MACC English Questions
Please Read Aloud: All of the questions in this match are 5-second questions.
This is the first directed question for team A.
1A.
In the play, Trifles, what was Mrs. Wright’s maiden name? Begin (Foster or Minnie Foster)
This is the first directed question for team B.
1B.
In the novella, The Pearl, what happens that causes Kino to decide that he and his family
must leave immediately? Begin (he kills a man with his knife)
This is the second directed question for team A.
2A.
In the short story, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, what was the order given by the
commandant that was posted everywhere? Begin (any civilian caught interfering with the
railroad, its bridges, tunnels or trains will be summarily hanged)
This is the second directed question for team B.
2B.
In the nonfiction selection, Third World Driving Hints and Tips, what happens if you slow
down at a full stop military road block? Begin (they will think you’re a terrorist and shoot
you)
This is the third directed question for team A.
3A.
In the novel, The Secret Life of Bees, what song did May begin humming when she was
upset? Begin (“Oh! Susanna”)
This is the third directed question for team B.
3B.
In the short story, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, about how far away from Owl
Creek Bridge did Peyton live? Begin (30 miles)
This is the fourth directed question for team A.
4A.
In the novella, The Pearl, what did Juana do immediately after the baby was stung? Begin
(she tried to suck out the poison)
This is the fourth directed question for team B.
4B.
In the poem, The Seven Ages of Man by William Shakespeare, what two things do the men
and women who are players on the world’s stage have as they go through life? Begin
(entrances and exits)
This is the fifth directed question for team A.
5A.
In the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, who do the two con men Huck and Jim
meet claim to be? Begin (the duke(or a displaced English duke) and the dauphin(or the
long lost heir to the French throne))
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This is the fifth directed question for team B.
5B.
In the poem, Courage by Anne Sexton, name one of the four things that they called you
before they made you into an alien? Begin (one of the following – crybaby, poor, fatty or
crazy)
This is the sixth directed question for team A.
6A.
In the poem, The Seven Ages of Man by William Shakespeare, to what does Shakespeare
compare life? Begin (a play)
This is the sixth directed question for team B.
6B.
In the novel, The Secret Life of Bees, what fruit did May have to have every morning?
Begin (banana)
This is the seventh directed question for team A.
7A.
In the nonfiction selection, Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody, why couldn’t the
author graduate in the spring of 1963 as she planned? Begin (some of her credits had to be
cleared or some of her credits had to be cleared with Natchez College)
This is the seventh directed question for team B.
7B.
In the nonfiction selection, Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody, when the author
talks about the Movement, to what is she referring? Begin (the Civil Rights Movement)
This is the eighth directed question for team A.
8A.
In the short story, What Wendell Wants Ch. 2 by Jenny Lee, what is the first
commandment? Begin (Thou shalt not make fun of my dog. Ever.)
This is the eighth directed question for team B.
8B.
In the play, Trifles, who was described as “she was kind of like a bird herself--real sweet
and pretty, but kind of timid and--fluttery. How--she--did—change”? Begin (Mrs. Wright
or Minnie Foster Wright)
This is the ninth directed question for team A.
9A.
In the nonfiction selection, Third World Driving Hints and Tips, when would the military
think you were a terrorist and shoot you? Begin (when you stop or slow down at a road
block)
This is the ninth directed question for team B.
9B.
In the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, where does Huck hide Peter Wilk’s gold
that the con men stole? Begin ( in Peter Wilk’s coffin)
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This is the tenth and final directed question for team A.
10A.
In the poem, Where I’m From by George Ella Lyon, name one of the plants the poet says
she is from? Begin (one of he following – forsythia bush or Dutch Elm tree)
This is the tenth and final directed question for team B.
10B.
In the short story, What Wendell Wants Ch. 2 by Jenny Lee, in Commandment 4, what
words shall you never utter? Begin (“He’s just a dog”)
That ends the portion of the match with directed questions. Coaches, if you have any team
member substitutions, please send those team members to the stage at this time. (Note:
Allow time for substitutes to be seated, introduce substitute team members.)
No form of conferring is allowed during the tossup portion of the match. Conferring includes
sharing of written or verbal information or signals. Please remove all written material
from you team tables. Writing is not permitted during tossup rounds, except in the math
round.
We will now have ten tossup questions. Remember, the person who buzzes in must give the
answer immediately. Please wait until I recognize the team before you give an answer. The
penalty for buzzing in early and giving a wrong answer is minus 2 points, and the question
will then be reread in its entirety to the other team.
This is the first tossup question.
1.
From what work by what author is the following quote: “Remember that you are a human
being with a sour and the divine gift of articulate speech; that your native language is the
language of Shakespeare and Milton and The Bible; and don’t sit there crooning like a
bilious pigeon.”? Begin (Pygmalion by George Barnard Shaw)
This is the second tossup question.
2.
From what work by what author is the following quote:
“It is in the small things we see it.
The child's first step,
as awesome as an earthquake.
The first time you rode a bike,
wallowing up the sidewalk.”?
Begin (Courage by Anne Sexton)
This is the third tossup question.
3.
What character from what novel is the following quote about: “The first thing I noticed
was his red suspenders. . . . it was a nice look, the way it matched his red bow tie.”? Begin
(Mr. Forrest or Mr. Clayton Forrest from The Secret Life of Bees)
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This is the fourth tossup question.
4.
In the poem, The Bells by Edgar Allan Poe, what type of world does the poet say the
wedding bells foretells? Begin (a world of happiness)
This is the fifth tossup question.
5.
In the novel, Speak, which teacher does Melinda describe as follows and what subject does
she teach: “(she) has no face. She has uncombed stringy hair that droops on her shoulder.
The hair is black from her part to her ears and then neon orange to the frizzy ends.” Begin
(Hairwoman and English)
This is the sixth tossup question.
6.
From what work by what author is the following quote: “They'd never know. We'd do it
from inside. I've found a way in.' He said with a sort of intensity, 'We'd be like worms,
don't you see, in an apple.”? Begin (The Destructors by Graham Greene)
This is the seventh tossup question.
7.
In the short story, Flowers, what was over according to the last line of the story? Begin
(summer)
This is the eighth tossup question.
8.
In the novel, St. Dale by Sharyn McCrumb, from what town were Bill and Matthew? Begin
(Canterbury or Canterbury, New Hampshire)
This is the ninth tossup question.
9.
In the play, Othello, what does Emilia steal that belongs to Desdemona? Begin (her
handkerchief)
This is the tenth and final tossup question.
(Emcee note – if match is tied after this question go to the three tie breakers at the end of these
questions – use all three, even if tie is broken on first or second question!)
10.
From what work by what author is the following quote: “Pass, then, to the world of the
dead, and, if thou must needs love, love them. While I live, no woman shall rule me.”?
Begin (Antigone by Sophocles)
(SWAC Emcees only – Ask if there are any appeals)
EMERGENCY QUESTIONS (To be used in an emergency only –DO NOT USE AS EXTRA TIE
BREAKERS – but they can be used in place of tie breakers as they would be used if a
question has a mistake, if the emcee “flubs” a question, etc.):
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You have 5 seconds to answer this question.
1.
From what work by what author is the following quote: “In his self-consciousness he held
himself so rigid that attention to his book became a sheer physical impossibility”? Begin
(The Man Who Knew How by Dorothy Sayers)
You have 5 seconds to answer this question.
2.
What word in the following sentence is the predicate nominative: “Are many women
famous athletes?”? Begin (athletes)
TIE BREAKERS(To be used in cases of tie games – use all three questions, even if the tie is
broken with the first or second question; in case teams are still tied at the end of these
three questions – the game remains a tie.):
This is the first tiebreaker question.
1.
In the poem, The Bells by Edgar Allan Poe, what bird “listens while she gloats on the
moon”? Begin (turtle-dove)
This is the second tiebreaker question.
2.
In the short story, The Monkey’s Paw, what is Mr. White’s son’s name? Begin (Herbert)
This is the third tiebreaker question.
3.
From what work by what author is the following quote: “You can’t expect committing a
murder and getting away with it to be as simple as shelling peas”? Begin (The Man Who
Knew How by Dorothy Sayers)