This program brought to you, in part, by the Erika Lewis Endowment Fund.

-Coming up, it's Coronado... [cheers and applause] ...taking on Clark!

[cheers and applause] -And this is Varsity Quiz!

[crashing sound] ♪♪ [cheers and applause] Hello and welcome to the 56th season of Varsity Quiz, continuing with the Silver League Semifinals.

It's an honor to be your host.

I'm Nathan Tannenbaum.

So the Silver League had 18 teams in three divisions.

We're on the road to the championship as the winner of tonight's match between Coronado, who defeated the Las Vegas Academy, and Clark, who defeated Bishop Gorman, well, they will move on to the 2025 Championship Match right here on Vegas PBS.

Let's meet our starters for tonight.

Starting with Coronado, there's Xander.

Hi, Xander.

There's Raine, there's Maryiam, and Samay.

The coach for Coronado, Matt Aberman.

Those are the starters for Coronado.

[cheers and applause] And for Clark, the starters, we have Nash.

Hey, Nash.

There's Jake-- Hello.

--Theo and Aaron.

And the coaches for Clark, Lonnie Robbins and Amber Thacker.

Clark High School.

[cheers and applause] So there are 25 questions in this first round.

Each correct answer is worth 5 points.

There will be a 5-point deduction if a team incorrectly answers a question before it has been fully read.

A reminder to the students to please speak loudly and clearly so the judges can hear you and understand your answers, and wait until you are recognized.

And speaking of that, we've got a technical issue with the podium over here for Coronado.

Normally, when you're viewing at home, you'll see the lights light up around a player's name when they buzz in.

Those lights are not working, but we'll be able to tell which player is buzzing in.

Okay.

You guys ready?

Let's play Varsity Quiz.

The Qajar dynasty succeeded what Persian empire ruled by Abbas the Great?

And that is Coronado, Samay: Safavid -That is correct.

This device is used by the oboe to help it make sound.

A single version of a similar device is used by the clarinet.

And that's Clark, Theo: a reed -Yes, that is correct.

Next question.

This hero is known for using the Gáe Bulg, a spear given to him by Scáthach.

Name this Irish hero known as the Hound-- And that's Clark, Aaron: Cú Chulainn -Yes.

What country is home to the religious Christ the Redeemer statue?

That's Clark, Aaron: Brazil -Yes.

What American author, who created the character of Pecola Breedlove, wrote novels such as-- And then we'll go with Clark, Theo: Morrison -Correct.

Next is a calculation question, students.

Simplify the following radical: the square root of 98k.

Repeating.

Simplify the following radical: The square-- And we're going to go with Coronado, Maryiam: 7 times root 2k -Yes.

Next question.

The most basic low-pass filter consists of a resistor and one of these devices.

Name this electric circuit component that stores charge.

And that's Coronado, Maryiam: battery -Incorrect.

[bell chimes, time expires] We were looking for capacitor.

Next question.

What pieces of hardware are contrasted with hubs and connect multiple pieces of computer equipment using Ethernet?

And that's Coronado, Raine: the server -No.

Clark, Nash: wire -No.

We were looking for switches.

No points.

Next question.

What NFL team is based in Washington State?

And that's Coronado, Xander: Seattle Seahawks -Correct.

In what year was Poland partitioned between the USSR and Germany, the same year world-- And then we'll go with Clark, Aaron: 1939 -Yes.

This son of Hannah predicts defeat after his ghost is summoned-- Clark, Theo: Samuel -Yes.

A dairy product called skyr is often consumed in this island country, which contains-- Clark, Theo: Iceland -Yes.

What protein, which is affected by sickle cell anemia, carries oxygen-- And that's Clark, Aaron: hemoglobin -Yes.

10 Downing Street's the residence of what office-- And that is going to be Coronado, Samay: the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom -Yes.

Jim Pillen's the governor of what Midwest state with a unicameral legislature led from-- And we'll go with Coronado, Maryiam: Nebraska -Yes.

What quantity forms the Y axis on a demand curve and determines how much something costs?

Clark, Theo: price -Yes.

The Battle of Luding Bridge occurred during the "Long March" in this war.

Forces loyal to Chiang Kai-- And we'll go with Clark, Aaron: Chinese Civil War -Yes.

Which professional tennis player won the 2024 Olympic gold medal for his home country, Serbia?

That's Clark, Aaron: Djokovic -Yes.

What state containing Cape Cod has its capital-- And we're going to go with Coronado, Xander: Massachusetts -That's right.

Next, a calculation question.

Find the next term in the following sequence: 0, 3, 8, 15, 24.

We're going to go with Coronado, Maryiam: 35 -That's right.

Celestino Madeiros claimed that he committed the crime at Braintree, Massachusetts, that was central to this case.

Name the 1921 trial that resulted in the death of two Italian anarchists.

And that's Coronado, Maryiam: St. Valentine's Day Massacre -That's incorrect.

Clark, Theo: Sacco and Vanzetti case -That's what we were looking for, yes.

What state's cities include Dothan, Tuscaloosa-- And that's Coronado, Xander: Alabama -That's right.

During this period, a text known as The Gossamer Years, or Kager Nikki, was written.

The Tale of Genji was also written during what literary and historical period of Japan?

And that's Clark, Theo: Heian -Yes.

What national park, mostly in Wyoming, is-- And that's Clark, Theo: Yellowstone -Yes.

Name this country that was ruled in the 1970s by Jean-Bedel Bokassa and is led from-- And that's Coronado, Samay: Central African Republic -Yes.

Okay.

Gosh, we're out of questions.

That went very quickly.

How about a round of applause for both teams here?

[applause] Hey, don't go away.

We're gonna take a second to learn a little bit more about our players.

First, breathe for a little bit.

You guys are fantastic.

We start with senior Xander from Coronado.

Hi, Xander.

-How you doing?

-I'm sticking with "mostly sunny."

This says you collect hockey jerseys.

-Oh, I do, yes.

What's your favorite one, or your biggest one, or whatever?

-I mean, I have a bunch.

I mean, I love-- I've collected all of the Golden Knights jerseys, like the, all the versions of them.

-Okay.

-I'm also-- how many?

Like, 21 out of 30.

-So it's possibly impossible to have a favorite?

-Oh, man.

-Oh, don't worry about it.

-It might be, yeah.

-Just keep collecting those jerseys, and good luck on Varsity Quiz.

Thanks, Xander.

Here's junior Raine.

Hi, Raine.

-Hi.

-You wrote that you drove across the country?

-Yeah.

-When did that happen?

-A few weeks ago?

-Was that just for fun?

-My aunt gifted me her car because she was getting a new one.

-Oh, so you got to drive that.

Good for you.

I hope that went okay.

-Yeah.

-What an adventure.

And good luck here on Varsity Quiz.

Thanks, Raine.

Here's Maryiam.

Hi, Maryiam.

You wrote that you collect something.

Do you remember what you wrote down?

-I collect brooches.

I like to style them on my hijab.

I'm not wearing one right now, but usually, sometimes in a special event, I like to wear them.

-Do you know how many you have?

-At least 20 so far, which is why I want a Varsity Quiz pin.

-We'll see what we can do.

All right, Maryiam.

Good luck with that and on Varsity Quiz.

Here's sophomore Samay.

Hi, Samay.

-Hi, Nate.

-You wrote that you are fascinated by a particular bunch of wars.

Which wars so you remember you wrote about?

-Yeah, Napoleonic wars, specifically.

-What about them gets you going?

-I don't know, I just think they're really exciting, like, I really kind of like going into individual units and regiments just very interesting.

-Good luck with that and on Varsity Quiz.

Those are our students from Coronado!

Thanks, you guys.

[applause] Let's say hello to our players from Clark.

We'll start with a freshman, Nash.

Hey, Nash, -Hi.

-You wrote you play a sport at Clark.

-Yeah.

I play baseball.

-How's that going?

-Pretty good.

-What position?

-Third base and left field.

-Okay.

Would you tell coach I said hello?

-Okay.

-All right.

Good luck with baseball.

Good luck here on Varsity Quiz.

Here's Jake.

Hi, Jake.

-Hi.

-A freshman at Clark.

This says that you have traveled around the world.

Do you remember how many countries you visited?

-More than 10.

-Can you name a favorite, or is that possible?

-I mean, Canada was pretty good, -Right on.

-Yeah.

I liked Australia, except the fact that there were, like, huge bugs, yeah.

-Oh, yeah, they got big bugs there.

Well, good luck with your world travels, and good luck here on Varsity Quiz.

Thanks, Jake.

-Thank you.

-Here's a junior, Theo.

Hi, Theo.

-Hey.

-You said you play a musical instrument.

-Yeah, I do.

I actually used to play the piano for about 10 years until I finally finished.

-So you're done with the piano?

-Yeah.

-Well, hopefully you pick up another instrument somewhere along the line.

-Yeah.

-Thank you, Theo.

Good luck on Varsity Quiz.

Here's freshman Aaron.

Hi, Aaron.

What is your number one travel destination?

-Oh, I would have to say Egypt.

-And what about that makes you want to go there?

-I really want to see the pyramids and the Valley of the Kings, as well as Abu Simbel, which is a monument.

-Yeah.

Well, good luck with that.

Hope you get there, and good luck on Varsity Quiz.

Those are the students from Clark!

[applause] And our bonus round coming right up.

[crashing sound] And the score going into Round 2: Coronado 45 points.

Clark has 70.

Coronado is going with all their same players.

For Clark, we have one new player.

We say hi to Axel.

Hey, Axel.

Good to have you with us.

So in this bonus round, each of 10 possible questions is worth 5 points.

The team with the correct answer will get two bonus questions.

They're also worth 5 points, and this is the round where we have team conferring on those bonus questions.

10 seconds allowed before the team's captain is required to respond.

This round is timed at six minutes, and that time starts as I read this question: This country's Crown Jewels are housed in the Rosenborg Castle.

The company Lego is headquartered-- And we're going to go with Coronado, Maryiam: Denmark -Yes.

Bonus geography questions now for Coronado only.

First, Sapporo lies on this northernmost and second largest of the Japanese islands, which the Sinnoh region is based on.

The Seikan Tunnel connects this island to Honshu.

Second, this sea, part of the Pacific Ocean, lies northeast of Queensland.

It's also the name of a World War II battle that stopped Japan's planned naval invasion of New Guinea.

You have 10 seconds.

[students deliberate] -First answer, Hokkaido; second answer, Midway.

-Hokkaido is correct.

The second one was Coral Sea.

So you get some bonus points, not all.

Now this question for both teams: This English author, born in Bombay, India, wrote-- And we're going to go with Coronado, Maryiam: Rudyard Kipling -That is correct.

Bonus questions about Kipling for Coronado only.

First, this 19th century collection of stories centers around the life of the "man-cub" Mowgli and his interactions with the characters Shere Khan and Baloo the Bear.

Second, in this Kipling poem, a British soldier recalls being saved by a Hindu servant before witnessing the water carrier's death soon after, concluding that he's a "better man than I."

10 seconds.

[students deliberate] First answer, The Jungle Book; second answer, "Gunga Din."

-Both are correct.

You got bonus points.

Now this question for both teams: Lot lived in what city that was destroyed alongside-- We're going to go with Coronado, Maryiam: Sodom -That is correct.

Bonus questions about world religions now for Coronado only.

First, Siddhartha, Gautama reached this Buddhist state of enlightenment.

Second, Tibetan Buddhism is led by this figure, whose current reincarnation is Tenzin Gyatso.

You have 10 seconds.

[students deliberate] -First answer, Nirvana; second answer, the Dalai Lama.

-Both are correct.

You got bonus points.

Now this question for both teams, and this is a calculation question, students.

Simplify the following rational exponent: the quantity n to the 4th raised to the three halves power.

And we're going to go with Coronado, Maryiam: n to the 6th power -That is correct.

Bonus calculation questions now for Coronado only.

First, simplify the following: One-fourth plus five-fourths over four.

And second, 4i times the quantity negative two minus 8i.

Repeating.

First, simplify the following: One-fourth plus five-fourths over four.

And second, 4i times the quantity negative two minus 8i.

[students deliberate] -Captain.

-First answer, six; second answer, negative eight pi minus 32 pi i.

-I don't think either one of those is correct.

First one was 3/8; and the second one is 32 - 8i.

No bonus points.

We move on to this question for both teams: A paralyzed woman shown crawling towards the Olson House in what American realist's work Christina's World?

And that's Coronado, Maryiam: Salvador Dali -Incorrect.

Clark, Aaron: Cole -No.

We're looking for Andrew Wyeth.

Next question for both teams.

Okonkwo is the protagonist of the novel, Things Fall Apart, and from this country-- We're going to go with Clark, Theo: Nigeria -That is correct.

Bonus literature questions now for Clark only.

First, Ta-Nehisi Coates wrote about being born and raised in this city in the memoir, The Beautiful Struggle.

Edgar Allan Poe also died there.

Second, Like Water for Chocolate was the debut novel of this Mexican novelist who also wrote The Law of Love.

You have 10 seconds.

[students deliberate] First answer, Baltimore; second answer, Paz.

-Baltimore is correct.

The second, Laura Esquivel.

Some bonus points, not all.

Question now for both teams.

The IRA's operations in what region aimed to reunite it-- Clark, Aaron: Northern Ireland -Yes.

Bonus history questions now for Clark only.

First, this leader during the French Revolution frequently used the guillotine as an instrument of his Reign of Terror.

Second, the Taj Mahal was built during this empire during the reign of Shah Jahan.

Akbar was another ruler of this empire.

You have 10 seconds.

-First answer, Robespierre; second answer, Mughal.

-That is correct.

Bonus points for both questions.

Now this question for both teams: The Phillips curve suggests that the unemployment rate has an inverse relationship to this concept-- We're going to go with Coronado, Xander: inflation -That is correct.

We've got bonus economic questions now for Coronado only.

First, the "War on Poverty" was influenced by this Canadian-American economist who was the author of The New Industrial State and The Affluent Society.

Second, Steven D. Levitt is an American economist who co-authored what best selling collection of research findings that regular people could understand?

You have 10 seconds.

[students deliberate] Captain.

-First answer, John Nash; second answer, For Dummies.

-Both are incorrect.

We Were looking for John Kenneth Galbraith as the economist, and the book is Freakonomics.

No points.

Now this question for both teams-- We are out of time.

Hey, don't go anywhere.

We want to say thank you to the Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas for their long support of Varsity Quiz.

The Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas and their staff, they go all around the Clark County School District providing judges and moderators for the Varsity Quiz tournaments that happen in the schools before we get here to Vegas PBS.

Special thanks to everybody who helps out in the administration of VQ and to Vegas PBS.

Hey, while we're at it, how about a quick shout-out to the teachers and the parents of these incredible young men and women and all the volunteers who make VQ a success.

Speed round coming up.

[crashing sound] The score going into Round 3: We have an incredible match.

Coronado, 95 points; and Clark, 95 points.

I don't remember the last time we had a tie.

Now, Coronado is keeping all their same players.

Clark has one new player.

We say hello to Jack.

Hi, Jack.

-Hello.

-Good to have you.

So in this speed round, 30 possible questions.

Correct answers are still worth 5 points.

Also a timed round at six minutes.

We get to as many of the questions as we can.

Obviously, if we read all 30 of them, the round will be over.

Let's get this party started.

The bronchi and the trachea are part of what system-- We're going to go with Coronado, Maryiam: the respiratory system -Correct.

Prominent athletes in this sport include Ben Stokes and Virat Kohli-- We're going to go with Coronado, Maryiam: cricket -Yes.

What Central African country borders the Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea-- And we go with Clark, Jack: Gabon -Yes.

What's the name for talking to a psychologist about your mental health?

Clark, Theo: therapy -That's right.

Name this memoir in which Michelle Zauner confesses that ever since her mom died, she performs the title action in the title Asian supermarket.

And that's Coronado, Maryiam: a dance in a Chinese supermarket -Incorrect.

[bell chimes, time expires] Crying in H-Mart.

No points.

Next question.

What's the second largest telephone company in the United States?

Coronado, Maryiam: T-Mobile -Incorrect.

Clark, Jake: Verizon -Nope.

It's AT&T.

Next is a calculation question.

Remember, we don't repeat here in the third round, so here we go.

If h of t equals t plus 2 plus 3, find h of 6.

Clark, Aaron: 11 -Yes.

What's the physics term for the apparent difference between the frequency at which sound or light waves leave a source and that at which they reach an observer?

Coronado, Maryiam: refraction -No.

[buzzer sound] [bell chimes] I believe he got in, in time.

Clark, Theo: echo -No.

It's the Doppler effect.

No points.

Next question.

At which university did Philip Zimbardo conduct an experiment that had to be canceled after six days-- And we're going to go with Clark, and that's Samay: Stanford -Yes.

During the Second Greco-Persian War, this king led 300 Spartans-- And that's Clark, Aaron: Leonidas -Do we need more?

[confers with judges] I think we're good.

Yes.

That's the judge's decision.

What Caribbean country's tourist attractions include a Rastafari Indigenous Village-- And that's going to be Coronado, Xander: Jamaica -Yes.

Name this Austrian dynasty that continuously ruled-- And that's Coronado, Xander: the Hapsburgs -Yes.

A game of these things is also the name of a Matsuo Bash book comparing haikus.

What objects does Sally sell on the seashore?

Clark, Aaron: seashells -Yes.

This author of Oryx and Crake also wrote The Testaments, which was a sequel to her dystopian novel about Offred-- And that's Clark, Theo: Atwood -Yes.

The Texas School Book Depository was the site of what person's assassination-- Clark, Aaron: John Kennedy -That is an interruption, and that is incorrect.

--was the site of what person's assassination of John F. Kennedy?

And that's Coronado, Xander: Lee Harvey Oswald -Yes.

What borough's "Ferry" did Walt Whitman describe "Crossing" from the East River-- And that's Coronado, Xander: Staten Island Ferry -No.

Clark, Theo: Brooklyn -Yes.

What amendment was the first one to be added to the Constitution after the Bill of Rights?

That's Coronado, Xander: the 11th Amendment -That's right.

Name the US state whose portion of the Cascade Mountains houses Crater Lake National Park.

Coronado, Xander: Oregon -Yes.

Name the objects in one dimension which compose all matter according to their namesake theory.

Clark, Theo: strings -Yes.

What hero, the killer of Patroclus and Prince-- And then we go with Coronado, Maryiam: Hector -Can we take that?

[confers with judges] -Yes.

Little late, but we'll take it.

What state of matter, named for Indian and German physicists, describes particles at-- Coronado, Raine: the Higgs boson -No.

--describes particles at absolute zero?

[buzzer sound] [bell chimes] In time or not in time?

[confers with judges] Clark, Aaron: solid -No.

The Bose-Einstein condensate.

No points.

Next question.

Censorship from Soviet regime impacted the works of what composer of the Leningrad Symphony?

Clark, Theo: Shostakovich -Yes.

What economist developed the theory of comparative advantage?

Coronado, Xander: Keynes -No.

Clark, Aaron: Nash -No.

David Ricardo.

No points.

Next question.

This driver scored his latest Grand Slam at the 2022 Australia Grand Prix.

What Monéngasque Formula 1 driver represents Scuderia Ferrari?

That's Clark, Jake: Verstappen -No.

Coronado, Xander: Leclerc -Yes.

What state was ravaged by Sherman's "March to the Sea"-- Clark, Aaron: Georgia -Yes.

This composer's first symphony was nicknamed "Beethoven's 10th."

What composer of the Academic Festival Overture wrote a famous lullaby?

And that's Coronado, Maryiam: Brahms -Yes.

Vo Nguyen Giap led the Viet Minh to victory over the French at what conclusive battle-- Clark, Aaron: Dien Bien Phu -Yes.

This director included helicopters as "Ride of the Valkyries" plays in the soundtrack in an adaptation of the Heart of Darkness.

Name this director of Apocalypse Now and The Godfather.

Coronado, Maryiam: Francis Ford Coppola -Yes.

Bryce Canyon is in the "Beehive State" that's also-- And that's Clark, Jack: Utah -Yes.

What country sits along the eastern edge of the Horn of Africa, governed-- And that's going to be Coronado, Xander: Somalia -Yes.

We're out of questions.

Let's find out who won.

[crashing sound] All of our matches on Varsity Quiz are amazing.

This was one of the most incredible matches we've had.

The final score: Coronado, 155; Clark, 150.

[crashing sound] We want to say thank you to both teams for an excellent match.

Can we have a round of applause?

[cheers and applause] And congratulations to Coronado!

They'll be matching wits next week against A-Tech for the title Varsity Quiz Champion 2025.

Tune in for Varsity Quiz on Vegas PBS.