ROUND ∞
REPLACEMENTS
SLASH
TIEBREAKERS
Moderator:
Make sure that neither team has heard the question before counting it correct. Instruct the teams to tell you if they have heard the question before.
TIEBREAKER TOSSUPS:
Tossup: Math/Algebra
The gamma function at 1/2 is equal to the square root of it. It appears in every even-numbered output of the zeta function. The Feynman (FINE-mun) point is the name for the 762nd through 767th digits of it. Name this number, proved irrational by Lambert and transcendental by von Lindemann, also known as Archimedes’ constant or Ludolph’s number, implied by the Bible to equal exactly 3, represented by the sixteenth letter of the Greek alphabet, and approximately equal to 3.14.
Answer: Pi
Tossup: Miscellaneous/Technology
Founded by Jimmy Wales, this is the most popular website running the software of its kind, which comes from a foreign word for “quick.” The project began in 2001, and is now operated by a non-profit organization. Though by its very nature it invites vandalism and opinion, it attempts to uphold a “neutral point of view” policy. Name this webpage, whose English version alone has over 820,000 articles, and whose slogan is “The free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.”
Answer: Wikipedia (prompt on wiki)
Tossup: Miscellaneous
The surname is the same. John is a computer columnist, having written for PC Magazine since 1986. It also refers to the invention of Dr. William Dealey and August of the same name, a keyboard with home row AOEUIDHTNS, meant to be a more ergonomic alternative to the typical QWERTY style keyboard. Most famous is the composer Antonín born in 1841 in Bohemia who wrote nine symphonies, the first subtitled The Bells of Zlonice, and the ninth subtitled From the New World.
Answer: John/August/Antonín Dvorak (DIV-or-ack, or D’VOR-zhock)
Tossup: Miscellaneous
His mother’s name is Missy, and he has seven siblings, named Molly, Rover, Andy, Belle, Marbles, Olaf, and Spike. At various times, he has been a hockey player, Olympic figure skater, attorney, shortstop, and the first astronaut to land on the moon. When he dons sunglasses and leans against a wall, he is transformed into one of his alter-egos, Joe Cool. Name this comic-strip character, a hack writer and World War I flying ace, the beagle friend of Charlie Brown.
Answer: Snoopy
REPLACEMENT TOSSUPS:
Tossup: Miscellaneous/Technology
In many programming languages, this character can indicate unary postfix incrementation when written twice after a variable name, that is, adding one to the variable after executing the entire line of code. Name this character that you could find on your number keypad directly above enter, and which appears twice after the letter C in the name of a popular programming language.
Answer: Plus sign (accept equivalent answers)
Tossup: Literature/American Literature
This novel is based off a quotation from John Donne (DUNN), and takes place during the Spanish Civil War, although some think the author was influenced by World War I as well. The main character has a lot of flashbacks, including some about Russians that are in Madrid. Name this work containing the characters Pilar and Robert Jordan by Earnest Hemingway.
Answer: For Whom the Bell Tolls
Tossup: Math/Combinatorics (Computational)
How many distinct bracelets can be formed out of seven beads if two of the beads are the same color?
Answer: 360
Tossup: Social Studies/U.S. History
This army officer, who grew up in Ohio, was last in his class at West Point in 1861, and was later under command of George McClellan. Name this man who was killed at the famed Battle of Little Bighorn, while making his famous “Last Stand.”
Answer: Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer
Tossup: Fine Arts/Music
This instrument’s strings are usually tuned in unison, and effectively possess the G-D-A-E string configuration of a violin, although unlike a violin, it sports a fretted fingerboard. Renounced modern musicians of this instrument include David Grisman, Mike Marshall, and Sam Bush, although it is more commonly associated with 16th and 17th century Europe. Name this instrument that evolved from the lute, and can play an octave and a fifth above its cousin the mandocello. (MAN-duh-CHELL-oh)
Answer: Mandolin
Tossup: Language Arts/Spelling
Spell the word that comes from the German words for harm and joy. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “Malicious enjoyment of the misfortunes of others.” Spell schadenfreude. (SHAY-DEHN-FROY-duh)
Answer: SCHADENFREUDE
Tossup: Language Arts/Spelling
Spell the name of the neutral vowel sound that occurs in unstressed syllables. The term also refers to the upside-down e used to represent the sound. Spell schwa (SHWAH).
Answer: SCHWA (accept SHWA)
Tossup: Social Studies/U.S. History
She was born in Brooklyn as Shirley St. Hill in 1925. Her political career started when she was elected to the state senate in 1964, and in 1968 was elected to Congress by the 12th district of New York. Name this woman who died on January 1st, 2005, and was the first African-American woman to be elected to Congress.
Answer: Shirley Chisholm
BONI:
Bonus: Language Arts
In terms of number of speakers, name the five largest Romance languages in any order.
Answers: (in no particular order) French, Spanish, Italian, Romanian, and Portuguese
Bonus: Social Studies (Three Parts)
Give the full name of the world organization from its acronym.
A: NATO
B: WHO
C: FIRST
Answers: A: North Atlantic Treaty Organization B: World Health Organization C: Facts on International Relations and Security Trends
Bonus: Social Studies/Geography
Name each desert located in the area described.
A: Northern Africa; it is the largest desert on Earth
B: California
C: Mongolia and Northern China
D: Southern Africa; it touches the Orange River
Answers: A: Sahara Desert B: Mojave Desert C: Gobi Desert D: Kalahari Desert
Bonus: Language Arts/Spelling
Spell the following words:
A: Azimuth (AZ-ih-muth)
B: Melaphobia (MEL-uh-PHO-BEE-uh)
C: Ichthyoid (ICK-thee-OID)
D: Quorum (KWOR-um)
Answers: A: AZIMUTH B: MELAPHOBIA C: ICHTHYOID D: QUORUM
Bonus: Social Studies/U.S. History (Three Parts)
Answer these questions about the Battle of Little Bighorn
A: In what state was the battle held?
B: In what year was the battle held?
C: Which Indian Chief defeated Custer? It was not Crazy Horse.
Answers: A: Montana B: 1876 C: Sitting Bull
Bonus: Social Studies/World History
Given the battle, name the winning country.
A: Battle of Kursk
B: Battle of the Bulge
C: Battle at the Plains of Abraham
D: Battle of Bannockburn
Answers: A: Soviet Union (do not accept Russia) B: Allies C: France D: Scotland (accept equivalents such as Soviets, Allied Nations, French, or Scottish)
Bonus: Social Studies/U.S. History
From the description, give the president of the US.
A: First president to visit China.
B: Acted in 53 films before becoming president.
C: First Democrat to win reelection since Franklin Roosevelt
D: First managing general partner of a Major League Baseball team to become president.
Answers: A: Richard Nixon B: Ronald Reagan C: William Clinton D: George W. Bush (prompt if only Bush is given)