>> Join us tonight as the semi-finals begin with number one seed Belchertown High School going up against number five seed Easthampton High School.

The historic 64th 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 ensure that all students have the resources they need to succeed the MTA.

A diverse union of education workers committed 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.

>> 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 to score the most points for a chance to make it to the top eight.

The quarterfinals are over and the semifinals begin tonight.

As you can see, Belchertown, Longmeadow, East Hampton and Lenox Memorial have moved on to the semifinals.

In tonight's first semifinal matchup, we have Belchertown High School going up against East Hampton High School.

Let's meet the teams, starting with East Hampton High School, coached by Sophia Checa.

>> Hello.

My name is Roman Moran.

I'm a senior at East Hampton High School.

>> Hi.

My name is Barry Donovan, and I'm a junior from East Hampton High School.

>> Hi.

My name is Samuel Barr and I'm a senior from East Hampton High School.

>> Hi.

My name is Jackson Scott.

I'm a senior at East Hampton High School.

And today I'd like to acknowledge our alternates.

Avery, Samson, uke, Morgan and Andrew.

>> And for Belchertown, coached by Steve Vinu.

>> Hi, I'm Naveen Berryhill and I'm a sophomore at Belchertown High School.

>> My name is Jack Myers and I'm a senior at Belchertown High School.

>> Hi, I'm Shawn Lindsey and a sophomore from Belchertown.

Hi.

>> Hi.

I'm Miles McNamara, a junior from Belchertown High School, and I would like to recognize our alternate own Lorenzo.

>> 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 begin with the first question of the evening.

Good luck to both teams.

Complete the following relationship.

Amon is to Jordan as what capital is to Vietnam.

Belchertown.

>> Hanoi.

>> Hanoi.

Yes.

That's right.

What Charles Dickens novel begins with the line it was the best of times.

Belchertown.

>> A Tale of Two cities.

>> Yes.

That's correct.

Try this one.

A GIF file spelled gif.

Easthampton.

>> Go go go.

I'm Until I have that.

>> Graphic image file.

>> I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

Let me finish the question.

GIF is a type of image file that can contain a single image or a sequence of images.

What is GIF an abbreviation of?

All right, because East Hampton did not get the question correct.

That means Belchertown.

You get the chance to answer.

>> What is the F?

>> Does something have to do more.

>> Graphics interchange format.

You were close East Hampton.

Let's move on to the next one.

What Marvel Comics character has been recently portrayed by actor Chris Hemsworth?

East Hampton Thor.

Thor?

Yes.

That's correct.

In which of the following years did George W Bush get sworn in for his first term as the 43rd president of the United States?

East Hampton.

>> 1996.

>> I'm sorry, that is incorrect.

Let me finish the question.

Was it 2000, 2001 or 2003?

All right, Belchertown, that gives you the chance to answer 2000.

2001 is the right answer.

If you traveled due east from Rabat, Morocco, what is the Belchertown?

>> Libya.

>> I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

Let me finish the question.

What is the first national border that you'll cross?

Easthampton.

Can you answer?

>> Algeria?

>> Yes, Algeria is correct.

Grab your pens for this one.

What percent of 200 is 1000?

Belchertown.

>> 500.

>> Please be more specific.

>> 500%.

>> Yes.

That's right.

In what part of the human body will you find intervertebral discs?

Easthampton.

>> The spinal column.

>> Yes.

That's right.

The 2024 Republican National Convention took place between July 15th and July 18th.

In which U.S. city was it, Chicago, Minneapolis or Milwaukee?

Belchertown.

>> I'll just go for it.

Milwaukee?

Milwaukee?

Milwaukee?

>> Yes.

That's right.

In a parallelogram, if two angles measure 97 degrees each, what is the measure?

>> Belchertown 93.

>> 83, 83.

>> Degrees.

>> Didn't have to finish that question.

Yes, that is correct.

Complete this relationship.

Mount Greylock is to Massachusetts as Mount Mansfield is.

To which New England state?

Belchertown, Vermont Vermont is right.

Which of these numbers are not evenly divisible by 1696 to 240 346.

>> Easthampton 346.

>> Yes.

That's right.

On March 24th, 2025, Mercury passed between Earth and the sun relative to the Earth.

Was this event known as Mercury being in superior conjunction?

>> Easthampton superior conjunction.

>> I'm sorry, that is incorrect.

Let me finish the question.

Was it superior conjunction, inferior conjunction or solar opposition?

All right, Belchertown, can you answer the question?

>> Inferior conjunction?

>> Yes.

Inferior is correct since October 1st of 2024.

Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo has served as president.

Of which Western hemisphere country?

Mexico.

Guatemala.

>> Belchertown, Mexico.

>> Yes, Mexico is correct.

Three letter acronyms in the Business and Technology worlds.

Fark is an acronym for what East Hampton.

>> Frequently Asked Questions.

>> Yes.

That's correct.

Which chemical element on the periodic table has the atomic number?

80.

And is Belchertown 80 something?

>> Mercury.

>> Abbreviated by the letters HG.

Yes.

That's correct.

Chapter one of what classic Charles Dickens novel begins?

Marley was dead to begin with.

>> Belchertown Christmas Carol.

>> A Christmas Carol.

>> A Christmas carol.

Yes, that's right.

Charles de Gaulle was a World War two.

East Hampton.

>> France.

>> Yes, that is correct.

President of the country of France.

Yes.

A single molecule of hydrogen peroxide comprises.

How many atoms of hydrogen?

Belchertown.

>> Two.

>> Two is right.

The two letter United States Postal Service state abbreviation for Massachusetts is Easthampton.

>> Oregon.

>> I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

The two letter state abbreviation for the postal code for Massachusetts is Ma.

What is the two letter United States Postal Service state abbreviation for Missouri.

Belchertown.

Can you answer?

>> Mo.

>> Mo is correct.

Which of the agencies that falls under the US Department of Homeland Security is FEMA, spelled FEMA.

>> Easthampton Federal Emergency Management Association or agency?

>> Sorry, that is incorrect.

All right, Belchertown, can you answer the question of what the acronym FEMA stands for?

>> Federal Emergency Management Agency.

>> Agency?

Yes, that was close.

Easthampton.

Let's move on to the next one.

On November 21st, 1877, Thomas Edison announced his invention of a machine.

East Hampton.

>> Light bulb.

>> I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

Let me finish the question of a machine that can permanently record, sound and play it back.

Name that invention.

All right.

Belchertown, can you answer?

>> Phonograph.

>> Phonograph or gramophone?

Yes, that is the right answer.

And that marks the end of our challenge round.

Let's take a moment now to meet the team from East Hampton High School.

>> Hi, I'm Mackenzie Gaudet from Westfield State University.

We asked the team from East Hampton High what was the best part of your.

As schools match wits experience.

>> Well, I've really enjoyed getting to just learn so many new aspects of trivia and especially with such a great team.

I mean, they've just been awesome and supportive the whole time, and I'm definitely not a teammate who can say like, oh, there's this information from this book or this exact chapter, but I can definitely tell you about some more simpler things and more fun things.

>> Well, I think a big part of it has just been the chance to put some of the knowledge I've accumulated to use and really, you know, get to represent my school in that.

But it's also been a pleasure to serve with this team and really get to know some guys.

So that's been a real pleasure.

>> Just over the years, accumulating so many inside jokes that like, they don't make any sense.

But if you told someone from our team that there was George Bush, George Bush junior in Argentina with 42 CPUs, they'd die laughing.

>> So I think all the friends I've made along the way in my three years of doing a schools match wits has just been.

It's expanded all of the people throughout my school and I know so many more people.

>> Let's move on now 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 and answer correctly.

You win five points.

Answer incorrectly.

However, your team loses five points.

Well, you'll need to use your noodle for this round.

Each answer to the clues will be a six letter word beginning with the letter N, as in the word noodle.

You have 90s starting right now.

A coin worth $0.05.

East Hampton nickel.

Nickel is correct.

It's used for a hypodermic injection.

East Hampton needle needle is right to bite at food gently.

East Hampton.

Nibble, nibble is right.

A cloth for wiping crumbs off your face.

Napkin is right.

Surname of Sir Isaac.

Belchertown.

>> Newton.

>> Newton is correct.

A spout from which fluid is discharged.

Easthampton.

Nozzle.

Nozzle is correct.

It's the opposite of wide.

Easthampton.

>> Narrow.

>> Narrow is right.

Connecticut's nickname, the blank.

Belchertown.

Nutmeg state is the right answer there.

The world of living things and the outdoors.

Belchertown.

Nature.

Nature is correct.

A diffuse cloud of interstellar particles.

Easthampton.

Nimbus Nebula is the right answer there.

A small lump of gold.

Easthampton.

Nugget.

Nugget is correct.

Tortilla chips with melted cheese.

Belchertown.

>> Nachos.

>> Nachos is right.

A people who share common customs.

Easthampton.

>> Nation.

>> Nation is right.

Two is one.

Belchertown.

Number.

Number is correct.

Word meaning usual.

Average or typical.

Easthampton.

Normal.

Normal is right to inform or alert someone about East Hampton notified.

Notified about something?

Yes.

A dark rain bearing cloud.

East Hampton.

>> Nimbus.

>> Nimbus is correct.

It's a dangerous dimension in Minecraft.

East Hampton.

>> Nether.

>> Nether is right.

A sugary fluid produced in certain plants.

East Hampton.

>> Nectar.

>> Nectar is correct.

It's a type of wrestling hold.

Nelson is the right answer there.

However, that bell marks the end of our first lightning round.

Let's move on now 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.

At the moment, East Hampton you are behind also means that 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.

Qualifying question.

We have a video qualifier.

Please take a look at your screen.

>> Hi, I'm Lauren Larson, a physicist here at CERN in Switzerland, with your qualifying question.

CERN's main area of research is particle physics.

The study of the fundamental constitutes of matter and the forces acting between them.

The name of CERN is an acronym derived from the original French name of the laboratory.

To qualify, what does CERN stand for in its English translation?

>> The center for Energy related Neutrons.

>> I'm sorry, that is incorrect.

Belchertown High School, can you capitalize.

>> The center for European Nuclear Research?

>> Close on both accounts.

European organization for Nuclear Research is the right answer there.

All right, Belchertown, your turn.

First time of the evening.

Do please pick a category and a point.

>> Value math and science for 30.

>> Math and science for 30.

Qualifying question.

Grab your pens for this one and listen very carefully.

If the domain of the function f of x equals five times the sine of x is all real numbers.

What's the range of this function?

>> Negative five to.

>> -5 to 5.

>> Yes that's correct.

All right let's move on.

In this category testing your range a bit more I'll give you a simple function of x.

You tell me the range of that function for ten points each.

Take a look at your screen first.

F of x equals x.

>> Negative infinity to infinity.

>> Yes that's correct.

Moving on f of x equals one over x.

>> Equals zero to infinity.

>> Correct answer.

There is all real numbers except zero.

All right.

Let's try this one.

Finally f of x equals the square root of x.

>> Zero to infinity.

>> Yes that's correct.

Nice job.

All right.

East Hampton once again please pick a category and a point value.

>> We'll take social studies for 30.

>> Social studies for 30.

Your qualifying question.

You have picked the Westfield State University entrance exam question, answer the qualifier and all of the category questions correctly, and your team wins an additional ten points.

All right.

Good luck.

According to article seven of the United States Constitution, how many of the original 13 states needed to ratify the Constitution for it to take effect?

Is it eight, 9 or 10?

>> Nine.

>> Nine?

Yes.

That's right.

Let's move on in this category from constitutional articles to constitutional amendments for ten points each.

First, which amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment?

>> Eighth amendment.

>> Yes, eighth amendment is correct.

This amendment changed the data on which the term of the president begins to January 20th 21.

The 20th is the right answer there.

All right, let's try this one.

Finally, which amendment holds that a state is exempt from lawsuits from out of state citizens?

>> The 10th.

>> Close the 11th is the right answer.

Good try though.

All right.

Belchertown, please pick a category and a point value.

>> World events for 30.

>> World events for 30.

Your qualifying question.

Once again, we have a video for you, so please take a look at your screen.

>> Hi, I'm Louis Theros, president and COO of MGM Springfield, with your qualifying question.

Not long after the conclusion of the American Revolution, an armed uprising began in response to a debt crisis facing the new nation's citizenry.

In 1787, protesters led by a Revolutionary War veteran marched on the Springfield Armory in an attempt to seize its weaponry and overthrow the government.

To qualify, what was this rebellion known as Shays Rebellion?

>> Yes.

Shays rebellion is right.

Let's move on.

More about rebellions in the US for ten points each.

Take a look at your screen.

First, the Whiskey Rebellion took place from 1791 to 1794 to protest taxes levied on whiskey to pay for some of the costs of the Revolutionary War.

In which state did the Whiskey Rebellion occur?

Was it Maryland, Pennsylvania or Tennessee?

>> Pennsylvania?

>> Yes, Pennsylvania is correct.

Nat Turner's rebellion was a slave uprising that took place between August 21st and 23rd of 1831.

In which southern state was it?

Virginia.

Georgia or Tennessee.

>> Georgia.

Georgia.

>> Georgia.

>> Correct answer.

There is Virginia.

Finally, let's try this one.

The Wilmington Massacre of 1898 was a municipal level coup d'état carried out by white supremacists on November 10th, 1898.

In which southern state did this rebellion take place?

Was it North Carolina, South Carolina, or Georgia?

>> South Carolina?

>> You think.

>> So?

>> South Carolina.

>> North Carolina is the right answer there.

All right, let's move on with East Hampton once again.

Your turn.

>> Arts and entertainment for 30.

>> Arts and entertainment for 30.

Qualifying question.

This term describes a piece of music written for two vocalists or instrumentalists a duet.

Yes.

That's correct.

More about various musical terms for ten points each.

First, this term describes one or more vocalists performing without instrumental accompaniment a cappella.

A cappella.

Yes.

That's right.

Beginning with the letter R, this is the name of a dirge, hymn, or musical service honoring the dead.

Ritual Requiem is the right answer.

Finally, let's try this one also beginning with the letter R, this is a canon where the melody is sung in two or more voices.

After the first voice begins, the next voice starts singing.

After a couple of measures are played in the preceding voice.

Row, row, row your boat is a classic example.

>> Around?

>> Yes, around is correct.

Nice job.

Belchertown, please pick a category and a point value.

>> 30 points.

I think we can go for math and science.

>> Math and science for 25.

>> Math and science for 25.

To qualify, take a look at your screen.

The microscope slide you see here was taken from a patient.

With what?

Hereditary blood disorder.

So named because the red blood cells take on a crescent shape.

>> Sickle cell anemia.

>> Yes.

That's right.

Let's move on.

More about blood disorders for five points each.

Once again, take a look at your screen first.

This blood disorder is caused by a mosquitoes bite which transmits a parasite in a person's blood.

>> Malaria.

>> Malaria is correct.

The multiple form of this blood disorder is a cancer that begins in the plasma cells in bone marrow.

Name this disorder.

>> Leukemia.

>> Myeloma is the right answer.

There.

Try this one.

Name the medical term for blood poisoning.

>> Septicaemia.

>> Septicemia is the correct answer there.

If you suffer with this affliction, be careful not to cut yourself, since blood clotting is an issue.

>> Hemophilia?

>> Yes, hemophilia is correct.

And finally, often the sign of liver disease is caused by the presence of excess bile in the blood.

Yes.

That's right.

Nice.

East Hampton once again.

Your turn.

>> I will knock out the 30s with literature.

>> Okay.

Last of the 30s.

Here we go with your qualifying question.

Provide the final two words in the following quotation by L Frank Baum.

The road to the city of emeralds is paved with blank.

Blank?

>> With gold.

>> I'm sorry.

Time is up.

All right, Belchertown, can you capitalize?

>> Yellow bricks.

>> Yellow bricks is the right answer.

There for ten points each.

Let's move on.

In this category, we'll provide the author and the beginning of a quotation.

You provide the last words.

First up, the author is Douglas Adams.

The answer to the great question of life, the universe and everything is blank.

Blank.

>> 42.

>> 42 is right.

Shakespeare.

All that glisters is blank.

Blank.

>> Knuckles.

Knuckles.

knuckle.

>> Not gold.

>> Not gold is the right answer.

And finally, George Orwell.

It was a bright cold day in April and the clocks were blank.

>> Blank striking 13.

>> Yes.

That's right.

All right.

Belchertown, once again, your turn to pick a category and a point value.

>> Social studies for 25.

>> Social studies for 25.

Your qualifying question.

Created following the September 11th terrorist attacks in 2001, the US government agency TSA became a part of the Department of Homeland Security.

In that sentence, the letters TSA are an acronym for what?

>> Travel Safety Administration.

>> I'm sorry, that is incorrect.

Easthampton.

Can you capitalize?

>> Transport Security agency.

>> Transportation Security Administration is the right answer there.

Close on both accounts.

All right, let's move on now with Easthampton.

Once again, please pick a category and a point value.

>> World events for 25.

>> World events for 25.

Your qualifying question.

At the time of Neil Armstrong's step on the moon in July of 1969. Who was president of the United States?

>> Nixon.

>> Richard Nixon.

>> Yes, Richard Nixon is correct.

More with who was president when?

I'll name a historical event.

You tell me, who was the US president when that event happened?

For five points each, take a look at your screens.

First.

Who was president of the United States on September 25th, 1981, when Sandra Day O'Connor became the first female US Supreme Court justice.

>> Ronald Reagan?

>> Yes, Reagan is correct.

Who was president on January 15th, 1967, when the green Bay Packers won the first Super Bowl by defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 35 to 10.

>> Lyndon B Johnson.

>> Yes, Johnson is correct.

Who was president when Charles Lindbergh completed the first solo transatlantic flight on May 21st, 1927?

>> Calvin Coolidge?

>> Yes, Coolidge is correct.

Who was president when David Farragut became the first admiral in the US Navy on July 25th, 1866.

>> Grant.

>> Andrew Johnson is the right answer there.

Finally, let's do this one.

Who was president when Jeannette Rankin became the first woman elected to Congress on November 7th, 1916?

>> Oh, Woodrow Wilson.

>> Yes.

Nice job.

And that marks the end of our capitalization round.

Let's take a moment now to meet the team from Belchertown High School.

>> Hi, I'm Mackenzie Gaudet from Westfield State University.

We asked the team from Belchertown High what was the best part of your.

As schools match wits experience.

>> My favorite part has been getting here and eating donuts with my friends in a van.

>> The best part has been meeting with my team every week, and all the fun memories we've made watching matches and practicing.

>> Oh, probably.

My favorite part is seeing my friends and going to these tournaments and having fun.

>> I think my favorite part is the post-match Dunkin.

>> Let's move on 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 and answer correctly.

You win five points.

Answer incorrectly.

You know what happens.

Your team loses five points.

In this round.

We're going to wind up with words containing the letter sequence.

I'd somewhere in them, as in the word wind up.

You have 90s starting right now to tie up or fasten something.

Easthampton.

>> Fine.

>> Bind is correct.

A machine that generates power from air flow.

>> Easthampton wind turbine.

>> Windmill is the right answer to obtain money from fraudulent means.

Belchertown swindle is the right answer.

There a color shade of bluish violet.

Belchertown.

>> Indigo.

>> Indigo is correct.

New Delhi is its capital city.

East Hampton.

India.

India is right.

Discovering something you thought was lost.

Easthampton.

Find is right.

A sandwich, also called a hoagie or Easthampton grinder.

Grinder is correct to have many become gradually belchertown.

>> Dwindle.

>> Less until the little remains dwindle is right.

The outer skin of an orange Easthampton rind.

Rind is right to calm yourself down and be stress free.

Belchertown.

>> Unwind.

>> Unwind is right.

A scirocco is a Sahara type of this.

Belchertown.

Wind is the right answer.

Their gas engines in cars have four Easthampton.

>> Cylinder.

>> Cylinders.

Is right a considerate or helpful act.

Easthampton kind kindness is the right answer.

Mindful is also accepted.

A glass covered opening in a wall or door.

Belchertown window.

Window is right.

Name of the finger next to your thumb.

East Hampton.

>> Index.

>> Index is right, acting in a mean or inconsiderate way.

>> Easthampton unkind.

>> Unkind is right to formally charge one with a crime in writing.

Easthampton indict indict is write a notebook with rings to hold sheets of paper.

East Hampton.

>> Binder.

>> Binder is correct to repeal, annul or make void.

East Hampton or East Hampton did buzz in in time, did not answer in time.

The correct answer to that last question is rescind.

And that marks the end of our last lightning round.

It also marks the end of our first semifinal match.

What a great matchup we had tonight.

East Hampton with three seniors who I'm going to miss next year.

Congrats to you.

What a run that you have had.

The lightning rounds that you put up today.

Classic.

So congratulations to you for getting this far.

And again I'm going to miss you.

I expect to see number four next year.

All right, Belchertown, congratulations to you for moving on.

You are the winner tonight so we will be seeing you again.

Congrats on a job well done to see the season's roster.

And for more information, be sure to log on to our web page at npr.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 Longmeadow High School and Lenox Memorial High School.

That's next time when the playoffs continue on.

As schools match wits.

>> The members of the Massachusetts Teachers Association are working together to ensure that all students have the resources they need to succeed.

The MTA 180 years of commitment to the public, schools and colleges our communities deserve.