JOE HANSON: Major funding for "High School Quiz Show" is provided by Safety Insurance.

It's the semifinals, with Buckingham Browne and Nichols School... (cheers and applause) ...taking on Mansfield High School.

(cheers and applause) That's next on "High School Quiz Show."

(cheers and applause) ♪ ♪ (cheers and applause) Hi, everybody, and welcome to "High School Quiz Show."

I'm Joe Hanson, your host.

The competition is getting tighter and tighter, and today, we head into the semifinals with Buckingham Browne and Nichols from Cambridge and their neighbor to the south, Mansfield.

We start, as always, with the toss-up round.

All answers are worth ten points.

There are no point deductions for wrong answers.

And players, you may confer.

Okay, teams, if you're ready, good luck.

Here we go.

With the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, the 13 American colonies severed their political connections to Great Britain on July 4 of what year?

Andreas.

- 1776.

HANSON: Correct.

Beginning in 1850 and ending in 1864, the Taiping Rebellion was a failed attempt to overthrow the Qing dynasty in what country?

You-Yan.

- China.

HANSON: Yes.

In 2025, the U.S.

government asked a judge to break up what tech company by forcing it to sell its popular Chrome web browser?

Shreyas.

- Google.

HANSON: Yes.

Galaxies are classified into four main shapes: elliptical, lenticular, irregular, and spiral.

Which type is the Milky Way galaxy?

Soham.

- Spiral.

HANSON: Yes.

For our next question, take a look at your monitors.

Pictured here is a lion named Tryggve.

He lives in what national park in Tanzania known for having one of the world's largest annual animal migrations?

Andreas.

- Serengeti.

HANSON: Serengeti National Park is right.

In "The Devil Wears Prada 2," what celebrated American actress reprises her role as fictional fashion editor Miranda Priestly?

Andreas.

- Hathaway.

HANSON: No-- Mansfield, you have a chance.

Soham.

- Meryl Streep.

HANSON: Meryl Streep is right.

What best-selling novel by Shelby Van Pelt tells the story of a widow who forms an unlikely friendship with Marcellus, a surprisingly intelligent octopus?

Dean.

- "My Octopus Friends."

HANSON: No-- Mansfield, you have a chance.

Patrick.

- "My Octopus Teacher."

HANSON: No.

(laughter) That novel is "Remarkably Bright Creatures."

The Triple Crown of Motorsport is the Monaco Grand Prix, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and what American event?

Shreyas.

- The Daytona 500.

HANSON: No-- BB&N, you have a chance.

You-Yan.

- The Indy 500.

HANSON: The Indianapolis 500 is right.

The fictional sea chantey "Dead Man's Chest," also known as "Yo, Ho, Ho, and a Bottle of Rum," is from what adventure novel by Robert Louis Stevenson?

Andreas.

- "Treasure Island."

HANSON: Yes.

Our next question comes from a special guest.

Take a look at your monitors.

Hi, I'm Senator Warren.

So, congratulations to all the teams competing in this season of "High School Quiz Show."

Now, my dog Bailey often accompanies me on the campaign trail, and he's become a bit of a celebrity, with his own Wikipedia page and his own Instagram account.

So I have a question about dogs.

One of the few breeds to have originated in the United States, what cross between the English bulldog and the English terrier is the official state dog of Massachusetts?

HANSON: Josh.

- The Boston terrier.

HANSON: Boston terrier is right.

Appointed U.S.

attorney general by his brother in 1960, who led the Justice Department to fight organized crime and work for civil rights for African Americans?

You-Yan.

- Robert F. Kennedy.

HANSON: That's right.

Which biome is the most diverse, having the greatest number of species of plants and animals: temperate forest, tropical rainforest, or savanna?

Shreyas - Tropical rainforest.

HANSON: Correct.

Which U.S.

state is known as "the Hawkeye State," possibly as a tribute to Chief Black Hawk?

Josh - Ohio.

HANSON: No-- BB&N, you have a chance.

You-Yan.

- Iowa.

HANSON: Iowa is right.

Newcomer Owen Cooper won an Emmy for his role as a 13-year-old British boy arrested for murder in what Netflix series that unfolds in real time over four episodes, filmed as a single, continuous take?

You-Yan.

- "Adolescence."

HANSON: Yes.

In Greek tragedies, what six-letter word refers to the extreme pride that ultimately brings about the hero's downfall?

Andreas - Hubris.

HANSON: Yes.

We are off to a great start.

Let's take a moment to thank the folks who make "High School Quiz Show" possible.

Major funding for "High School Quiz Show" is provided by Safety Insurance.

- Welcome to another edition of New England Survivalists, the game we all get to play.

You can ask an independent agent about Safety Insurance and learn more at the resource center at SafetyInsurance.com.

♪ ♪ HANSON: Additional funding is provided by the Museum of Science.

- Curiosity runs wild at the Museum of Science, Boston.

Feel the power of indoor lightning, see robots dance and navigate obstacles, and meet Cliff, a 65-million-year-old Triceratops.

Unleash your curiosity.

Tickets available at mos.org/fun.

(cheers and applause) HANSON: Welcome back.

The score is BB&N with 90 points.

Mansfield has 50.

Now let's get back to the game.

The social world of honeybees is divided into queens, workers, and what third caste?

Andreas - Drones.

HANSON: Yes.

Birmingham, Alabama, is home to the world's largest cast-iron statue.

The 56-foot-tall statue depicts what Roman god of fire?

Soham.

- Hephaestus.

HANSON: No-- BB&N, you have a chance.

Alec.

- Festa.

HANSON: No, we are looking for Vulcan.

Vulcan is the Roman god of fire.

Under the U.S.

Constitution, which of the following has the sole power to bring impeachment charges against a federal official: the Supreme Court, the House of Representatives, or the Senate?

Andreas.

- The House of Representatives.

HANSON: Yes.

Protesting Hollywood's treatment of Native Americans, Marlon Brando declined the Oscar for his role as Vito Corleone in what 1972 film?

Patrick.

- "The Godfather."

HANSON: Yes.

Football coaches can strategically use timeouts to manage the clock, stop momentum, or avoid penalties like delay of game.

In the NFL, each team gets how many timeouts per half?

Shreyas.

- Three.

HANSON: Yes.

With catchphrases like (in accent): "Piper, no!

", what actress became a viral sensation for her exaggerated accent as a Southern matriarch on season three of "The White Lotus"?

Patrick.

- Parker Posey.

HANSON: Yes.

Sorry for the impression, Parker.

(laughter) One of the longest and bloodiest battles of World War I, the Battle of Verdun took place in which country?

Patrick.

- France.

HANSON: Yes.

The main venue for the Australian Open is named after what tennis icon, the only man to win a calendar Grand Slam twice, in 1962 and 1969?

Shreyas.

- Rod Laver.

HANSON: Yes.

Which of these Balkan countries is landlocked: Croatia, Serbia, or Albania?

Alec.

- Serbia.

HANSON: Serbia is right.

In the Disney animated film "Alice in Wonderland," what identical twin brothers are depicted as chubby schoolboys who love reciting poems and rhymes?

You-Yan.

- Tweedledee and Tweedledum.

HANSON: That's right.

Played by Sigourney Weaver in the film "Gorillas in the Mist," what American scientist studied the behavior of Rwanda's mountain gorillas from 1966 until her murder in 1985?

Shreyas.

- Jane Goodall.

HANSON: No-- BB&N, you have a chance.

Andreas - Smith.

HANSON: No.

(chuckles) (laughter) We're always guessing Smith.

That answer is Dian Fossey.

Also known as the Strait of Istanbul, what Turkish strait is one of the continental boundaries between Asia and Europe?

Alec.

- Bosphorus.

HANSON: The Bosphorus Strait is right.

"This isn't a kindergarten for amateur writers."

In 1889, the editor of the "San Francisco Examiner" wrote this to what future author of "The Jungle Book," asking him not to submit any more articles?

Andreas.

- Rudyard Kipling.

HANSON: That is right.

Condemned to death for conspiring against the liberty of the people and the security of the state, what French king was executed by guillotine in 1793?

Soham.

- Louis XVI.

HANSON: Louis XVI is right.

In an essay on the principle of population, what 19th-century English economist predicted that natural population growth would inevitably outpace agricultural production?

You-Yan.

- Keynes.

HANSON: No-- Mansfield, you have a chance here.

Soham.

- Smith.

HANSON: No.

(laughter) There is an old thinker named Smith, but we're looking for Thomas Malthus.

(bell rings) And that is the end of the round, and the score is BB&N with 150 points.

Mansfield has 110 points.

Let's hear it for both teams.

(cheers and applause) Last week, Weston beat Charlemont to move on to the semifinal.

In today's match, Buckingham Browne and Nichols and Mansfield are both looking to make it to the final.

The head-to-head round is next.

But first, we're going to take a minute to get to know our players a little bit better.

Always one of my favorite moments.

And we do that with a question.

BB&N.

If an ice cream company wanted to make a new flavor in your honor, what would be the name, the ingredients, and why?

Andreas, we'll start with you.

- So I would name my custom ice cream the Green Monster.

The Green Monster at Fenway Park.

We live in Boston, so... And it'll also be made of only green things, like green tea ice cream and mint, because I love tea and I love mint.

HANSON: So none of that, like, really healthy green stuff, like broccoli, spinach.

- No, no.

HANSON: None of that stuff's in there.

(laughter) - No, that's kind of weird.

HANSON: You-Yan, how about you?

- Yeah, so I'm gonna go with coffee and toffee, and add a little bit of Celsius in the form of Italian ice in there, because, you know, I feel like I'm a, I'm usually a very mellow person, as given by the coffee and toffee, but, you know, there's an occasional burst of energy in there, which I think the Celsius and the caffeine can help add.

HANSON: You might be vibrating after you ate, like, a cone of that one.

- We'll see.

HANSON: Dean, what's your flavor and why?

- Mine's called Vanilla Bean Dean.

It has some chocolate in it, and, like, Bode Ram candies, and maybe some gummies on top.

HANSON: You know, it's got the good rhymes, Vanilla Bean Dean.

- Nice name to rhyme with, I guess.

HANSON: Alec, how about you?

- I'd probably call mine, like, Ginger Tracks.

(laughter) Like Moose Tracks.

It'd be ginger-flavored and it'd have, um, like, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups in it.

HANSON: Yeah, really?

Why, why ginger?

- I don't know, I'm, I just feel very red.

HANSON: All right.

Also on the BB&N team, we have mascot Bucky, alternates Peilin and Seth, and coaches Chip Rollinson and Sam Crihfield.

(cheers and applause) Okay, let's move over to Mansfield.

Some other cool characters.

What would be the name and ingredients of your ice cream, Soham?

- Yeah, so I'd call mine Sno-Ham.

It will be a ham-flavored ice cream, but someone else will have to tell me if it tastes good, because I'm vegetarian.

(laughter) HANSON: So you're gonna make an ice cream that you can't even enjoy yourself.

- I'm sure other people will enjoy it, and I'm contributing to the world, hopefully.

HANSON: There's probably vegan ham out there.

- If you look hard enough, I'm sure I can find it somewhere.

HANSON: Patrick, what about you?

- I think I'd call mine the Paddy Supreme.

That's because Shreyas and I, we run the table tennis club at our school, and "Marty Supreme" just had a big moment, and that's about table tennis, so I feel like it fits my mojo.

And I think it would just be pure orange.

Like, you wouldn't know the flavor, just pure orange, like the Ping-Pong ball, and you have to guess what it is.

HANSON: It could be different every time, it's a... - Yeah.

HANSON: It's a bit of a risk.

Are you going to keep it to cool flavors, or are you going to surprise people with anything weird in there?

- I mean, there's a lot of surprises in "Marty Supreme," so I think there should be a lot of surprises in Paddy Supreme.

(laughter) HANSON: All right-- Shreyas.

- So it's a running joke in my family that whenever we get ice cream, I am the most plain person.

I always get vanilla.

I call it being a purist, but they like to say I'm boring.

So my flavor would be the Conedolla, and it would just be vanilla, but extra vanilla.

It would taste even less like anything.

(laughter) It would just be almost like snow in your mouth.

It would be amazing.

HANSON: Amazing-- I, you know what you like.

Stick with your passions.

Don't let anybody change who you are.

- Exactly.

HANSON: Josh, how about you?

- So, as you know, I'm a history fan, and of course I'm going to name my ice cream flavor after a president, and it's going, going to be called the Roosevelt.

And it's going to taste like bison.

(laughter) Because he loved bison steak.

HANSON: Now, I, I did not see that one coming.

(laughter) Are there grassy notes to go along with that?

- Yeah, of course.

HANSON: It's a little musty, very savory.

Not a traditional ice cream flavor.

What color would that be?

- Probably, like, brown, maybe look like chocolate.

HANSON: A lot of little kids are going to get disappointed by that.

(laughter) Rounding out the Mansfield team are mascot Sting, alternates Vedder and Jacob, and coach Ken Barrett.

Let's hear it for both teams.

(cheers and applause) It's time to go head-to-head.

In this round, correct answers add ten points to the team total, and wrong answers result in a ten-point deduction.

The clock is set at 90 seconds.

How about a handshake to start us off?

- Good luck.

- Good luck, good luck.

HANSON: All right, good luck.

Here we go.

Most of Lake Champlain lies in which New England... - Um, Vermont.

HANSON: Yes.

In 1994, who became the first democratically elected president of South Africa?

- Uh, Nelson Mandela.

HANSON: Yes.

What central part of a church is named after the Latin... - Steeple.

HANSON: No, nave.

What was the 48th and last of the contiguous states to be admitted to the Union, also known as the Lower 48?

(buzzer sounds) Arizona.

On the Celsius temperature scale, what is the boiling point... - 100.

HANSON: Yes.

What U.S.

city is home to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell?

- Philadelphia.

HANSON: Yes.

Who is the only American founding father born in the Caribbean, on the island... - Alexander Hamilton.

HANSON: Yes.

Often caused by a viral infection, what contagious condition is also known as pink eye?

(buzzer sounds) Conjunctivitis.

Which pop star had a number-one hit with "Oops!...

I Did It Again"?

- Um, Britney Spears.

HANSON: Yes.

A limerick is a short, humorous poem consisting of how many lines?

(buzzer sounds) Five.

The ancient city of Carthage is located in what... - Tunisia.

HANSON: Yes.

What one-word state motto of California means "I have found it" in Greek?

(buzzer sounds) Eureka.

Mulligatawny soup originated in what country?

(buzzer sounds) India.

Which metal has the chemical symbol Pt?

- Tin.

HANSON: Platinum.

What monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is the world's tallest obelisk?

- Washington Monument.

HANSON: Yes.

The Ring of Fire is a volcanic and seismic... (bell rings) We were looking for the Pacific Ocean on that one.

That's the end of the round-- let's take a look at the score.

BB&N has 180 points.

Mansfield has 140 points.

Let's give it up for both teams.

(cheers and applause) All right, it's time for the category round.

Today's categories are: Knight Moves, This Might Sting a Little, Know the Lingo, Aztec Me Anything, The Empire Strikes Out, and All That Jazz.

All categories have five questions with increasing point value.

Teams will choose two categories each and have the option to toss one question per category to the other team.

The other team must answer.

Players, you are able to confer.

Okay, BB&N, who's your spokesperson?

Andreas.

Mansfield, how about you?

Patrick.

All right, Mansfield, you have a little ground to make up.

First category goes to you.

- (whispers): Empire.

(aloud): The Empire Strikes Out.

HANSON: The Empire Strikes Out.

These are questions about rebellions against empires.

For ten points.

Published in January 1776, when most Americans were hoping for a reconciliation with Britain, what pamphlet by Thomas Paine argued for independence in clear and forceful language?

- "Common Sense."

HANSON: That's right.

For 15 points.

In 1930, who challenged British colonial rule in India by leading a 24-day march against the British salt monopoly?

- (whispers): Just say Gandhi.

- Yeah, just say Gandhi.

- (aloud): Gandhi.

HANSON: Correct.

For 20 points.

Fought from 1954 to 1962, the Algerian War was a brutal conflict that resulted in Algeria's independence from what European country?

- France.

HANSON: That's right.

For 25 points in The Empire Strikes Out.

At the 1896 Battle of Adwa, what African country resisted colonization with a crushing victory against invading forces from Italy?

- Ethiopia.

HANSON: Yes.

For 30 points.

Toussaint Louverture was a prominent leader in what country that became the first independent Black republic in 1804 after overthrowing French colonial rule?

- Haiti.

HANSON: That's right.

Okay, BB&N, your category.

- We're going with Aztec Me Anything.

HANSON: Aztec Me Anything.

These are questions about Mexico.

For ten points.

Used to make tortillas, tamales, and other dishes, what staple crop was a central part of Aztec culture and even had its own deity, Centeotl?

- Corn.

HANSON: That is right.

For 15 points.

Which U.S.

state shares the longest border with Mexico?

- (whispers): Texas.

- (aloud): Texas.

HANSON: That's right.

For 20 points.

A climate scientist by training, who was elected Mexico's first female president in 2024?

- Sheinbaum.

HANSON: Claudia Sheinbaum.

That is right.

For 25 points.

Popularly said to derive from the French word for "marriage," what type of traditional Mexican folk music is usually performed by strolling musicians in native costumes?

- Um, mariachi.

HANSON: That's right.

And for 30 points in Aztec Me Anything.

A national holiday on September 16 honors what Catholic priest and revolutionary leader known as the father of Mexican independence?

- Hidalgo.

HANSON: Miguel Hidalgo is right.

Mansfield, next category to you.

(team whispering) - (aloud): We're gonna go Know the Lingo.

HANSON: Know the Lingo.

These are questions about foreign words and phrases.

For ten points.

French for "head-to-head," what phrase refers to a private conversation between two people?

- (whispers): Are we gonna pass this?

- Really?

(team whispering) - (aloud): We're gonna pass this.

HANSON: That term is "tête-à-tête."

For 15 points.

What large and often destructive wave means "harbor wave" in Japanese?

(team whispering) - (aloud): Tsunami.

HANSON: Correct.

For 20 points in Know the Lingo.

Literally meaning "time spirit," what German word refers to the defining mood or spirit of a particular era?

- (whispers): Geist?

- Yeah, Zeitgeist.

- (aloud): Zeitgeist.

HANSON: Yes.

For 25 points.

French for "false step," what two-word phrase refers to a mistake or social blunder?

- Faux pas.

HANSON: Correct.

And for 30 points.

Swedish for "commission man," what word refers to a government official who investigates complaints about public services?

(team whispering) - (aloud): We're gonna pass.

HANSON: That term is ombudsman.

BB&N, final category to you.

- We're going with Knight Moves.

HANSON: Knight Moves.

These are questions about the legend of King Arthur.

For ten points.

Born to a human mother and a demon father, what powerful wizard serves as an adviser to King Arthur?

- Merlin.

HANSON: Yes.

For 15 points.

What magical sword returns to the Lady of the Lake upon the death of King Arthur?

- Excalibur.

HANSON: Yes.

For 20 points.

Which knight has a love affair with Queen Guinevere that eventually leads to the fall of Camelot?

- Lancelot.

HANSON: Sir Lancelot is right.

For 25 points in Knight Moves.

Although raised by another family, Arthur is actually the son of what legendary king of Britain?

(team whispering) - (aloud): Sir... We're gonna pass.

HANSON: That legendary king was Uther Pendragon.

And for 30 points.

Variously described as Arthur's nephew or son, and generally understood as the villain, what major character kills Arthur during a bloody battle for the throne?

(team whispering) - (aloud): We'll pass.

HANSON: That is Mordred.

(bell rings) That is the end of the category round.

The score is BB&N with 325 points.

Mansfield has 300.

Let's hear it for both teams.

(cheers and applause) Okay, we're heading into the final round of play, the lightning round.

Correct answers add 20 points to the team total and there is a 20-point deduction for incorrect answers.

The clock is set.

Here we go.

What city is home to One World Trade Center?

Andreas.

- New York City.

HANSON: Yes.

The Cassini division is a large gap in the... Soham.

- Saturn.

HANSON: Yes.

What Pennsylvania town trademarked the phrase "The Sweetest Place on Earth"?

Dean.

- Hershey.

HANSON: Yes.

Who captains both the Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and the... You-Yan.

- Messi.

HANSON: Yes.

The 1973 song "Jolene" is one of the biggest hits... You-Yan.

- Dolly Parton.

HANSON: Yes.

The trade secrets of crooks are revealed in "The Right Way to Do Wrong," a 1906 book by what famous escape artist?

Alec.

- Houdini.

HANSON: Yes.

Which part of a chicken egg is mostly calcium carbonate?

Alec - The shell.

HANSON: Yes.

"The Life of Chuck" is a novella by what author best known for his horror stories?

You-Yan.

- King.

HANSON: Yes.

Which country is predominantly made up of Flemings and Walloons?

Andreas.

- Belgium.

HANSON: Yes.

Between 1966 and 1987, Rudolf Hess was the only inmate at what German prison that held Nazi war criminals?

(buzzer sounds) Spandau.

With the 1854 Treaty of Kanagawa, what country effectively ended its 250... Patrick.

- Japan.

HANSON: Yes.

A megayear is a unit of time equal to how many years?

Shreyas.

- 1,000.

HANSON: No, one million.

Amid a youth-driven cultural shift, London was first described as "swinging" during which decade?

Dean.

- '60s.

HANSON: Yes.

In chess, which piece may move only diagonally?

Andreas.

- The bishop.

HANSON: Yes.

In taxonomy, what major category lies between class and family?

Andreas.

- Order.

HANSON: Yes.

It rains about 170 days a year in... (bell rings) And the winning team this week is Buckingham Browne and Nichols with a final score of 545 points.

Mansfield finishes with 320 points.

Congratulations to both teams for a great game.

BB&N now moves on to the final, hoping to become the "High School Quiz Show" champion.

Join us next week for our other semifinal match between Sharon and Weston.

You won't want to miss it.

Right here on "High School Quiz Show."

(cheers and applause) ♪ ♪ Major funding for "High School Quiz Show" is provided by Safety Insurance.

- It happens every day-- someone falls for a phishing scam.

Cyber risk coverage from Safety Insurance is designed to help protect businesses from data breaches, ransomware, and other cyberattacks.

Safety Insurance.

We'll help you manage life's storms-- even the cyber kind.

HANSON: Additional funding is provided by UMass Amherst.

- The future doesn't need bystanders.

It needs self-starters with limitless ambition eager to look at our challenges and step up.

At UMass, be the future you want to see.

Be revolutionary.

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