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

The historic 65th 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.

>> Westfield State University has allowed me to grow and pursue my passion to become a neurologist.

I think the quality of education is invaluable.

>> 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 the 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.

The semifinals begin tonight.

As you can see, Conard High, East, Longmeadow High School, Suffield High and Belchertown High School have moved on to the semifinals.

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

Let's meet the teams starting with Belchertown, coached by Steve Venue.

>> Hi, I'm Brandon Longe, I'm a sophomore from Belcher High School.

>> Hi, I'm Shawn Lindsey, a junior from Belchertown High School.

>> I'm Naveen Berryhill and I'm a junior at Belchertown High School.

>> Hi, I'm Miles McNamara, a senior from Belchertown High.

>> And for Conard, coached by Doctor Bonnie Mayer.

>> Hi.

My name is Mimi Dolan and I'm a senior at Conard High.

Hi.

My name is Eleanor Hite and I'm a senior at Conard High.

>> Hi.

My name is William Hite and I'm a freshman from Conard High School.

>> Hello, my name is Hannah and I'm a senior at Conard High.

>> 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.

Good luck to both teams.

Here we go with the first question of the evening.

Which of the following Southeast Asian countries does not border Cambodia, Thailand, Laos or Singapore?

>> Belchertown, Singapore.

>> Singapore is correct.

Name the capital city of the state of Florida.

Conard.

>> Tallahassee.

>> Tallahassee is correct in the human body, the epiglottis, spelled EPIGLOTTIS, belongs to which of the following.

>> Conard the digestive.

>> I'm sorry, that is incorrect.

Let me finish.

The question belongs to which of the following human body systems the lymphatic system, the nervous system or the respiratory system?

All right.

Belchertown, can you answer?

>> Respiratory system.

>> Which of the following three digit numbers is a prime number?

335, 347 or 357.

Belchertown 350.

>> 4347.

>> Yes.

That's right.

Complete the name of this novel by Douglas Adams, the The Hitchhiker's Guide.

>> To the Galaxy.

>> Yes, that is correct.

Nice job.

In which of the world's oceans will you find the island of Tahiti?

>> Conard Pacific.

>> Pacific Pacific is correct?

Yes.

Listen to the sentence.

The ambulance driver contacted the hospital and gave her ETA.

>> Estimated time of arrival.

>> Is what that stands for.

Yes.

That's right.

In what sport would you would the words bunker rough and green be used?

Conard.

>> Golf.

>> Golf is correct.

Grab your pens.

What is the measure of the third angle of a triangle?

If one angle measures 35 degrees, the other 40 degrees.

>> Belchertown 595105.

>> 105.

>> Yes, that is correct.

Through the end of 2025, who was the Chief Justice of the U.S.

Supreme Court?

>> Belchertown John Roberts?

>> John Roberts is correct.

What is the middle name of Edgar Burroughs?

Conard.

>> Oh crap.

I don't know, Smith.

>> I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

Let me finish the question.

What is the middle name of Edgar Burroughs?

He is the author of the novel Tarzan of the apes.

All right.

Belchertown, can you answer?

Wayne Rice is the right answer there.

Let's move on to the next one.

The Battle of Guadalcanal took place during, what, 20th century war?

Conard.

>> Uh, world War two, correct?

>> If you were involved in a kerfuffle spelled Conard.

>> Do you know how spelled kerfuffle go?

You be involved in a problem?

KERFUFFLEE.

>> Judges, please.

I'm sorry, that is incorrect.

Let me finish the rest of the question.

It is spelled as you were starting to say, KERFUFFLE.

The question, however, is would you most likely be involved in a road race, a commotion or an eating contest or a Belchertown?

Can you answer?

>> Commotion?

>> Yes, that is correct.

Moving on to the next one.

In the metric system, 4000g is equivalent to how many kilograms?

Conard?

>> Four.

>> Yes.

That's right.

Which of the following chemical elements on the periodic table has the lowest atomic number?

Conard.

>> Hydrogen.

>> I'm sorry, that is incorrect.

Let me finish the question.

Is it copper, potassium or tungsten?

Belchertown.

Can you answer.

>> Potassium.

>> A person who expects strict obedience to his or her authority is called an authoritarian Belchertown a UTHORITARIAN.

You guessed it right.

We're asking to spell the word authoritarian.

Nice job.

Name the English author of the 1847 Belchertown.

>> George Orwell.

>> That is incorrect.

Let me finish the question of the 1847 novel Jane Eyre.

Conard, can you answer Charlotte Bronte?

Yes, that is correct.

What is the name of the capital city of the Asian nation of Lebanon?

Belchertown.

>> Beirut.

>> Beirut is right.

Listen very carefully.

If there are 100cm in a single meter, how many square meters are there in Conard?

>> Uh, would be 10,000 or 1000?

Ten.

10,000.

>> I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

Let me finish the question.

How many square meters are there in five square meters?

Belchertown.

Can you answer.

>> 30,000?

>> 50,000?

>> Yes.

That's right.

Faraday's first law of electrolysis states the amount of substance liberated at an electrode is directly proportional to the quantity of what passed Belchertown.

>> Quantity of charge.

Charge.

>> I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

Konrad, can you answer?

>> Electric field.

Electric field.

>> Electricity is the answer that we're looking for.

And that marks the end of our challenge round.

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

>> Hi, I'm McKenzie from Westfield State University.

We asked our semifinalists what has been the best part of your as schools match wits experience?

>> The best experience this year has been working with such a great team.

>> I've enjoyed eating donuts on the van on the way here with my friends.

>> Probably, uh, being part of this team.

It's fun to go to practices and tournaments with them going to Dunkin after every win.

>> We have a close match.

So let's move on to the first lightning round of the evening.

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.

Your team loses five points.

We are off to college for this one.

Tell me in which U.S.

state each of the following colleges or universities reside.

You have 90s starting right now.

Brown University.

>> Rhode Island.

>> Yes, that's right, Colby College, Belchertown, Maine.

Maine is correct.

Vassar College, New York, new York is right.

Wellesley College, Belchertown.

Massachusetts is the right answer.

Brigham Young University.

>> Utah.

>> Utah is correct.

Try Furman.

Belchertown.

>> West Virginia.

>> South Carolina is the right answer.

Carnegie Mellon University.

>> Pennsylvania is right.

Grinnell College.

Belchertown.

>> Virginia.

>> Iowa is the right answer.

Middlebury College.

Conard.

>> Connecticut.

>> Vermont is the right answer.

Rice University.

Belchertown.

Texas is right.

Dartmouth.

College.

>> New Hampshire.

>> New Hampshire is correct.

University of Notre.

>> Illinois.

>> Indiana is the right answer.

Bowdoin.

Maine.

Maine is correct.

Try.

>> California.

>> California is right.

Vanderbilt.

>> Tessy.

>> Tennessee is correct.

Bryn.

Mawr College.

Conard.

>> Pennsylvania.

>> That is correct.

Try the United States Naval.

Academy.

Maryland is.

Right.

Smith.

College.

Conard.

>> Massachusetts.

>> Yes.

That is correct.

Oberlin.

College.

Conard.

>> Uh, new York.

>> Ohio is the right answer.

Wake forest University.

Belchertown.

>> Pennsylvania.

>> North Carolina is the right answer.

Harvey Mudd College.

Belchertown.

>> California.

>> Yes.

That's right.

Ah!

That bell marks the end of our first lightning round.

We 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.

If they fail to answer that qualifying question correctly, their opponents will have the opportunity to capitalize and get those points.

Well, at the moment, Connor, you are a bit behind, but just by a few points.

That also means you get the first opportunity to pick a category and a point value.

What's it going to be?

>> Math and science for 30.

>> Math and science for 30.

Familiar theme with Conard High School.

Let's move on to the qualifying question.

Take a look at your screen.

Add the polynomial five x squared plus six x plus 15 to the polynomial seven x squared minus four x minus six and give your answer in standard form.

>> 12 x squared plus two x minus nine.

>> I'm sorry, that is incorrect.

Belchertown.

Can you capitalize.

>> 12.

>> X squared plus two x plus nine.

>> Plus nine is the right answer.

So close Conard, but Belchertown, this one goes to you.

Let's move on.

In this category.

More basic algebra for ten points each.

Take a look at your screen for each of the following questions.

First, multiply the quantity x plus eight by the quantity x minus seven and give your answer in standard form.

>> X squared plus x -56.

>> Yes that's right.

Let's move on to the next one.

Subtract the polynomial seven x squared plus 13 x minus three from the polynomial nine x squared plus 12 x plus 14.

Give your answer in standard form.

>> Two x squared minus x plus 17.

>> Yes that's right.

And finally, try this one.

What is the remainder when the polynomial two x squared minus three x plus nine is divided by the quantity x minus one.

>> Five x minus five.

>> I have to take the first answer I heard, which was x minus five.

Correct answer is however a nice job on the other ones though.

Okay Belchertown, your turn.

First time of the evening to please pick a category and a point value.

>> Social studies for 30.

>> Social studies for 30.

To qualify, you have picked a 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.

Here we go.

Take a look at your screen.

This United States president served from 1850 to 1853 and was the last president to represent the Whig political party.

Name him.

>> Fillmore.

>> Yes, Fillmore is correct.

Let's move on.

Democrat or Republican, all name a U.S.

president.

You tell me if his party affiliation was Democrat or Republican for ten points each.

Take a look at your screen first.

Calvin Coolidge.

>> Republican.

>> Republican is right next.

Andrew Johnson.

>> Democrat.

>> Democrat is right.

And finally, how about Woodrow Wilson?

>> Democrat?

>> Yes, Democrat is right.

Congratulations.

Clean sweep.

You have won the Westfield State University entrance exam.

That means your team wins an additional ten points.

All right, let's move on with Conard.

Once again, it's your turn to pick a category and a point.

>> Value literature for 30.

>> Literature for 30.

Your qualifying question in the popular trilogy of books by Suzanne Collins.

Which book comes last?

Mockingjay, The Hunger Games or Catching Fire?

>> Mockingjay, Mockingjay?

>> Mockingjay?

Yes, that's right, let's move on.

I'll list three of the books from a popular book series.

You give me the name of the series for ten points each.

Here's the first one.

The Two Towers, The Return of the King, or The fellowship of the ring.

>> Lord of the rings.

>> Lord of the rings.

Yes, that's right, new moon eclipse and breaking Dawn.

>> Twilight.

>> Twilight.

>> Yes, that is correct.

And finally, clockwork Angel, Clockwork Prince, and Clockwork Princess.

>> What is this one?

Um.

Divergent.

>> The Infernal Devices is the right answer there.

Nice job on the other ones.

Belchertown.

Please pick a category and a point value.

>> World events for 30.

>> World events for 30.

Here's your qualifying question which is a video qualifying question.

So please take a look at your screen.

>> I'm Doctor Linda Thompson, president of Westfield State University.

With your qualifying question.

Yousuf Karsh was a famous 20th century photographer known for his portraits of notable worldwide individuals, such as this 1990 portrait of a former African activist and political prisoner turned South African president to qualify.

Name this man.

>> A Nelson Mandela.

>> Nelson Mandela.

Yes, that's right.

More of Yousuf Karsh.

His famous portraits photo portraits for ten points each.

Take a look at your screen first.

Karsh's 1941 photo of this British prime minister famously appeared on the cover of life magazine in 1945.

Name him.

>> Winston Churchill.

>> Winston Churchill yes, that's right, Karsh took this photo of this German born physicist in 1948, while the scientist was at Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study.

Name him.

>> Albert Einstein.

>> Yes, that's correct.

And finally, the 20th century American writer who was known as Papa, is shown here in a famous 1957 photo by Karsh.

Name the author.

>> Hemingway.

>> Yes, that is correct.

Okay, Konrad, once again, your turn.

>> Arts and entertainment for 30.

>> Arts and entertainment for 30.

To qualify, take a look at your screens.

This self portrait was created by what Post-Impressionist painter known for his emotional, symbolic use of vibrant color and dramatic swirling brushwork.

>> Bingo.

Bingo.

>> Yes, Vincent van Gogh is correct.

Let's move on.

In this category, let's see if you can recognize more self-portraits from famous artists for ten points each.

Take a look at your screen first.

This artist is most noted for his classic painting called Mona Lisa in the early 1500s.

Name this painter.

>> Leonardo da Vinci.

Leonardo da Vinci.

>> Of course, that is correct.

Superflat is a post-modern art movement influenced by manga and anime.

It was founded by this Japanese contemporary artist.

Name this artist.

>> Yagasaki.

>> Correct answer is Takashi Murakami.

And finally, this American artist is regarded by some as the most important artist of the second half of the 20th century.

His work spanned various media, including painting, film making, and photography.

Name this artist.

>> Warhol.

Warhol.

>> Belchertown.

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

>> Math and science for 25.

>> Math and science for 25 to qualify.

Take a look at your screen.

Found in fruits and honey.

This simple sugar.

Whose molecular formula is shown.

Here is the major free sugar circulating in the blood of humans.

>> Name it glucose.

>> Glucose.

Yes.

That's right.

The generic term sugar refers to any of numerous sweet, colorless water soluble compounds, all named the common names for a certain type of sugar for five points each.

Take a look at your screen and please provide the scientific name first.

>> Fructose.

Fructose.

>> Fructose is correct.

Wood or straw?

Sugar.

>> Cellulose.

Xylos.

>> Xylos is correct.

Try.

>> Sucrose.

>> Sucrose is correct.

How about malt sugar?

>> Maltose.

>> Maltose is correct.

And finally, how about milk?

Sugar?

>> Lactose.

>> Okay, Konrad, once again, your turn.

>> Literature for 25.

>> Literature for 25 to qualify.

Set in Mississippi, this classic William Faulkner novel describes the decay and fall of the aristocratic Compson family.

Name the novel maybe epsilon.

>> Epsilon or light in August.

As I lay dying.

>> I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

Belchertown.

Can you capitalize?

>> Absalom, Absalom.

>> The sound and the fury is the right answer there.

Let's move on once again with Belchertown.

Your turn.

>> Social studies for 25.

>> Social studies for 25 to qualify.

The equator passes through all of the following countries except which one?

Venezuela.

Indonesia or Colombia.

>> Venezuela.

>> In this category, here are several more countries which do not lie on the equator for five points each.

Tell me whether the country lies north or south of that imaginary line.

Here's the first one.

New Zealand.

>> South.

>> South.

>> South is correct.

The Philippines.

>> I think.

>> North north is correct.

>> Nigeria North.

>> North.

>> North is right.

Paraguay South south is correct.

And finally, how about Angola?

>> South.

>> South is right?

Yes.

Konrad.

Once again, pick a category and a point value.

>> General knowledge for 30.

>> Last of the 30s.

Here we go with your qualifying question.

Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity that crosses biology and sociology.

Spell the word anthropology.

>> Anthropology a NTHROPOLOGY.

Anthropology.

>> Yes, that's right.

Let's move on.

More with science and spelling for ten points each.

The earliest period of the Stone age, the Paleolithic, was marked by the use of simple tools and a minimally structured society of hunter gatherers.

Spell the word Paleolithic.

>> A PALEOLITHIC.

>> Yes, that's right.

The middle Stone age, or Mesolithic period, was a transitional phase with finer, more specialized tools.

Let's check your spelling once again, and please spell the word Mesolithic.

>> I think it's with an S. Um, MESOLITHIC.

>> Yes.

That's correct.

And finally, the new stain age or Neolithic period was the final stage marked by the development of agricultural settlements, settled villages, and more advanced polished stone tools.

Let's try spelling once again.

Spell the word Neolithic.

>> NEOLITHIC.

>> Great job on spelling.

Yes, you are correct.

And that marks the end of our capitalization round.

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

>> Hi, I'm McKenzie from Westfield State University.

We asked our semifinalists what has been the best part of your as schools match wits experience?

>> Uh, learning a lot of new knowledge and also feeling accomplished.

Getting questions right on TV.

It's been fun practicing.

>> With my team and being on TV.

>> I enjoy the competition and I, um, I like being with my teammates and coming here to be on TV.

>> Um, my favorite part of my as schools match wits experience is I really like picking out a fun cardigan every time.

And I really like to hang out with my teammates.

>> Moving 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.

Here's how it works.

Buzz in and answer correctly.

You win five points.

Answer incorrectly.

You lose five points.

It's a bird bonanza.

In this round, each correct answer will be a type of bird or the name of a famous bird character.

You have 90s starting right now.

Plumed bird on NBC's Belchertown.

>> Peacock.

>> Peacock is correct.

Bird made famous in a Harper Lee title.

>> Conrad Mockingbird.

>> Mockingbird is right.

Name the NHL team from Detroit Red wings.

Yes, that's right.

Large seabird from the rhyme of Conrad albatross.

Ancient Mariner.

Serial pedaling bird that follows his nose.

Belchertown.

>> Vulture.

>> Toucan Sam is the right answer for.

And 20 of these birds were baked in a pie.

Conrad.

>> Pheasants.

>> Blackbirds is the right answer.

Donald.

Darkwing and Daffy.

Belchertown.

Duck!

Duck is correct.

Bird.

Who thought the sky was falling?

Conrad.

>> Chicken little.

>> Yes, that's correct.

Bird perpetually chased by Wile E coyote.

>> Belchertown road.

Roadrunner.

>> Roadrunner is right.

NFL team from Philadelphia.

Belchertown.

>> Flyers.

>> Eagles is the right answer.

Burt.

Bob bobbing along in song.

Conrad.

>> Blackbird.

>> Red Robin is the right answer.

Bird often associated with acts of peace.

Belchertown.

>> Dove.

>> Dove is right.

What's the name of the NBA team from New Orleans?

Belchertown.

>> Pelicans.

>> Pelicans is correct.

Bird associated with delivering babies.

Connor.

>> Stork.

>> Stork is correct.

It's the state bird of Maryland.

Belchertown.

>> Raven.

>> Baltimore oriole is the right answer.

What the ugly duckling grew up to be.

Connor Goose Swan is the right answer.

NBA team from Atlanta.

Belchertown.

Hawks.

Hawks is right.

The flightless bird from Alice in Wonderland is the Dodo.

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

It also marks the end of our match.

What a great way to start our semifinals.

Can I say a word quickly about Conard?

First year with as schools match wits, they made it to the semifinals.

That is no small feat.

So congratulations to you.

I mean, wow, what what a first season that you have had.

So I'm hoping and we will see you back.

So thank you so much.

Tonight's match up, however, goes to the defending champs Belchertown High School.

Now let's take a look at our bracket to see what comes next.

Belchertown.

Waiting to see the outcome of number two East Longmeadow versus number three Suffield High School and to see the season's roster.

And for more information, be sure to log on to our web page@nepm.org, or you can look for us on Facebook and Instagram.

I'm your host, Beth Ward.

Good night.

And be sure to stay tuned because coming up next, just next, keep your popcorn.

Keep Your Seat is the second semifinal match between East Longmeadow High School and Suffield High School.

Stay right where you are.

That is next 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.

>> To excel is to recognize that you want to continue to grow and transform and evolve into a better person.

Westfield state is a fit for me because it's a campus that's big enough to host a community in which I can get to know different kinds of people.

>> The impact I want to leave at Westfield State is to be a leader, to get involved.

Each person has their own excellence.

>> Hold up.

Drop this.

Beat like.

Drop like.

>> Do you want to see when your school's match is scheduled?

Want to know who the past ASM champions are?

Have a question you'd like to see us ask?

Then log on to the.

As Schools match wits web page@npr.org.

You can see this season's roster, a listing of past ASM champions and even submit a question of your own, which may be used in a future episode.

It's all just a mouse click away.