SWAC 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, Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw, who is Mrs. Pearce? Begin (Professor
Higgins’ housekeeper)
This is the first directed question for team B.
1B. In the nonfiction selection, Campus Racism 101 by Nikki Giovanni, what does the author say is a little like playing grown-up? Begin (college or going to college)
This is the second directed question for team A.
2A. In the short story, The Drunkard by Frank O’Connor, what did Larry’s mother do to him after his father went to work? Begin (kissed him and/or gave him a holiday till his eye got better)
This is the second directed question for team B.
2B. In the short story, The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, who was the oldest man in town? Begin
(Mr. Warner or Old Man Warner)
This is the third directed question for team A.
3A. In the novel, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, why do Lennie and George have to spend the night in the clearing by the river on the first night at the beginning of the novel?
Begin (the bus driver let them off too far away or the bus driver let them off to far from the ranch and George didn’t want to walk)
This is the third directed question for team B.
3B. In the poem, Sonnet 130 by William Shakespeare, to what does the poet compare the red of his mistress’ lips? Begin (Coral)
This is the fourth directed question for team A.
4A. In the poem, The Death of the Hired Man by Robert Frost, what does Warren say Silas thinks he ought to earn a little pay for so he won’t have to beg and be beholden? Begin (to buy tobacco)
This is the fourth directed question for team B.
4B. In the play, Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw, what did Higgins want done with Eliza’s clothes when she came to his house for lessons? Begin (burn them)
This is the fifth directed question for team A.
5A. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, what prophecy do the witches provide to
Banquo? Begin (that he will not be a king but his descendants will be kings)

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This is the fifth directed question for team B.
5B. In the play Trifles by Susan Glaspell, at whose abandoned farmhouse does the play open?
Begin (John Wright or Mr. and Mrs. Wright)
This is the sixth directed question for team A.
6A. In the play Trifles by Susan Glaspell, why were Mr. Hale and Harry going to town when they stopped at the Wright farm? Begin (to take a load of potatoes)
This is the sixth directed question for team B.
6B. In literary terms, what is an extended metaphor, especially an elaborate or exaggerated comparison, that governs an entire poem or poetic passage called? Begin (conceit)
This is the seventh directed question for team A.
7A. In the poem, Sonnet 130 by William Shakespeare, what does the poet say “grows on her head”? Begin (black wires)
This is the seventh directed question for team B.
7B. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, what present does King Duncan give to Lady
Macbeth when he arrives at her home? Begin (a diamond)
This is the eighth directed question for team A.
8A. What is an elegy? Begin (A poem or song composed especially as a lament for the dead)
This is the eighth directed question for team B.
8B. In the poem, The Death of the Hired Man by Robert Frost, to whom does Mary want
Warren to be kind? Begin (Silas)
This is the ninth directed question for team A.
9A. In the short story, The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, what was in the black box? Begin (slips of paper)
This is the ninth directed question for team B.
9B. In the short story, The Drunkard by Frank O’Connor, what happened to Larry after he drank his father’s pints? Begin (he got sick)
This is the tenth and final directed question for team A.
10A. In the nonfiction selection, Campus Racism 101 by Nikki Giovanni, why does the author say students are in school? Begin (to learn)

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This is the tenth and final directed question for team B.
10B. In the novel, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, what does George see Lenny holding and take away from him on the night before they get to the ranch? Begin (a dead mouse)
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. In the poem, My Papa’s Waltz by Theodore Roethke, what habit of the boy’s father could make a small boy dizzy? Begin (his drinking or the whiskey on his breath)
This is the second tossup question.
2. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, who was the protagonist of the play? Begin
(Macbeth)
This is the third tossup question.
3.
From what work by what author is the following quote: “. . . everyone knows what you are now. God forgive you, wasting our hard-earned few ha’pence on drink, and bring up your child to be a drunken corner-boy like yourself.”? Begin (The Drunkard by Frank
O’Connor)
This is the fourth tossup question.
4. In the novel, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, who raised Lenny? Begin (Aunt Clara)
This is the fifth tossup question.
5. From what work by what author is the following quote: “Your job is not to educate white people; it is to obtain an education.”? Begin (Campus Racism 101 by Nikki Giovanni)
This is the sixth tossup question.
6. What is the part of a play that provides the background information needed to understand the characters and the action? Begin (exposition)

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This is the seventh tossup question.
7. In the novel, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, which character is discussed in the following quote: “His face was dark with the violent pleasure of making this stupendous noise, and his heart was making the stretched shirt shake”? Begin (Ralph)
This is the eighth tossup question.
8. In the play, Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw, why is Liza leery about taking chocolates from Professor Higgins? Begin (she had heard of girls being drugged by gentlemen)
This is the ninth tossup question.
9. In the novella, The Pearl, how does Coyotito die? Begin (he is shot or a tracker shoots him)
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. In the novel, St. Dale by Sharyn McCrumb, what three things were in the bulky canvas bag that Harley carried with him every where he went? Begin (all three must be given –
Firesuit, Driving Boots and Helmet)
(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.):
You have 5 seconds to answer this question.
1. In the poem, I, Too, Sing America by Langston Hughes, what will nobody dare say to the poet when he is sitting at the table? Begin (Eat in the kitchen)
You have 5 seconds to answer this question.
2. In grammar, what type of noun names a particular person, place, or thing such as Golden
Gate Bridge? Begin (proper or proper noun)
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 short story, The Monkey’s Paw, what did Herbert say as a joke about how the two hundred pounds could hurt his father? Begin (it could drop on his head from the sky)

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This is the second tiebreaker question.
2. In the poem, Mid-term Break by Seamus Heaney, how did the boy feel when old men stood up to shake his hand? Begin (embarrassed)
This is the third tiebreaker question.
In grammar, what is the word to which a pronoun refers called? Begin (antecedent) 3.