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

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

[cheers and applause] This is Varsity Quiz!

♪♪ Hello and welcome as the 57th season of Varsity Quiz continues with the best and the brightest high school students matching wits in this unique academic competition.

It's an honor to be your host.

I'm Nathan Tannenbaum.

We sure hope you know there are now two separate Varsity Quiz leagues in each season's competition.

So we crowned a Blue League champion a few weeks ago.

We are on the road to the Silver League championship as the winner of tonight's match between Clark, who defeated Northwest CTA, and West CTA, who defeated Green Valley.

The winner moves on to the 2026 Championship Match.

Let's meet our players.

Starting with Clark, there's Dhruv.

Hi, Dhruv.

Welcome aboard.

Michu, hello.

Theo and Aaron.

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

That's Clark High School!

[applause] Now let's meet our starters for West CTA.

Eda.

Hi, Eda.

-Hi.

-Lucas, Pana, and Iris.

-Hi.

-And the coach for West CTA, Gary Crouch.

Ladies and gentlemen, West CTA!

[applause] Let's play Varsity Quiz.

Author Sandra Cisneros grew up in Chicago on a street very much like which fictional street in her coming-of-age book, The House on...[blank.]

Clark, Theo: Mango Street -That is correct.

Points on the board for Clark, and we roll on.

What do we call the entire genetic code of-- That's West, Lucas: genome -Yes.

Points on the board for West.

Let's go!

Which U.S.

law passed in 1887, aimed to assimilate the indigenous peoples, causing great-- West CTA, Lucas: Dawes Severality Act -Yes.

In the Epic of Gilgamesh, what rare plant does Gilgamesh lose to a serpent, symbolizing lost immortality?

Clark, Aaron: seaweed -No.

West, Eda: an apple -No.

It was the plant of youth.

No points.

We move on to the next question.

Lactobacillus not only helps ferment yogurt, but also helps digestion, including that of lactose; creates a healthy gut biome; helps in nutrient absorption.

It's therefore called by-- West CTA, Eda: probiotic -Yes.

What is the term for a very large body of air with horizontally uniform temperature and humidity?

Clark, Michu: an air front -No.

West, Iris: a cloud -No.

It is an air mass.

You were on the right track.

Next question.

What legal right with a commonly known two-word Latin phrase that means "you have the body" was suspended-- West CTA, Lucas: habeas corpus -Yes.

Next question.

In biology, what type of diagrams that show phylogenies are also called-- That's Clark, Dhruv: phylogenetic tree -Incorrect.

--also called "trees of life"?

West CTA, Eda: ancestry trees -No.

We were looking for cladograms.

No points.

Next question.

This is a calculation question, students.

What is the kinetic energy of a 2 kilogram object moving at 4 meters per second?

Repeating.

Well, we'll take West CTA, Lucas: 16 joules -Yes.

Which architectural style, that was a precursor to the Gothic style, is characterized by barrel vaults and thick stone walls with high, small windows so solid you can still find ample examples?

Clark, Aaron: Baroque -No.

[bell chimes, time expires] We're looking for Romanesque.

No points.

Next question.

What energy molecule is produced during light dependent reactions?

Clark, Michu: ATP -That's correct.

Next question.

Symbolic dot paintings of this country are now part of the modern art scene but are centuries old in origin.

Part of the Indigenous culture for thousands of years, the dots conveyed messages in sand and in body paint in the desert areas of which nation?

West CTA, Lucas: India -Incorrect.

Clark, Theo: Botswana -No.

We were looking for Australia.

No points.

Next question.

Emmeline Parkhurst led the fight for women's suffrage in the early 20th century.

She founded the Women's Social and Political Union and won women the right to vote in which country?

Clark, Theo: United Kingdom -Yes.

Which metal ion causes hard water by reacting with soap?

Clark, Michu: calcium -That's right.

Next question.

The seven most common coordinating conjunctions can be remembered-- West CTA, Lucas: FANBOYS -That is incorrect.

That is an interrupt.

I'll complete reading the question.

The seven most common coordinating conjunctions can be remembered by the mnemonic FANBOYS with the F standing for the word "for."

What does the Y stand for?

Clark, Dhruv: yet -Correct.

Next question.

What 1815 diplomatic gathering aimed to restore order in Europe-- Clark, Aaron: Congress of Vienna -That's correct.

The real reason Beethoven went deaf is unknown, but analysis of his tissues has brought forth a plausible theory.

So in his system, Beethoven had high levels of arsenic, mercury, and what other heavy metal that was used-- Clark, Dhruv: lead -That's right.

Calculation question, students.

Evaluate the limit of sine squared times the quantity 2x end quantity over x squared as x approaches zero.

Repeating.

Evaluate the limit of sine squared times the quantity 2x end quantity over x squared as x approaches zero.

Clark, Dhruv: 2 -Incorrect.

West CTA, Lucas: 0 -No.

We were looking for 4.

No points.

Next question.

Some scientists believe that TV meteorologists should refrain from using the heat index for hot weather and what factor for cold weather, disagreement coming from whether how people feel in weather can be quantified scientifically?

West CTA, Lucas: wind chill -That's correct.

In Japan, the code of honor followed by samurai warriors was called what?

West CTA, Lucas: Bushido -That's right.

The Great Wall of China was originally built to protect against invasions from which nomadic group?

That's West, Iris: the Mongols -That's right.

All the various types of T cells are created in the thymus and released to defend against infected and cancerous cells, as well as organizing the immune response.

They are a type of which kind of blood cell?

Clark, Dhruv: white blood cell -That's right.

What's the world's highest navigable lake by elevation?

West CTA, Pana: Lake Titicaca -That's correct.

The British officer nicknamed "Lawrence of Arabia," accidentally shot his camel while fighting for Arab independence against the Ottoman Empire at Aqaba, the only coastal city of which nation?

Clark, Aaron: Iraq -Incorrect.

West, Lucas: Saudi Arabia -No.

It's Jordan.

No points.

Next question.

Found trapped in subterranean pockets where plant decomposition has taken place, which gaseous fuel substance is mostly methane with some other hydrocarbons-- Clark, Michu: natural gas -That's correct.

And that's the end of the first round.

Round of applause for all of these kids, but don't go anywhere.

We're taking a couple of minutes here to get to know our players.

We'll start with Clark.

We have 9th grader Dhruv.

Hi, Dhruv.

-Hi.

-This says here that you, one of your hobbies is card magic.

-Yeah.

-How long you been playing with the card magic?

-About six to eight months now.

I started a little bit before summer break.

-You feel like you're getting better at it?

-Definitely, yeah.

-If we see you again, we want to see some card tricks.

Good luck with that, and good luck on Varsity Quiz.

Thanks, Dhruv.

Here's 11th grader Michu.

Hi, Michu.

-Hello.

-Nice to see you.

It says here that you write sheet music.

-Yeah.

I find it as a fun pastime.

-So are you just composing stuff or you're taking other music and writing it down or... -Kind of both.

I mostly write my own music, but every now and then I like to try and recompose music that I see.

-Music is hard to write on sheet music, so good luck with that.

-Thank you.

-Here's 12th grader Theo.

Hi, Theo.

-Hi.

-Good to see you.

This says that you have been overseas a couple of times.

What country have you visited?

-I think probably my favorite place that I've traveled would probably be Japan, because I like eating and I like Japanese food.

And it's really good.

-That's a win-win right there.

-Yeah.

-Well, good luck with your world travels.

Good luck on Varsity Quiz.

Thanks, Theo.

Here's 11th grader Aaron.

Hi, Aaron.

-Hi.

-Nice to see you.

You said that one of your hobbies involves going to Lowe's.

-Oh, yeah.

So on occasion when we, when we go to Summerlin with my friend group, we go to Lowe's and we buy bricks for 74 cents with tax.

-What happens to the bricks?

-I've-- They've been like in various places.

I think two of them have been hidden.

One is at my house on my desk.

-Okay.

Bricks from Lowe's.

Who knew?

Aaron, good luck with your brick shopping.

-Thank you.

-Good luck here on Varsity Quiz.

Ladies and gentlemen, the students from Clark High School.

[applause] All right.

Let's meet our students from West CTA.

We'll start with 9th grader Eda.

Hi, Eda.

-Hi.

-It says here you're a member of something called the Research Club.

-Yeah.

-What do you guys do?

I'm guessing it has something to do with research.

-Yeah.

So we're preparing for the Beale Bank Science Fair, which will be hosted at UNLV.

And we're researching our own projects and coming together and sharing our research and improving on each other's work.

-Wonderful.

Good luck with the science fair.

Good luck on Varsity Quiz.

Thanks, Eda.

11th grader Lucas.

Hi, Lucas.

Now, last time we talked about this odd hobby of bowling and playing chess at the same time.

We're going to move on from that.

It says you were a member of the school chess team.

How did you guys do?

-We actually won undefeated this season.

We're playing at State in a couple of weeks.

Hopefully we'll win.

-Well, good luck with that.

That's awesome.

Good luck on Varsity Quiz, too.

Thanks, Lucas.

Here's 10th grader Pana.

Hi, Pana.

-Hi.

-You have two hobbies.

I don't know if they're really related, but is it possible to have a favorite between cooking and playing piano?

-I don't know.

I like them both.

I do-- I don't do them simultaneously.

-Yeah, that would be weird.

That'd be like playing chess and bowling at the same time.

-Yeah.

I like them both.

I do them both a lot.

-Well, good luck with both of them, and good luck on Varsity Quiz.

Thanks, Pana.

Here's 10th grader Iris.

Hi, Iris.

-Hi.

-Are you a member of something called the LVYO?

-Yes.

That's the Las Vegas Youth Orchestra.

-What do you play?

-I play violin.

-And you guys have concerts?

Are you doing stuff?

-Yes.

We have one coming up in April.

-Well, good luck with that.

-Thank you.

-Good luck on Varsity Quiz.

Ladies and gentlemen, West CTA.

And our Bonus Round is next.

[applause] So the score going into Round 2: Clark has 50 points to West CTA 40 points.

Now, if you were scoring at home, you might be wondering, well, that's not the score that we had.

Clark challenged the incorrect answer that we'd given them on Question No.

8 about the phylogenetic tree.

We have accepted that answer, so it's no longer an interruption.

So they take those 5 points and they get the 5 points for the correct answer.

So we have one new player for Clark.

We say hello to Axel.

Hi, Axel.

-Hello.

-Welcome aboard.

West CTA has the exact same players.

Now, this round is timed at six minutes, which begins as I read this question: The aquamarine gemstone is known for clarity and often cut into large stones for jewelry.

What color is aquamarine?

Clark, Dhruv: blue -Yes.

Bonus questions for Clark only now about gemstones.

First, there are five primary types of garnet.

What's the most traditional color for the gem?

Second, it belongs to the quartz family and is February's birth stone.

What color is amethyst?

You have 10 seconds.

[students deliberate] Captain?

-For the first answer, red; for the second answer, purple.

-Both are correct.

You got bonus points in addition to the original points.

Okay.

Now this question for both teams: Which North American animal is traditionally used as a prognosticator of future weather, a custom that may have been brought-- We'll go with West CTA, Lucas: groundhog -That's right.

Bonus questions for West CTA now about North American animals.

First, which North American amphibian can shoot its own blood from its eyes to deter predators?

Second, what specific nocturnal predator of North America has asymmetrical ear openings to help pinpoint prey in the dark?

You have 10 seconds.

[students deliberate] -For our first answer, we have horned lizard; and for the second one, we have bat.

A horned lizard is correct.

The second one was the barn owl.

So some bonus points, but not all, and you get the points from the original answer.

Now this question for both teams: In the ninth century, what Byzantine civil law did Basil, I, undertake a monumental revision of 300 years after it was proclaimed?

Clark, Aaron: Code of Justinian -Yes.

Bonus questions now for Clark only about ancient history.

First, from what country did the Japanese monk Saicho import the Tendai Buddhist sect?

Second, what food became the primary staple of eastern North American Native Americans?

You have 10 seconds.

[students deliberate] -For the first answer, China; for the second answer, corn.

-Both are correct.

You got bonus points in addition to the points from the correct answer.

Question for both teams now.

The oldest being found in South Africa and drawn with red ochre crayon, in what natural void were the first known human paintings drawn?

Clark, Theo: Caves -That's right.

Bonus questions for Clark only about art.

First, name the nationality of famous seascape artist Winslow Homer.

Second, what century saw the entire output of Vincent van Gogh?

You have 10 seconds.

[students deliberate] Captain?

-For the first answer, American; for the second answer, 19th.

-Both are correct.

You got bonus points.

Question for both teams: Energy gained by water during evaporation is later released by the water during which other-- West CTA, Lucas: condensation -That's correct.

Bonus science questions now for West only.

First, phlebitis and inflammation of the veins usually affects which extremities?

Second, an "isotherm" is to temperature as an "isobar" is to what?

You have 10 seconds.

[students deliberate] Captain?

-Fingers and toes for the first one, and pressure for the second one.

-Pressure is for sure correct.

Let me check with the judges on that first one.

I think that's a no?

Okay.

So some bonus points, but not all.

We were looking for legs as the response.

So you get some bonus points.

This question for both teams: Calculation question, students.

If x is directly proportional to y and x equals 18 when y equals 12, what is x when y equals 20?

Clark, Dhruv: 30 -That's right.

Bonus calculation questions now for Clark only.

First, what's the distance between the points (-2,5) and (4,-3)?

Second question.

A number is multiplied by 3, increased by 14, then divided by 2 to give 25.

What is that number?

Let me repeat both of these.

First, what's the distance between the points (-2,5) and (4,-3)?

Second, a number multiplied by 3, increased by 14, then divided by 2 to give 25.

What's the number?

[students deliberate] -Our first answer is 10 units.

Our second answer is 12.

-Both are correct.

You got bonus points.

This question for both teams: What's the name of the orchestral suite by Igor Stravinsky that caused a riot at its-- That's Clark, Theo: The Rite of Spring -Yes.

Bonus questions for Clark only about orchestral work.

First, the orchestral piece in the opening of the Star Wars movies with a famous fanfare was written by whom?

Second, which orchestral composition by Gustav Mahler is nicknamed the Titan, famous for its massive scale and emotional intensity?

You have 10 seconds.

[students deliberate] Captain?

-For the first answer, Williams; for the second answer, Symphony of a Thousand.

-John Williams is correct.

The second answer is Symphony No.

1.

So some bonus points, but not all.

You might have heard the ringing.

That is the end of the second round.

Our Speed Round is next.

Here's the score going into Round 3: Clark now with 120 points to West CTA 60.

Anything can happen in the Speed Round.

But before we move on, you might be wondering, we're all wearing these buttons, and what is that?

That has the face of a gentleman that we love here at Varsity Quiz.

He's the namesake for the scholarship that's given to one graduating senior every year on Varsity Quiz.

Howard Naylor is getting ready to move out of town, and we just wanted to honor him, so we're all wearing our Howard Naylor buttons today.

Thank you for everything you've done for Varsity Quiz down through the years, Howard.

[applause] -All right.

For Clark, we have a returning player.

It's Michu.

Welcome back.

-Hello.

-And if I had to guess, it appears that the West CTA team is exactly as it was in the second round.

Let's go!

Auguste Rodin's The Thinker was originally part of what larger work?

Clark, Aaron: The Gates of Hell -That's right.

What novel by Walter Dean Myers follows a teen on trial through screenplay-like narration?

[bell chimes, time expires] You'll want to read a novel called Monster.

No points.

Next question.

What's the track and field multi-event Olympic contest that's been won twice by Jackie Joyner-Kersee?

West CTA, Eda: triathlon -No.

Clark, Michu: decathlon -Nope.

It's the heptathlon.

No points.

Next question.

What's the term for horizontal, underground stems, like those in ginger?

West, Lucas: roots -No.

[bell chimes, time expires] They are rhizomes.

Next question.

Who was the first Hispanic justice and the third woman to serve on the United States-- West CTA, Lucas: Sotomayor -Correct.

What law passed in 1970 created the Environmental Protection Agency?

Clark, Theo: Clean Air Act -That's right.

Which Chinese dynasty is known for blue-and-white porcelain?

West, Eda: Ming -That's correct.

Which movement advocated for the prohibition of alcohol?

West, Lucas: Temperance -Yes.

Which federal agency was created in 1933 to ensure bank deposits and prevent-- West CTA, Lucas: FDIC -That's right.

Ethylene is a plant hormone that promotes what process in fruits and vegetables, even after harvest-- That's Clark, Michu: ripening -Yes.

What term did alchemists attempt to use for the mythical substance-- That's West, Eda: philosopher's stone -That's right.

Okay.

Here's a calculation question.

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

As the function of x equals 3x minus 10, find x when the function of x equals 8.

West, Lucas: 6 -Yes.

The Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 divided the non-European world between which two countries-- West, Lucas: Spain and Portugal -Correct.

What Greek historian is often called "The Father--" Clark, Dhruv: Herodotus -Yes.

Which process breaks large polymers into monomers using water?

Clark, Michu: hydrolysis -That's correct.

What common substance is chemically known as sodium bicarbonate?

Clark, Michu: baking soda -That's right.

Which New Deal agency built dams and provided electricity to rural areas?

Clark, Theo: TVA -Yes.

Which capital city sits at the crossroads of Asia, Europe, and the Middle East and was formerly known as Byzantium?

West, Iris: Istanbul -Yes.

What's the term for the scientific method of dating geological events and rocks in years?

West, Lucas: carbon dating -No.

[bell chimes, time expires] Looking for radiometric dating.

Next question.

Which contemporary novel by Colleen Hoover tells a story of love and trauma across-- West CTA, Eda: [no answer] -We have to take that as no answer.

We were looking for It Ends with Us.

Next question.

What's the legal principle that no one can be tried twice for the-- West, Lucas: double jeopardy -Yes.

Which famous trial in France involved a teenage girl accused of heresy and later canonized as a saint?

Clark, Michu: the trial of Joan Arc -I think we can take that, yes.

Next question.

What theorem proves two right triangles congruent using hypotenuse and a leg?

West, Eda: the Hypotenuse-- Hypotenuse Leg -I think that's okay.

Yeah, that's correct.

Next question.

Which 2021 novel by Tommy Orange follows the lives of Native Americans living in Oakland, California?

[bell chimes, time expires] You'll want to read up on the book called There There.

Next question.

A Shakespearean comedy that revolves around several subplots that involve fairies playing games with the humans-- West CTA, Eda: A Midsummer Night's Dream -That is an interruption.

Let me finish reading the question.

--playing games with the humans takes place in the midpart of which season as mentioned in the title?

Clark, Dhruv: summer -You were on the right track, but Clark gets the points for that one.

What's the term for the boundary between the Earth's crust and the mantle, marked-- West, Lucas: lithosphere -That is incorrect and an interruption.

--marked by a change in seismic wave velocity?

Clark, Michu: the Mohorovicic discontinuity -That's the one.

What hardware component is specifically designed to handle and process graphics and visuals?

Clark, Michu: GPU -Correct.

What 1935 act established pensions for the elderly and unemployed, in which people pay into the system when working-- West, Lucas: Social Security -Yes.

What's the scientific term for the breast bone that protects your heart and lungs from damage?

West, Lucas: sternum -Right.

In U.S.

history, what act gave runaway enslaved people no right-- West, Lucas: Fugitive Slave Law Act -Yes.

That's 30 questions.

Let's find out who won.

Final score this semifinal match: Clark 175.

West CTA 115.

Can we have a round of applause for both teams?

That turned into a really good match.

[applause] But congratulations to the Clark Chargers.

You'll be matching wits next week against the winner of next week's match.

That's going to be between Coronado and A-Tech.

So that'll be the Championship Match in a couple of weeks when you tune in for more Varsity Quiz right here on Vegas PBS.