>> Join us tonight as Lee High School goes up against Belchertown 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.

>> 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, once again.

High schools from throughout our region are going head to head in qualifying matches to see who can score enough points to finish in the top eight and compete in this season's championship tournament.

In tonight's matchup, we have Lee High School going up against Belchertown High School.

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

>> Hi, my name is Sean Lindsey.

I'm a sophomore at Belchertown High School.

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

>> Hi.

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

>> Hi.

My name is Miles McNamara, and I'm a junior at Belchertown High School.

And I would like to acknowledge our alternates, Kian Lindsey and Braden Longe.

And for Lee High School, coached by Joshua Hall and Annie Fielding.

>> Hi.

My name is Tessa Linder, and I'm a senior at Lee Middleton High School.

Hi, I'm Lillian Reynolds, and I'm a senior from Lee Middle and high school.

>> Hi, I'm Valerie Merlino, and I'm a senior at Lee Middleton High School.

>> Hello, I am Andrew Hall and I'm a sophomore from Lee Milan High School.

Taking a look at our top eight score to beat tonight.

Is that 250 to crack into that number.

So here we go.

As we do each match we start off 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.

The first of this seven part book series began.

Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of number four, Belchertown.

Harry Potter.

Harry Potter.

Yes, that's right.

Grab your pens for this one.

A certain rectangle has an area of 126in .

If two sides of the rectangle are each 18in long, what is the length of each.

Seven inches.

Of the other two sides?

Yes, that is correct.

Try this one in what Marvel Comics superhero franchise will you find such characters as Cyclops, storm and Belchertown?

X-Men.

One X-Men.

Yes, that's right.

In choral music performances, the term a cappella involving involves singing without what?

Belchertown.

Instruments.

Instruments.

Yes.

That's correct.

On July 8th, 2021, the first direct observation of light from behind a black hole is reported confirming whose theory of general relativity.

Belchertown.

Einstein.

Albert.

Einstein.

Yes.

That's right.

In the human body, the pharynx is more commonly called the.

What?

Belchertown.

Voicebox.

I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

All right, Lee High school.

That gives you the chance to answer.

Thanks.

>> You're welcome.

The throat is the right answer there.

Let's move on to the next one.

Ratified on August 18th, 1920.

Which constitutional amendment granted women the right to vote?

Belchertown.

Repeat, please.

19th.

Yes, 19th is correct.

Pick up those pens.

If a single can of soda costs cost $0.75.

How much will it cost to buy four dozen cans of soda?

Belchertown.

36.

36 is right.

Complete the following relationship.

Columbia is to South Carolina.

As what capital city is to South Dakota?

Belcher.

Repeat, please.

Pierre.

Pierre.

Yes.

On February 20th, 1962, astronaut John Glenn became the first human to orbit.

What?

Belchertown.

The moon.

I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

Lee High school.

That gives you the opportunity to answer the question.

Just say something.

Mars.

Correct answer is the Earth.

Let's try this one.

A word commonly used to describe the quality of being able to comprehend what is obscure is the word discernment.

Spell the word discernment.

Belchertown.

D I s c e r n m e n t. Yes.

That's right.

In the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean, the Ganges River flows.

Into which body of water is it?

The Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal or the Gulf of Thailand?

Belchertown.

Bay of Bengal.

Yes.

That's right.

In ancient Greek religion and mythology, EOS is the goddess of what?

Is it the Belchertown?

Dawn?

The dawn?

Yes.

That's right.

Moving on.

On the periodic table.

What element?

And noble gas is designated with the letters a r. Belchertown.

Argon.

Argon?

Yes.

That's right.

The largest moon that orbits around Jupiter is also the largest moon.

Belchertown.

Repeat, please.

Ganymede.

Ganymede.

Yes.

That's correct.

Grab your pens once again.

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

If the first angle measures 36 degrees and the second measures 54 degrees.

Belchertown 90.

Yes.

That's correct.

Carnegie Mellon University can be found in which US state.

Belchertown, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania is correct.

A lamprey, spelled lamprey is a type of what is it, a bird, a fish, or a reptile?

Belchertown bird.

I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

Lee High school.

That gives you the chance to answer.

Fish.

Fish?

Yes.

That's right.

If you travel due north from Austin, Texas.

What is the first state border you'll cross?

Belchertown.

Oklahoma.

Oklahoma?

Yes.

That's right.

An EKG is a noninvasive test that measures the electrical activity of the heart.

The letters EKG are a medical abbreviation.

For what?

Electrocardiogram is the answer.

What?

Former general for the Union Army was sworn in on March 4th.

Grant.

Belchertown?

Yes, 1869.

That is correct.

Moving on.

You'll need those pens one more time.

What is the answer to this multiplication problem four times five times eight.

Belchertown 160.

160.

Yes.

That's correct.

Complete this line from Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice.

All that glitters is not Belchertown.

Gold.

Gold?

Yes.

That's right.

With what toy might you walk the dog, rock the baby or stop and go Belchertown.

Yo yo yo yo is correct.

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 Mackenzie Gaudet from Westfield State University.

We asked the team from Belchertown High School if you could swap lives with a teacher for a week.

Who would it be and why?

Probably my eighth grade Latin teacher, Miss Taravella.

Because he's a really nice guy.

I think I would swap lives with my seventh grade science teacher, Mr. Baker, because he's a really chill guy.

I would want to socialize with our coach, Mr. Vigneault, because then I could answer all the literature questions and I could coach this awesome team.

I would swap lives with my cross country coach, Mr. Wheeler, so that I could say my five-k time is faster than it is.

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, there's nothing magic about this round.

Each of the following clues leads to a word or phrase which begins with the letter M, as in magic.

You have 90s starting right now.

A large enclosed shopping complex.

Belchertown mall.

Mall is right small tubular pasta made from wheat flour.

Lee.

Macaroni.

Macaroni is correct.

A large long tailed parrot.

Belchertown.

Macau.

Macau is right.

The element whose symbol is milligram.

Belchertown.

Magnesium.

Magnesium is the right answer.

A type A type of periodical publication.

Belchertown magazine magazine is right.

Adjective meaning gruesome or horrifying.

Belchertown.

Morbid.

Macabre is the right answer.

A treatment for the Hands and fingernails.

Li.

Manicure.

Manicure is correct.

Artwork made by weaving and knotting.

Cord or thread.

Belchertown.

Mosaic.

Macrame is the right answer.

Profession for building with bricks or stone.

Belchertown mason.

Mason is right.

Waterside facility for mooring boats.

Belchertown Marina.

Marina.

Marina is correct.

A dark reddish brown color.

Li.

Maroon.

Maroon is right.

You might cover your face with one on Halloween.

Belchertown, mass.

Mask is right.

Worm like larvae of various flies.

Belchertown.

Maggot.

Maggot is right.

Blank space bordering the sides of written pages.

Li.

Margin.

Margin is right.

Having reached full growth or development.

Li o.

Maturity.

Mature is the right answer there.

One who is in charge of a sports team.

Belchertown's.

Manager.

Manager is correct.

Container for depositing stamped letters are correct.

Answer.

There is mailbox.

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

Let's move on now with the capitalization round, 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.

All right.

At the moment, Lee is behind also means you get the first opportunity to pick a category and a point value.

What's it going to be?

Okay.

For 15.

13.

Okay.

All right.

For how much though?

15.

15.

Okay.

General knowledge for 15, please.

Much debate on that one.

All right.

General knowledge for 15.

Here we go with your qualifying question.

If three polynomials one of degree five, one of degree seven, and one of degree eight are added together, what is the degree of the resulting polynomial?

20.

I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

Belchertown, can you capitalize?

Eight.

Eight.

Yes, that is correct.

Let's move on in this category.

Time for true or false mathematics.

I'll give you a statement pertaining to basic mathematics.

You tell me whether it's true or false for five points each.

First, a degree seven polynomial with real rational coefficients must have at least one real root.

That's true.

True.

True.

True.

Yes.

That's correct.

There are only a finite number of transcendental numbers.

False.

False is correct.

And finally, all non-horizontal straight line functions are also 1 to 1.

False.

Correct answer actually is true.

All right.

Belchertown.

Your turn.

First time of the evening.

Please pick a category and a point value.

Math and science for 30.

Math and science for 30.

Your qualifying question.

Grab your pens and take a look at your screen to qualify.

What are the coordinates of the midpoint of the line segment joining the points?

Negative one two and 34313.

Yes that's correct.

Moving on.

More midpoint problems for ten points each.

Take a look at your screen.

First up find the midpoint of the line segment connecting the points seven, four and three.

Negative four.

5050.

Is correct.

Here's the next one.

Find the midpoint of the line segment, joining points x, y and 3XY2XY2XY is correct.

And finally try this.

If m is the midpoint of line segment AB and the coordinates of A are three three, what are the coordinates of point B1111?

Yes.

Very nice job, Lee High School.

Once again, please pick a category and a point.

Value.

Arts number.

Arts and entertainment for 30.

Arts and entertainment for 30 to qualify.

Based on the book by Peter Brown with the same name, this 2024 animated movie had the following tagline.

After a shipwreck, an intelligent robot called Roz is stranded on an uninhabited island named the Movie.

Uh, The Wild Robot.

Yes, that's correct.

Let's move on.

More classic books that have been made into movies for ten points each.

Take a look at your screen.

First released in 2021, the first of two films based on the 1965 epic science fiction novel by Frank Herbert features the characters Paul and Lady Jessica Atreides.

Name the book or film series Dune.

Dune.

Yes, that's right.

Starting in 2012, no less than five films have been based on this book series by Suzanne Collins, and a sixth is planned for 2026.

Name this book and film series.

Hunger games.

Hunger games Yes, that's right.

And finally, based on the 1952 novel of the same name, this 2006 live action with CGI movie adaptation features such characters as Fern, arable, Wilbur, and Templeton.

Name this book and film Charlotte's Web.

Yes, you are correct.

Very nice job Belchertown.

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

Social studies for 30.

Social studies for 30.

We have a video qualifier.

Please take a look at your screens.

>> Hi, I'm Gene Cassidy, president and CEO of the Eastern States Exposition.

With your qualifying question, the Avenue of States hosts replicas of each New England states original state house.

The first state to finish their building was Massachusetts in 1919.

To qualify, name the other five states that make up New England.

Okay.

Okay.

Okay.

So Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Yes, you are correct.

Let's see what you know about the states of New England for ten points each as we move on in this category.

First, this state was not a part of the original 13 United States in 1776, but it did gain statehood as the 14th state in 1791.

Vermont.

Vermont.

Yes.

That's correct.

Which of the following New England Puritans was banished from Massachusetts and founded the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in 1636.

Was it John Winthrop, Roger Williams, or William Bradford?

Roger Williams, Roger Williams.

Yes, that's right.

Finally try this.

Which of the six New England states was the last to gain statehood?

In 1820, as part of the Missouri Compromise?

Maine.

Maine?

Yes.

That's correct.

Lee.

Once again, please pick a category and a point.

Value literature for 30.

Literature for 30 qualifying question.

In his poem Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, this American poet finished the piece with this line the woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.

Name the poet.

Robert Frost.

I'm sorry.

Time is up.

Belchertown.

Can you capitalize?

Frost.

Yes.

You're correct.

More from American Poetry.

I'll read an excerpt from a famous American poem.

You tell me the name of the poet for ten points each.

Take a look at your screen first.

Is there.

Is there balm in Gilead?

Tell me, tell me, I implore, quoth the Raven.

Nevermore.

Poe.

Edgar Allen Poe is correct.

Let's try this one.

The caged bird sings with fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still.

And his tune is heard on the distant hill.

For the caged bird sings of freedom.

Angela.

Yes.

That's correct.

And finally, hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words.

And never stops at all.

Dickinson.

Emily.

Dickinson.

Yes.

That's correct.

Belchertown.

Once again, please pick a category and a point.

Value.

World events for 30.

World events for 30.

Your qualifying question.

Because no candidate in the US presidential election of 1824 received a majority of electoral votes, the decision was rendered by what?

Governing body?

As specified by the 12th Constitutional Amendment.

The House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives is correct.

Let's move on.

More about the presidential election of 1824 for ten points each.

Take a look at your screen first.

Despite winning the popular vote and electoral vote, this man who later became the seventh president failed to win.

Name him.

Jackson.

Please be more specific.

Andrew Jackson.

Yes, that is correct.

Surprisingly, this speaker of the House and three time presidential candidate also failed to win.

Name him Henry.

Clay.

No, no.

Henry Clay.

Henry Clay is correct.

Finally, the House of Representatives chose this man as the winner.

Name him.

John Quincy Adams.

Yes, you are correct.

Lee High school, once again, please pick a category and a point value.

Arts and entertainment for 25.

Arts and entertainment for 25.

Your qualifying question.

The word gouache spelled g o u a c h e is most closely related to which of these art forms.

Is it music?

Dancing, painting or sculpture?

Painting?

Yes, painting is correct.

More terms from the art world.

Tell me which art form is most closely associated with the words I give?

For ten points each, please take a look at your screen first.

Allegro.

Spelled a l l e g r o dancing.

The correct answer actually is music.

Let's try this one.

Marquette.

Spelled m a q u e t t e. Sculpture.

Yes.

That's correct.

And finally, for five points.

Chiaroscuro spelled c h I a r o s c u r o.

Dancing.

Right.

So dancing.

I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

Painting is the right answer there.

And that marks the end of our capitalization round.

Let's take a minute now to meet the team from Lee High School.

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

We asked the team from Lee High School if you woke up as the principal.

What's the first rule you'd change?

I think if I woke up as the principal, I would try to make it easier for kids to take more arts classes.

So, like be able to take a band class and an art class at the same time.

If I was the principal, I would change the cell phone ban.

I would change it so that students could use their cell phones, but understand why they really shouldn't and be paying attention to classes instead.

If I was the principal, I would prioritize juniors and seniors scheduling so that they can get the classes they need to set them up for success in college.

I probably enforce a strict dress code because there are some people that come to school in the winter in shorts and other weather.

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.

You know how this works.

Buzz in and answer correctly.

You win five points.

Answer incorrectly.

You lose five points.

Well, this round might be a bit of a brain drain.

All of the answers in this round rhyme with the words brain and drain.

You have 90s starting right now to define and make comprehensible.

Belchertown.

Explain.

Explain is correct.

A small, hard particle like sand.

Belchertown.

Grain.

Grain is right.

A series of metal links connected to one another.

Belchertown chain.

Chain is correct.

Thomas the tank is one.

Belchertown train.

Train is right to keep something in one's possession.

Belchertown.

Maintain.

Retain is the right answer.

They're a type of lettuce with long leaves.

La romaine.

Romaine is correct.

U.S. state known as the Pine Tree State.

Belchertown, Maine.

Maine is right to keep yourself from doing something.

Belchertown.

Refrain.

Refrain is correct.

The pen name of Samuel Clemens.

Belchertown.

Mark Twain.

Mark Twain is correct.

A native or inhabitant of Denmark.

Belchertown.

Dane Dane is right.

A tall wading bird resembling a heron.

Belchertown.

Crane.

Crane is correct to express displeasure about something.

Belchertown.

Complain, complain.

Complain is correct.

A wet form of precipitation.

Lee.

Rain.

Rain.

Yes.

That's correct.

Vessel returning.

Used blood to the heart.

Belchertown.

Vein.

Vein is right.

A relatively narrow way or tract.

Belchertown.

Lane.

Lane is right to pretend or present a false appearance.

Lee.

Maintain.

Feign is the right answer there.

Sheet glass cut for windows and doors.

Belchertown.

Pain.

Pain is right.

A country on the Iberian Peninsula.

Correct answer is Spain.

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

It also marks the end of our match.

What a great job by both teams tonight.

Lee high school, strong work.

Sometimes teams just get on a roll.

And I have to say Belchertown High School.

That team tonight is you.

You are now first place on our list of eight getting to that championship tournament.

So we shall see what happens for the rest of this season.

But congrats to you tonight for a job well done.

To see this 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 next time 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 on.

We drop this beat like.

Drop like that.

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 at 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.

>> You can see the difference from the first couple of minutes that you walk onto this campus.

You realize that it's not just the campus.

It's a community.

It's a family.