERCENT OF 56?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> 84.

>> YES, 84 IS CORRECT.

NAME THE ENGLISH SINGER WHO WON A 2021 GRAMMY AWARD FOR THE SONG "WATERMELON SUGAR."

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> HARRY STYLES.

>> YES, HARRY STYLES IS CORRECT.

CONSIDER THIS SENTENCE: "AN I.C.

CAN HAVE UP TO SEVERAL BILLION ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS ON A SINGLE CHIP NO LONGER--" [ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> INTEGRATED CIRCUIT.

>> WHAT DOES THAT STAND FOR, I.C., YES, YOU ARE CORRECT.

VERY NICE.

MOVING ON, WHAT CHEMICAL ELEMENT'S SYMBOL APPEARS ON THE PERIODIC TABLE OF ELEMENTS AS THE CAPITAL LETTER K?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> POTASSIUM.

>> POTASSIUM IS RIGHT.

WHAT PRESIDENT SAID, ON FEBRUARY 6TH, 1986, "I DID TURN--" [ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> RONALD REAGAN.

>> YOU GOT IT RIGHT.

THAT WAS 1986, AND HE SAID, "I DID TURN 75 TODAY, BUT REMEMBER, THAT'S ONLY 24 DEGREES CELSIUS."

ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION.

IN WHICH SUBJECT WOULD YOU DISCUSS MAXWELL'S EQUATIONS, IS IT-- [ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> CHEMISTRY.

>> I'M SORRY, THAT'S INCORRECT.

LET ME FINISH THE QUESTION.

IS IT ECONOMICS, PHYSICAL SCIENCE, GEOMETRY, OR ALGEBRA?

ALL RIGHT, PALMER HIGH SCHOOL, CAN YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION?

>> PHYSICAL SCIENCE.

>> YES, PHYSICAL SCIENCE IS CORRECT.

IN WHICH NEW ENGLAND STATE WOULD YOU BE IN IF YOU WERE CLIMBING MOUNT MANSFIELD?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] PALMER.

>> NEW HAMPSHIRE.

>> I'M SORRY, THAT IS INCORRECT.

WESTFIELD, CAN YOU ANSWER?

>> VERMONT?

>> YES, VERMONT IS THE RIGHT ANSWER.

CONCORD IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON VARIETIES-- [ RINGER SOUNDS ] PALMER.

>> APPLE.

>> I'M SORRY, THAT IS INCORRECT.

LET ME FINISH THE QUESTION.

COMMON VARIETIES OF WHAT FRUIT, IS IT CHERRIES, GRAPES, APPLES, OR PEARS?

ALL RIGHT, WESTFIELD, CAN YOU ANSWER?

>> GRAPES.

>> GRAPES, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

CLAUDIUS IS THE KING OF DENMARK IN WHAT SHAKESPEARE PLAY?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] PALMER.

>> "HAMLET."

>> "HAMLET," YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

"ANTE MERIDIEM" IS A LATIN TERM MEANING WHAT?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> BEFORE NOON.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

IN THE WNBA, THE SPARKS ARE BASED IN LOS ANGELES.

IN WHICH U.S. CITY ARE THE LIBERTY BASED?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> NEW YORK CITY.

>> NEW YORK CITY IS CORRECT.

IF YOU TRAVELED DUE NORTH FROM JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI, WHAT IS THE FIRST STATE BORDER YOU'LL CROSS?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] PALMER.

>> ARKANSAS.

>> I'M SORRY, THAT IS INCORRECT.

WESTFIELD, CAN YOU ANSWER?

>> IOWA.

>> IOWA, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

THE AURORA BOREALIS IS THE NORTHERN LIGHTS.

WHAT'S THE SCIENTIFIC NAME FOR THE SOUTHERN LIGHTS?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> AURORA ANTARCTIS.

>> I'M SORRY, THAT IS INCORRECT.

GOOD GUESS, THOUGH.

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

>> AURORA POLARIS?

>> AURORA AUSTRALIS IS THE RIGHT ANSWER THERE.

LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMMON TWO-WORD LATIN PHRASE TRANSLATES TO "IN GOOD FAITH" AND MEANS EITHER "REAL" OR "GENUINE."

WHAT IS THE LATIN PHRASE?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] PALMER.

>> QUID PRO QUO.

>> I'M SORRY, THAT IS INCORRECT.

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

>> ET TU?

>> "BONA FIDE" IS THE RIGHT ANSWER.

TRY THIS ONE.

WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE BOOK THAT'S A TRUE ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE OF ANNE FRANK, A GIRL IN HER-- [ RINGER SOUNDS ] PALMER.

>> "DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL BY ANNE FRANK."

>> YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

NICE JOB.

THAT MARKS THE END OF OUR CHALLENGE ROUND.

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

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

WE ASKED THE TEAM FROM PALMER HIGH, IF YOU COULD WITNESS ANY EVENT FROM HISTORY FIRSTHAND, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

>> I WOULD PROBABLY WITNESS THE TAPE V. HURLEY CASE, BECAUSE THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD FOR ASIAN AMERICANS, SINCE IN THE CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT SYSTEM, THEY DEEMED IT NOT RIGHT THAT ASIAN AMERICANS WERE DENIED ACCESS TO PUBLIC EDUCATION BECAUSE THEY WERE ASIAN.

>> I WOULD PROBABLY WITNESS THE SINKING OF THE "TITANIC" BECAUSE AS A KID IT REALLY INTERESTED ME AND, LIKE, TO SEE IT FIRSTHAND WOULD BE PRETTY INTERESTING.

>> I WOULD WANT TO WITNESS THE STONEWALL RIOTS IN '69 BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A MONUMENTAL EVENT THAT, LIKE, WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE PRIDE AND LGBTQ MOVEMENT IN THE U.S. >> I'D WANT TO WITNESS THE SENECA FALLS CONVENTION BECAUSE I THINK IT'S JUST SUCH A MONUMENTAL MOMENT FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS, AND I'D LOVE TO BE THERE FIRSTHAND TO SEE IT.

[ ♪♪♪ ] >> THE SCORE CURRENTLY STANDS AT WESTFIELD 160, PALMER 70.

THERE IS STILL A LOT OF GAME TO PLAY, SO LET'S MOVE 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, WHAT'S THEIR LINE?

I'LL GIVE YOU THREE NAMES OF EITHER ACTUAL OR FICTIONAL PEOPLE, AND YOU TELL ME THEIR MAIN OCCUPATION.

YOU HAVE 90 SECONDS, STARTING RIGHT NOW.

ALFRED HITCHCOCK, KATHRYN BIGELOW.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] PALMER.

>> DIRECTOR.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

>> PHIL MICKELSON, TIGER WOODS.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> GOLFER.

>> GOLFER, YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

NED LAMONT, CHRIS SUNUNU, MAURA HEALEY.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> GOVERNOR.

>> GOVERNOR IS THE RIGHT WORD.

RALPH LAUREN, DONNA KARAN, CALVIN KLEIN.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] PALMER.

>> DESIGNERS.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

DAVID COPPERFIELD, DAVID BLAINE.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] PALMER.

>> MAGICIAN.

>> YES, MAGICIAN IS CORRECT.

NANCY DREW, VERONICA MARS.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> DETECTIVES.

>> DETECTIVES, YES, IS THE RIGHT ANSWER.

MIKAELA SHIFFRIN, BODE MILLER.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] PALMER.

>> SKIERS.

>> SKIERS, YES.

BUZZ ALDRIN, JIM LOVELL.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> ASTRONAUTS.

>> ASTRONAUT IS THE RIGHT ANSWER.

TRY KATE WINSLET, JENNIFER LAWRENCE.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] PALMER.

>> ACTRESS.

>> ACTRESSES IS THE CORRECT ANSWER.

CARROT TOP, EDDIE MURPHY.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> COMEDIANS.

>> COMEDIAN, YES.

EMILY DICKINSON, ROBERT FROST.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] PALMER.

>> POET.

>> POET IS THE RIGHT ANSWER.

MOZART, PHILIP GLASS.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] PALMER.

>> COMPOSERS.

>> COMPOSER, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

TRY CLARENCE THOMAS, SONIA SOTOMAYOR.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> SUPREME COURT JUSTICES.

>> SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

HOW ABOUT LARRY BIRD, SHERYL SWOOPES?

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] PALMER.

>> BASKETBALL PLAYERS.

>> BASKETBALL PLAYERS, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

VICTORIA, NOOR, ELIZABETH II.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> MONARCHS OF ENGLAND.

>> QUEEN IS THE RIGHT ANSWER THERE.

CLARENCE DARROW, JOHNNY COCHRAN, ALAN DERSHOWITZ.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] PALMER.

>> LAWYERS.

>> LAWYER OR ATTORNEY, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

BEN CARSON, FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] PALMER.

>> NURSES.

[ BELL RINGS ] THE ANSWER WE WERE LOOKING FOR WAS "MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS," HOWEVER THE JUDGES WILL ACCEPT "NURSE."

AND THAT MARKS THE END OF OUR FIRST LIGHTNING ROUND.

LET'S CONTINUE OUR LAST QUARTERFINAL MATCHUP 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.

AT THE MOMENT, PALMER, YOU ARE BEHIND.

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

WHAT'S IT GOING TO BE?

>> GENERAL KNOWLEDGE FOR 30, PLEASE.

>> GENERAL KNOWLEDGE FOR 30.

HERE'S YOUR QUALIFYING QUESTION.

WE HAVE A VIDEO QUALIFIER.

TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREEN.

>> HI, I'M PETER SOKOLOWSKI, EDITOR AT LARGE FOR MERRIAM-WEBSTER IN SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, WITH YOUR QUALIFYING QUESTION.

THE WORD "FORTUITOUS" IS AN ADJECTIVE DEFINED AS...

HERE'S HOW IT'S USED IN A SENTENCE.

"YOU COULD NOT HAVE ARRIVED AT A MORE FORTUITOUS TIME."

TO QUALIFY, SPELL THE WORD "FORTUITOUS."

>> F-O-R-T-I-T-O-U-S. >> I'M SORRY, THAT IS INCORRECT.

ALL RIGHT, WESTFIELD, CAN YOU CAPITALIZE?

>> F-O-R-T-U-I-T-O-U-S. >> YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

LET'S MOVE ON IN THIS CATEGORY.

SYMBOLS THAT BRING FORTUITOUS LUCK FOR TEN POINTS EACH.

FIRST, WHILE THE ANCIENT MARINER OF COLERIDGE'S POEM DIDN'T THINK SO, MANY SEAFARING MARINERS THROUGHOUT HISTORY BELIEVE THESE LARGE SEABIRDS ARE A SYMBOL OF GOOD FORTUNE.

NAME THIS SEABIRD.

>> ALBATROSS?

>> YES.

YOU SEEM SURPRISED THAT YOU GOT THAT RIGHT.

GOOD JOB.

LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.

A PARTICULARLY RARE VARIANT OF THIS GREEN THREE-LEAFED PLANT IS BELIEVED TO BRING GOOD LUCK TO THE PERSON WHO FINDS ONE.

NAME THE LUCKY RARE VERSION OF THIS PLANT.

>> FOUR-LEAF CLOVER.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

FINALLY, THESE EQUINE OBJECTS WERE ORIGINALLY MADE OF IRON, A MATERIAL BELIEVED TO WARD OFF EVIL SPIRITS.

THEY WERE TRADITIONALLY HELD IN PLACE WITH SEVEN NAILS, AS SEVEN WAS CONSIDERED TO BE THE LUCKIEST NUMBER.

NAME THIS LUCKY OBJECT.

>> A HORSESHOE.

>> HORSESHOE, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

WESTFIELD, YOUR TURN, FIRST TIME OF THE EVENING, TO PLEASE PICK A CATEGORY AND A POINT VALUE.

>> WORLD EVENTS FOR 30, PLEASE.

>> WORLD EVENTS FOR 30.

HERE'S YOUR QUALIFYING QUESTION.

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

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

ALL RIGHT, GOOD LUCK.

TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREENS FOR THIS.

IN FEBRUARY OF 2014, THE 22ND WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES OPENED IN SOCHI IN WHAT COUNTRY?

>> RUSSIA.

>> RUSSIA, YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

MORE EVENTS OF THE YEAR 2014 FOR TEN POINTS EACH.

FIRST, ON MARCH 18TH, 2014, RUSSIA FORMALLY ANNEXED WHAT PENINSULA ON THE NORTHERN COAST OF THE BLACK SEA?

>> CRIMEA.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

ON MARCH 31ST, 2014, THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE RULED THIS COUNTRY'S ANTARCTIC WHALING PROGRAM WAS NOT SCIENTIFIC BUT COMMERCIAL AND FORBADE FURTHER GRANTS OF PERMITS.

NAME THE COUNTRY.

>> ARGENTINA?

>> JAPAN IS THE RIGHT ANSWER THERE.

FINALLY, LET'S TRY THIS ONE.

ON SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2014, A SPACECRAFT LAUNCHED BY THE INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANIZATION REACHED ITS TARGET ORBIT, MAKING INDIA THE FIRST ASIAN COUNTRY TO SUCCESSFULLY REACH WHAT PLANET?

>> MARS.

>> MARS, YES.

PALMER, ONCE AGAIN, YOUR TURN.

PLEASE PICK A CATEGORY AND A POINT VALUE.

>> ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT FOR 30.

>> ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT FOR 30.

HERE'S YOUR QUALIFYING QUESTION.

TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREENS.

BASED ON THE TRUE STORY OF A 1987 CROSS-COUNTRY TEAM FROM A MAINLY LATINO HIGH SCHOOL IN CALIFORNIA, THIS 2015 FILM STARS KEVIN COSTNER AS THE SCHOOL'S COACH WHO LEADS THE TEAM TO WIN A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

NAME THE FILM.

[ BUZZER SOUNDS ] I'M SORRY, TIME IS UP.

ALL RIGHT, WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL, CAN YOU CAPITALIZE?

>> "GREEN MILE."

>> "MCFARLAND, USA" WAS THE NAME OF THAT MOVIE.

ALL RIGHT, WESTFIELD, ONCE AGAIN, YOUR TURN.

>> SOCIAL STUDIES FOR 30, PLEASE.

>> SOCIAL STUDIES FOR 30.

TO QUALIFY... [ WARD READS ON-SCREEN TEXT ] >> SASKATCHEWAN.

>> OR ALBERTA, YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

LET'S MOVE ON, USING SASKATCHEWAN AS A POINT OF REFERENCE.

I'LL NAME ANOTHER CANADIAN PROVINCE, YOU TELL ME WHETHER IT LIES EAST OR WEST OF SASKATCHEWAN.

THIS IS FOR TEN POINTS EACH.

FIRST, MANITOBA.

>> EAST.

>> EAST, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

NEXT ONE, BRITISH COLUMBIA.

>> WEST.

>> WEST IS CORRECT.

AND FINALLY, HOW ABOUT ALBERTA?

>> WEST.

>> WEST, YES, NICE JOB.

PALMER, ONCE AGAIN, YOUR TURN.

>> LITERATURE FOR 30.

>> LITERATURE FOR 30.

HERE'S YOUR QUALIFYING QUESTION.

TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREENS.

"WINNIE THE POOH" IS A CHILDREN'S BOOK ABOUT AN ANTHROPOMORPHIC TEDDY BEAR WHO, WITH HIS ANIMAL FRIENDS, ENJOYS MANY ADVENTURES.

THE BOOK WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN 1926 BY WHAT ENGLISH AUTHOR?

[ BUZZER SOUNDS ] I'M SORRY, TIME IS UP.

WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL, CAN YOU CAPITALIZE?

>> A.A. MILNE.

>> YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

LET'S MOVE ON.

LET'S SEE HOW WELL YOU KNOW THE CHARACTERS FROM WINNIE THE POOH FOR TEN POINTS EACH.

TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREEN.

FIRST, WINNIE THE POOH IS THE BEST FRIEND OF A YOUNG BOY WHO ENJOYS GOING ALONG ON POOH'S ADVENTURES.

NAME THAT BOY.

>> CHRISTOPHER ROBIN.

>> YES, CHRISTOPHER ROBIN IS CORRECT.

NEXT, POOH'S CLOSEST FRIEND AMONGST ALL THE TOYS AND ANIMALS FEATURED IN THE STORIES IS THIS VERY SMALL ANIMAL OF A GENERALLY TIMID DISPOSITION WHO TRIES TO BE BRAVE AND, ON OCCASION, CONQUERS HIS FEARS.

NAME THIS CHARACTER.

>> PIGLET.

>> PIGLET IS CORRECT.

AND FINALLY, THIS CHARACTER IS GENERALLY CHARACTERIZED AS A PESSIMISTIC, GLOOMY, DEPRESSED, UNMOTIVATED FRIEND OF WINNIE THE POOH.

NAME THIS CHARACTER.

>> EEYORE.

>> EEYORE, YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

NICE JOB.

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

>> MATH AND SCIENCE FOR 30, PLEASE.

LAST OF THE 30S.

HERE'S YOUR QUALIFYING QUESTION.

TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREEN.

UP UNTIL THE 16TH CENTURY, THESE SEA CREATURES WERE KNOWN TO MARINERS AS SEA DOGS.

THIS IS STILL EVIDENT IN SEVERAL OF THEIR SPECIES, SUCH AS DOGFISH AND PORBEAGLES.

NAME THESE SEA CREATURES.

>> SHARK?

>> YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

LET'S MOVE ON.

MORE ABOUT SHARKS FOR TEN POINTS EACH.

TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREEN.

FIRST, THIS EXTINCT SPECIES OF GIANT MACKEREL SHARK LIVED BETWEEN 2 AND 23 MILLION YEARS AGO.

IT STRETCHED APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 60 FEET IN LENGTH AND HAD JAWS THAT SPANNED OVER SIX FEET WIDE.

NAME THIS SHARK.

>> THE MEGALODON.

>> YES, MEGALODON IS RIGHT.

NEXT, THESE SHARKS ARE THE LARGEST KNOWN SPECIES OF LIVING FISH.

THEY GENERALLY GROW BETWEEN 18 AND 32 FEET IN LENGTH, BUT ISN'T A DANGER, AS IT'S A FILTER FEEDER THAT CONSUMES PLANKTON INSTEAD OF LARGER SEA CREATURES.

NAME THIS SHARK.

>> THE WHALE SHARK.

>> WHALE SHARK IS CORRECT.

FINALLY, FOUND IN THE COASTAL SURFACE WATERS OF ALL OF THE MAJOR OCEANS, THIS SHARK IS NOTABLE FOR ITS SIZE, WITH FEMALES MEASURING ABOUT 15 FEET IN LENGTH AND UP TO 1,700 POUNDS IN WEIGHT AT MATURITY.

IT GAINED POPULARITY WITH THE 1975 FILM "JAWS."

NAME THIS SHARK.

>> GREAT WHITE SHARK.

>> GREAT WHITE, YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

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

>> GENERAL KNOWLEDGE FOR 25.

>> GENERAL KNOWLEDGE FOR 25.

YOUR QUALIFYING QUESTION.

[ WARD READS ON-SCREEN TEXT ] >> THE SUM OF AN ODD AND EVEN NUMBER.

>> YES, YOU ARE CORRECT.

LET'S MOVE ON.

MORE MATHEMATICAL THINKING.

THESE ARE FOR TEN POINTS EACH.

FIRST, OF THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS, WHICH IS NOT PRIME: 97, 197, OR 297?

>> 197.

>> CORRECT ANSWER THERE IS 297.

LET'S TRY THIS ONE.

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS IS NOT A COMMON MULTIPLE OF THREE AND FIVE: 75, 125, OR 150?

>> 150.

>> CORRECT ANSWER THERE ACTUALLY IS 125.

FINALLY, LET'S TRY THIS ONE FOR FIVE POINTS.

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING THREE-DIGIT NUMBERS IS NOT EVENLY DIVISIBLE BY THREE: 133, 333, OR 633?

>> 133.

>> YES, YOU ARE CORRECT.

WESTFIELD, ONCE AGAIN, YOUR TURN.

>> WORLD EVENTS FOR 25, PLEASE.

>> WORLD EVENTS FOR 25.

YOUR QUALIFYING QUESTION.

[ WARD READS ON-SCREEN TEXT ] >> CHARLES DARWIN.

>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

MOVING ON, A YEAR IN THE LIFE.

I'LL NAME AN HISTORICAL FIGURE, YOU GIVE ME ANY ONE YEAR IN THE LIFETIME OF THAT INDIVIDUAL.

THIS IS FOR FIVE POINTS EACH.

TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREEN.

FIRST, MOHANDAS GANDHI.

>> 1940.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT, '69 TO 1948.

NICE JOB.

TRY NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.

>> 1800.

>> YES, LIVED UNTIL 1821.

TRY FERDINAND MAGELLAN.

>> 1500.

>> 1500.

>> 1500 WE HEARD FIRST, THAT IS CORRECT.

DIED IN 1521.

BRITAIN'S QUEEN ELIZABETH I.

>> 1585.

>> YES, DIED IN 1603.

AND FINALLY, HOW ABOUT LECH WALESA?

>> 1970.

>> YEAH, 1943 TO PRESENT.

VERY NICE JOB.

ALL RIGHT, PALMER, PLEASE PICK A CATEGORY AND A POINT VALUE.

>> ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT FOR 25.

>> ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT FOR 25.

HERE'S YOUR QUALIFYING QUESTION.

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

>> FOOTBALL, YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

LET'S MOVE ON, STICKING WITH POPULAR SPORTS FILMS.

WHAT SPORT IS CENTRAL TO EACH OF THESE MOVIES FOR FIVE POINTS EACH?

FIRST, "I, TONYA."

>> FIGURE SKATING.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

HOW ABOUT "ALI"?

>> BOXING.

>> BOXING IS RIGHT.

TRY "AIR."

>> BASKETBALL.

>> BASKETBALL IS CORRECT.

HOW ABOUT "THE NATURAL"?

>> BASEBALL.

>> BASEBALL, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

FINALLY, "SLAP SHOT."

>> HOCKEY.

>> HOCKEY IS CORRECT.

NICE JOB.

THAT MARKS THE END OF OUR CAPITALIZATION ROUND.

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

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

WE ASKED THE TEAM FROM WESTFIELD, IF YOU COULD SPEND A DAY WITH ANY FAMOUS SCIENTIST OR INVENTOR, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHAT DISCOVERIES WOULD YOU HOPE TO DISCUSS WITH THEM?

>> I WOULD LOVE TO MEET THE CAVEMAN THAT INVENTED FIRE JUST SO WE COULD HAVE A TALK.

>> I WOULD WANT TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH HANS LIPPERSHEY, THE PERSON WHO INVENTED THE FIRST REFRACTING TELESCOPE, AND JUST DISCUSS WITH HIM ALL THE DISCOVERIES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE SINCE THEN.

>> I WOULD WANT TO SPEND A DAY WITH ARCHIMEDES JUST TO, LIKE, LET HIM KNOW THAT EVERYTHING HE'S THOUGHT OF AND MADE STILL EXISTS TODAY AND THAT HE'S EXTREMELY FAMOUS, AND I THINK IT'D BE COOL TO TALK WITH HIM LIKE THAT.

>> I WOULD PROBABLY SPEND A DAY WITH MENDELEEV, JUST TO TELL HIM THAT HE WAS RIGHT ABOUT PRETTY MUCH EVERY PREDICTION THAT HE MADE.

[ ♪♪♪ ] >> LET'S MOVE ON NOW TO THE FINAL 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, YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS.

YOUR TEAM LOSES FIVE POINTS.

WELL, TIME TO CONTINUE THE CONTENTION IN THIS MATCH.

EACH OF THE FOLLOWING ANSWERS CONTAINS THE LETTER SEQUENCE O-N-T SOMEWHERE IN IT, AS IN THE WORD "CONTINUE" AND "CONTENTION."

YOU HAVE 90 SECONDS, STARTING RIGHT NOW.

NORTH AMERICA IS ONE.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> CONTINENT.

>> CONTINENT, YES.

TO GO FACE TO FACE IN A CHALLENGE.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> CONFRONT.

>> CONFRONT IS CORRECT.

CITY WHERE THE CANADIENS PLAY.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> MONTREAL.

>> MONTREAL IS CORRECT.

TO HAVE POWER OR INFLUENCE OVER SOMEONE.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> CONTROL.

>> CONTROL IS CORRECT.

REACTION ARISING FROM A-- [ RINGER SOUNDS ] PALMER.

>> CONTINUE.

>> "SPONTANEOUS" IS THE RIGHT ANSWER THERE.

APRIL, MAY, AND JUNE ARE EXAMPLES.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> MONTHS.

>> MONTHS IS CORRECT.

FLOAT USED IN A FLOATING TEMPORARY BRIDGE.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> PONTOON.

>> PONTOON IS CORRECT.

A COMPETITION LEADING TO A WINNER.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> CONTEST.

>> CONTEST IS CORRECT.

PRESTIGIOUS PROPERTY ALONG THE ATLANTIC SEASHORE.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> OCEANFRONT.

>> OCEANFRONT IS CORRECT.

TO KEEP SOMETHING WITHIN CERTAIN LIMITS.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> CONTAIN.

>> CONTAIN IS CORRECT.

A DENTIST WHO SPECIALIZES IN GUM CARE.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] PALMER.

>> ORTHODONTIST.

>> PERIODONTIST IS THE RIGHT ANSWER.

ANOTHER NAME FOR AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> CONTRACT.

>> CONTRACT IS CORRECT.

TO CALL OR EMAIL SOMEONE.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> CONTACT.

>> CONTACT IS RIGHT.

TO GIVE A DONATION TO A CAUSE.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] PALMER.

>> DONATE.

>> CONTRIBUTE IS THE RIGHT ANSWER.

THE PRINCIPLE SUBSTANCE FOUND IN A WEBSITE.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] WESTFIELD.

>> CONTENT.

>> CONTENT IS CORRECT.

A COMPOSITE PICTURE MADE BY COMBINING SEVERAL SEPARATE PICTURES.

[ RINGER SOUNDS ] PALMER.

>> MONTAGE.

>> YES, MONTAGE IS CORRECT.

[ BELL RINGS ] AH, THAT BELL MARKS THE END OF OUR LAST LIGHTNING ROUND.

IT ALSO MARKS THE END OF OUR MATCH.

WHAT A FUN MATCHUP TONIGHT.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD 36 TEAMS THROUGHOUT THE REGULAR SEASON.

PALMER HIGH SCHOOL, CONGRATS TO MAKING IT THIS FAR.

REALLY, JOB WELL DONE.

WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL, WOW, YOU REALLY KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK TONIGHT, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

SO WE ARE ALL READY FOR OUR SEMIFINALS.

THAT IS SET.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT OUR BRACKETS NOW.

YOU CAN SEE MOUNT GREYLOCK VERSUS WESTFIELD, PIONEER VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY VERSUS LONGMEADOW.

WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?

IT IS ANYBODY'S GUESS.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FUN AS WE MOVE ON.

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

I'M YOUR HOST, BETH WARD.

GOOD NIGHT, AND BE SURE TO TUNE IN AGAIN NEXT TIME AS THE SEMIFINALS BEGIN.

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

>> THE MEMBERS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO HELP EVERY STUDENT SUCCEED.

THE MTA: OVER 175 YEARS OF COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC EDUCATION.

>> YOU STEP UP ON THE BLOCK, THERE'S ALL THIS NOISE, AND THEN YOU DIVE IN AND YOU'RE UNDER THE WATER, AND IT'S JUST YOU AND THE DIVE.

IT'S GO TIME.

[ GIGGLES ] [ ♪♪♪ ] [ ♪♪♪ ]