1996 National Geography Bee

Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Today. 10 remarkable young people compete for the title of 1996 champion of the Eighth Annual National Geography Bee. This is the culmination of months of competition that began with millions of students competing in 50 states the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories on March 29 the state district in territorial champions won all expenses paid trips for themselves and their teacher escorts to Washington D.C. and a

chance to be one of the 10 finalists. Today's competition yesterday the 57 semifinalist went head to head in a series of intensive elimination matches. At the end of the day. Ten students emerged as winners with the right to compete in today's championship. Let's meet them now. Patrick Smith from Wyoming. The venue car from Virginia. Matthew Conway Oklahoma. John Mack from Pennsylvania. Paul Benson from Texas. Chafee from New Jersey. The condition of hockey. From Wisconsin. Paul ring from Rhode Island. Alex Kurtz from the state of Washington. And Brian bean. From Maine. This program has been made possible by the people at Chrysler Corporation and its divisions. Proud sponsors of educational programming because education is what drives America.

Back. From the Grosvenor Auditorium at the National Geographic Society in Washington D.C. Ladies and gentleman your host for the 1996 National Geography Bee. Mr.. Allen. Back. Ooh. Ooh. Ooh. Ooh ooh ooh ooh. Welcome once again to the National Geography Bee It's always a great pleasure for me to host this event here in Washington especially when it coincides with the beginning of winter as is the case this year. I'm making fun of the weather because I recall just a couple of years ago being in town for this event when the temperature was a full 40 degrees warmer than it has been this week. But it doesn't really matter if it's cold outside what is important is how much heat will be generated on stage with these 10 finalists. As you heard in the introduction Ladies and Gentlemen this is the eighth annual

National Geography Bee and I would be very remiss indeed if I did not tell you how happy we all are with the renewed interest in the subject of geography that has taken place because of this particular event not only here in the United States but around the world as well. I'll give you a brief example. Three years ago the first international geography Olympics took place in London England three countries participated. Two years ago five countries were involved. Next year we were expecting 10 countries to send representatives to compete. And that is a tribute not only to the dedication of the Geographic Society staff. But also to the dedication of geography teachers all around the country and to parents everywhere who have encouraged their kids to study this important and fascinating subject. We have the result of that encouragement on our stage today with these ten young men. Let me tell you how we are going to determine our National Geography Bee champion. This competition will take place in two rounds in the first. The students will receive a series of questions some of

them common some questions directed to a specific individual. As you can see in front of each player there are two lights. Whenever a player misses a question one of those lights will go out. When the student has missed two questions that player will be eliminated from further competition. We will continue this until we get down to two players who will then start with a clean slate in the championship round. Now young man has you know you will have about 12 seconds to respond to each question and each of you may interrupt twice during this preliminary round to ask me to repeat a question or spell a word for you and I know you're probably very nervous right now to sort of start you off to warm you up a little bit. We're going to give you a question that will not be scored and so will not figure in the competition so take out your markers and your cards. Look at your monitors and listen very carefully to this sample clue presented by someone who happens to live near here in Washington DC.

Congratulations to all of you. And good luck with this question. The earth is a fragile and delicate system and needs our stewardship. In 1970 the United States created the federal agency that is responsible for establishing and forcing rules that safeguard our environment. What is the name. You have 12 seconds. We're looking for the name of the federal agency responsible for safeguarding and protecting the environment. All right time's up. Put your cards in the hold it's in front of you place and let's see what you wrote down. Patrick was unable to come up with anything the family very small but it looks like. Can you read it for us and then you'll know. Thank you. All right. We have Matthew with Environmental Protection Agency same for

John Paul down front we've got. What did you write down. No I think it was you didn't get to finish all right. And then we have the chrome with let's see what we can roll down the Department of the Environment Department of the environment Environment Protection Agency Environment Protection Agency and Ryan was unable to come up with a response Mr. Vice President. What's the right answer place the correct answer is the Environmental Protection Agency or EPA. Once again congratulations to you and to all the students who participated in this year's. National. Geography. Thank you Mr. Vice President all right players. Let your guard down. Thank you. Now that you're warmed up let's get started with our first series of questions which will require oral answers only. Patrick Smith we'll start with you. I want you to name the Egyptian Peninsula that was occupied by Israel from one thousand sixty seven thousand nine hundred eighty two.

That's right. Now Faneuil in which intermediate direction would you travel to go directly from Riyadh to Beirut. Northwest. That's right. Matthew. Name the Persian Gulf country that is a federation of seven autonomous states. You know their grammar is correct. John name Japan's most populous island on Hsu right Paul. The Maya mountains which lie south of Belgium upon are primarily in what country really. Correct. Let's go down the shady you know named the South American country that has endian peaks Amazonian rain forests and the desert along most of its coast. Pearl Right. It's the name of the mountains that

lie between the black and Caspian Sea. It's the Caucasus mountain. Yes Paul the non-core Europe marks much of the boundary between Vietnam and which other country Cambodia. No sorry you picked the wrong one. Laos is the right answer and that means you have one missile when light goes out. Now we go to Alex name the largest Greek island in the Mediterranean Sea Crete. Correct. And finally Ryan telling a city on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland is the chief port of what country Estonia. That is right and that ladies and gentlemen concludes our first year of work you. Mean. What is obvious is that it was a from the performance so far that these young men are well prepared and have studied hard for this final and that's as it should be because

there's a great deal at stake $50000 in scholarship money $10000 to the third place finisher $15000 for second place and a $25000 college scholarship grant awarded to our national champion. Now although only one of these young men will become the national champion I think you ladies and gentlemen would agree with me when I say that to start out as one of five million and to wind up as one of 10 is quite an accomplishment in my book. These young men are all champions already. Spoiled. Hello I'm Jane Seymour. Off to Thomas Jefferson purchased the receipt of a territory from frauds. He sent an expedition to explore the newly acquired territory. This was the now famous expedition of Lewis and Clark. Do you know when this expedition was made and what city marked the beginning and end of the journey. I'll be back in a few minutes to give you the answer. Fifteen of them you know but we

know they went through Wyoming. No they didn't leave it with you. Because you're in Missouri River. The movie that showed that there were fewer people and thank goodness for. St. Louis 1812. Louisiana purchase was made in a two three and the Lewis and Clark expedition set out shortly thereafter. And Account side St. Louis Missouri. The expedition began in May 18 ople and return in September 18 0 6. An important event in the history of the United States. The Lewis and Clark expedition is based on knowledge about the west and made possible the great Crimean that took place. Maybe. Now ladies and gentlemen let's take a few moments to get to know our players individually. First of all Patrick Smith of Wyoming I understand Patrick that there is some wagering that has been done before your appearance here in Washington. Can you tell us about that. Yeah I have a bet with my friend Andy Sears back in the U.S. I bet him a package of hot

dogs. I wouldn't make it to the final. Yes I bet. If so I've made it and I've got a package waiting at home. And if I win I get two packages. Yes. Do you. Have to go like hot dogs. I like. OK. Yes. Good for you. Next to you from Virginia we have Nick Faneuil Carr who is one of our home schoolers Virginia seems to reduce a lot of home schoolers Nathaniel you're the third one that I can recall. You're from a pretty part of the state of Virginia Lurie which is on the Shenandoah River am I right. Correct. Now how did you prepare prepare for this competition in Washington this week. I read a lot of National Geographic materials and atlases and watch Jeopardy. Thank you very much. Thank you. You did that beautifully and believe me ladies and gentlemen this is from information he provided is not information I suggested to him. Matthew Conway of El Reno Oklahoma this is the second time that you have represented Oklahoma at the

National Geography Bee. You acquired an interest in geography because of moving around a lot. Are your parents in the military would that be a fair assumption you just traveled a lot in the United States just states them just you know it's just in the United States says here that you would like to travel all over the world you got to pick a specific spot for me Matthew. Where do you want to go. More than any other place. Long before I probably went international I'm probably starting maybe Europe or Canada or something like that. Yeah OK. Are you still a little nervous. No. I am. John McElhenney is from Greenville Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania supplied us a few years ago with a national champion. John in 1995 it says here you won the regional math accounts competition only about that one. It's a math competition that deals with all kinds of

math problems. Well this would suggest that you have a great interest in math and science as opposed to geography obviously you're interested in both subjects. What does the future hold in store for you. Are you going to veer towards math and sciences or stay with ya graphy. I really don't know. How old are you. Fourteen. You're kind of young you've got a lot of time. Paul Benson is from Sugar Land Texas which is near Houston. And you participated as a student ambassador to the United Kingdom in a project called what people people who people you know what is it about it's children over to other countries to promote world peace and friendship. How long did you get to stay there. Did you stay in a hotel or were you with a family in that country. We spent one week of those three and peoples homes. You like it. Good for you. Shade for a young Jew from New Jersey he was here two years ago ladies and gentlemen representing the state of New Jersey at the age of 12. You

know he at the age of 10 he's 12 years old now. And what are your favorite subjects in school. You better say geography is one of them. OK. These are my favorite subjects. Thank you. Oh I think so my other favorite subjects are like math and English and science. You like the competitions. I still like them but they get this. So if they do that. Are you feeling more relaxed now that we've had that sample question got that one out of the way. I don't really know. Vishnu bhakt is from Wisconsin and I understand that perhaps your interest in geography was because of your father's influence. Well our family travels a lot around the world and he travels a lot in the audience and he's brought a lot of things and sort of just interests me. Did he ever tell you the story of how he got interested in geography. You know when he was about five years old in a remote Indian village in the village

priest happened to have a lot of copies of National Geographic magazine. And that's how your dad got interested and it has carried through to you all running from. Rhode Island your brother was a finalist just a few years ago how do you finish. He came in second place in the Ninth National Geography Bee. All right so you've got a veteran competitor in your family. What kind of advice did he give you Paul. Well he helped me a lot with the questions and what types of questions they ask about landfall and different areas. So you feel you're pretty well prepared. Yes it's obvious you're here as one of the finalist Alex Kirschner is the youngest participant in the finals this year. He is 11 years old. And Alex I saw a photo in a newspaper from your state that showed your room fully decorated with all kinds of geographic artifacts. When did you develop this interest in geography or I guess it's just continue now you were a violinist too aren't you. Yeah I used to play and still

play a lot women used to play. Yeah you gave it up. I still play a lot. You know as much as you like practicing. Not really ok. And finally we have Ryan being from Augusta Maine Ryan the obvious question first of all are you related to the LLB family I don't think so. So I guess I'll have to forget about asking you to getting me a deal on some hiking boots right. Right yeah ok. It says here that you would like to travel to Germany particularly. Why. But I'd really really like to travel all around the world you know with the information we got from you earlier was that you want to go to Germany because you want to get to know their culture and eat their food like their desserts or. Just a. Good response. All right nice having you with us gentlemen ladies and gentlemen. Here they are the finalists of the 1996 National Geography Bee to

who. Gentlemen it's time now to get back to our competition the questions in this round appropriately enough have to do with the Olympics and in particular Olympic Games that have been held in Europe. Take a look at your monitors right now and you will see a map. I will give you a description of the Olympic Games. You have to identify the city in which those games took place. And in addition you have to give me the number that corresponds with that city. Patrick if you are ready we'll begin with you. The 912 Summer Olympics in which Jim Thorpe made Olympic history by winning both the decathlon and pentathlon were held in a city that lies near the entrance to the Gulf of Bosnia. Give the number and name of the city where these games were held. Five stock. Story. We've got the city right. But the number was incorrect.

Six is Stockholm one miss for you. And the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896 in a city east of Olympia. Give the number and name of the city that hosted these games. Number 17 Athens. You're right Matthew. The first Olympic torch relay preceded the opening ceremonies of the 936 games in the capital of Germany. Give the number and name of the city where these games were held. Pro groom. Correct. Gone the first time a team from the Soviet Union competed at the Olympics was at the 1952 Summer Games which were held in Finland. The most populous city give the number and name of the city where these games were held. Seven Helsinki got the city right but the number was wrong. Number eight is Helsinki and so that is one miss for you Paul Benson of Texas.

In the 1992 Summer Olympics which were held in Spain's most popular sport city athletes from Serbia Montenegro and Macedonia competed as independent Olympic participants. If the number and name of that city the host of these games Number 21 Barcelona right shade the city that hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics was the target of repeated shellings during the recent war in the Balkans. Give the number and name of the city that hosted these Olympics. Number 16 Sarajevo. Right. We come to protest the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan the United States led a boycott of the nineteen eighty Summer Olympics which took place at a sports complex near Gorky Park. Give the number and name of the city where these games were held. Tan Moscow right Paul. During the 1960 summer games in Italy the finish line for the marathon was at the arch of Constantine. Give the number and name of the city that hosted these games. 19. Rome. Correct Alex.

Fanny blanker the first woman to win four Olympic gold medals earned them in one thousand forty eight at Wembley Stadium in a city that was heavily bombed during the Blitz. Give the number and name of the city where these Summer Games were held. One London correct. Finally Ryan the first Winter Olympics in a Nordic country were held in 1052 in a capital city located at the head of a few Ord give the number and name of the city that hosted these games for Oslo. That is absolutely right. And gentleman Congratulations you are performing. I think you were. I am Spencer Christian from Good Morning America the United States experiences more than 700 tornadoes each year more than any other country in the world in fact there occurred most often in an area that has earned the nickname Tornado Alley. Can you tell me where tornado alley is located and give you the answer when we return.

Where is 22 alley there is a very good question we were just discussing that at the dinner table the other day. And people have said that if you tell me where tornado alley it is you don't have to do the dishes. Texas. Kansas. Oklahoma. That. Became. A. Pretty no alley is the area where tornadoes strike most often in the United States. It stretches from north central Texas up through Oklahoma and into Kansas here during the spring tornado season cold dry air from the north meets warm humid air from the Gulf of Mexico. The severe storms created by these clashing air masses may produce tornadoes. If the atmospheric conditions are just right now may generally has more tornadoes than any other month. So keep that in mind next time you're traveling through tornado alley. All right players for the next question you will need your cards and your markers. This question involves an artifact. All of you get to write down your answers at the same time. And when I ask you to do so please hold up the cards that will show your response and do not remove your answers until I ask you

to do that. We will not penalize you for an incorrect spelling or a mispronounced word so long as our judges can be sure that you do in fact know the correct response. I'm going to read the question twice for centuries. Conch shell trumpets like this one have been used as a call to prayer by Tibetan Buddhist priests who are known as Lamas. The sound from the shell. Easy. Obviously I'm not a Tibetan monk. The sound from the shell is symbolic of the Dharma or teaching that leads to enlightenment. I want you to name the city in Tibet that is the traditional center of this religion. All right conch shell trumpets like this one have been used as a call to prayer by Tibetan Buddhist priest known as Lamas name the city in Tibet. That is the traditional center of this religion.

I had to try just one more time. All right hold up your cards. Let's see what you wrote down. Patrick wrote the last thing you wrote down the loss of Matthew. Also John was unable to come up with the City Hall Benson wrote a Lhasa as did she. The groom Paul ring the Rhode Island route down Katmandu Lhasa for Alex Kirshner and Ryan being rowed down Lhasa as well. The correct city is a Lhasa in Tibet Katmandu is the capital of Nepal and so that is incorrect and that means the John McElhenney you have your second mates and Paul ring you also have missed your second clue. And so we have to excuse you from further competition but again congratulations to both of you on the right was much. Much.

Much. Thank you. It's been. Like a rollercoaster. Up and down. It's. Actually it's just been going straight up. I'm from Midwest Romeo it's town of about 350 people. I get on the computer. Can you. Still. See from my mom you know it's. I'm I'm not really into pro basketball as much as a. Junior high basketball. You know we had to do prophecies in English and everybody said I was going to be host jeopardy after X directive and. We live around near the mountains gender national park in really beautiful places there. My favorite stores to play or tennis and soccer to watch are like watching auto racing. I collect stamps. I like playing the piano. That's just something I really enjoy doing. Particularly I think that's why I've been able to stick with it these years because it's something. I do. And I really think my parents they've worked so hard for you know even getting this far is all because of them. I can't

take any credit for this they have to. I don't really like having homework. That much. I don't like him why does. I'd like to write a fictional story and say. I'm. Only on the map business. Possibly a politician first I'd run for mayor of New Zealand time. Then. After that I. Can think of. And maybe Pres. I'd say. Mostly executive position. I'm relieved that I got this far to say I was nervous. I've been to the state level four times. I enjoy competing and I like to play basketball. I like to travel. My mother and I went to Paris last year. On the dreaded Spain. I live on a farm. It's about seven or eight miles from. Greenville. Which has about a thousand people. One of my heroes is Franklin Roosevelt because of his great determination. Because of his polio when he was still a great president.

You're the puppet group at my church. And I'm in the back. And is in packed church downtown in the inner city of Houston. And we'll go down there and perform for the people who have no church to go to really I'm also. In the Boy Scouts. And the FBI trooper and I just feel. More in charge there went through I thought the writing would be nice for science. Takes. Place I think that most people when this or even get this far have a deep interest in geography they really like geography and they're not just doing this because they're forced to they're doing it because this is what they're interested in. I think that one of my role models is my father because his ethics of working hard to get something that you want. And to like he just wants what your family and just help like all those around you is really. Something I look at a gym. When I was in the competition and I was nervous. I play piano and flute for almost nine years.

I like classical. I also like jazz. I'm going to be staying an extra day to look around Washington and go inside the monuments. My heroes are many world leaders that have done and influence people like us or Mandela and Gandhi and Martin Luther King. I didn't think I was going to make it this far. It's really a. Shock. Five. Years ago. Why bother with Konchesky went second place. I like golfing in the summer. And knocking on the bowling. Just a. Small Virginia Tech when. I had a ball model I got a of can you are going to be. My Senator Ted Kennedy. And. My feeling with my brother and. I look up to him. I'm going to stay for three years and the only three years I think to. The guest list is when I play basketball for soccer. And.

Baseball in the classroom and school I'm afraid I'm a lot better than I was. And and still am afraid to do that you know really bad. Here I'm afraid I won't even answer on the bus. I just kind of close my eyes and say. OK just do it. Mr.. Kelly. What's. Yours. I am playing. With my hand. But my science project. Costs the time. Now I know. Our next series of questions will be about masks from various countries each of you in turn will look at a mask. Then I will read the question related to it.

May we have the first mask please. Patrick you get to respond to the first question. This mask is worn during the initiation of men be girls into the women's society. The mehndi live in what country whose name means Lion Mountain. Yes. Could you repeat the question. Yes this mask is worn during the initiation of many girls into the women society. The mehndi live in what country whose name means lion mountains. Sorry Patrick. The correct response. Sierra Leone Sierra Leone. A second miss for you. Let's go to Nathaniel Carr in the Faneuil. Masks like this one are worn during festivals held in an island country that extends for about

fifteen hundred miles north of the Tropic of Cancer. Name the country. If your question please. Yes. Masks like this one are worn during festivals held in an island country that extends for about fifteen hundred miles north of the Tropic of Cancer. Name a country. The Philippines story the country is Japan and so that is just your first Miss. Let's go to Matthew Conway of Oklahoma. This hyena mask is worn by a young bomb and the men at their entrance into the men's society most abominate live near the upper Niger River in a country that shares its name with an early African empire. Name the country mainly Mali. Yes that is right. Now we go to Paul Benson. Paul this mask is worn in a drama based on the epic remark Ian a classic tale of the triumph of good over evil in

the only Southeast Asian country that was never a European colony. What is the present day name of this country. And you're right. Shade. This ceremonial mask is worn by the bomb. People who live north of the sun a river in a country that borders Nigeria. Name this country which was once controlled by Germany Cameroon. Your folks are from Nigeria aren't they. It's a good thing you came up with the correct response on this. Well done. Now we go to break room. Coal grows adorn this mask which is used in a dance that aims to cure ailments caused by the demons of disease. This dance is performed in what country in the Indian Ocean that Arab traders once called said and it. Marty I know. Or if yours is incorrect the right response is Sri

Lanka Sri Lanka so that is one miss where you overcome. Now we come to Alex Kirshner. This mask which represents a yam knife is used in plays parades and initiations by the ebook. These people once attempted to make a region they called B offer a independent from what country Nigeria right. Finally we come to Ryan bean Ryan demon masks like this one are worn during religious festivals in a Buddhist kingdom that is known as the land of the funder dragon named this country where most people speak a Tibetan dialect called Junko well-tanned Bhutan. Yes well done. And that. Restaurant. Thank you for being with us today. Thank you. Go.

On 4th of joinery. In 1988 I won three gold medals and one silver medal at the Summer Olympics in Seoul South Korea. My geography question is this. If one of our 50 states. 50 to from the union. And declared itself an independent country it would rank among the top 10 countries with the highest gross national product. Which. State is that. I'll give you the answer in a minute. Lucy I admire Connecticut. So I would say Connecticut I would say. In your last year in California Texas you say Texas six years. Did you come up with the answer. Which state would rank among the top 10 countries with the highest growth national product. If. It's the PTA. Let me give you a clue. It's cart the golden day. And it happens to be where I'm standing. That's right the answer is my home state. California. All right players you will need your cards and markers to answer the next question which requires you to look at a short video on your monitors. Take a look. I will ask one question for which each of you will write

an answer will follow the same procedure as before and I will read the question twice May we see the video players. Yeah. The poor people shown in this video live in a remote part of a state in what country. The Chi up o people shown in that video live in a remote part of a state. In what country. May we see your cards please. With a meal as written down. Brazil. Matthew was unable to come up with a country. Paul picked Brazil as did she. The groom you wrote down in my Yanmar Brazil for Alex Kirshner. And Ryan wrote down Brazil as well. The correct response to the state of Bharat is in Brazil that means an incorrect response and a first missed for you Matthew

Conway and a first missed for recruit as well. All of the others. I'm sorry a second missed for the groom. And that means we have to excuse you from further competition. Congratulations for what. T fire. Down now is going to. Be. Our next series of questions concerns the topic of nature travel when it is your turn I want you to look at the picture on your monitor while I read the question. This elephant in should be national park is part of one of the world's largest elephant herds. This park is in what country. Located just south west of Victoria Falls. In. Zimbabwe. You know I thought you might go for Zimbabwe or Zambia the correct

response is Botswana Botswana. The second is for you. Matthew Conway of Oklahoma divers can swim with Sting Rays at Sting Ray City a lagoon in a group of British Islands northwest of Jamaica. Name this group of islands Cayman Island. You're right. Paul Benson of Texas tourists ride elephants to see one horned rhinoceroses in cars a ring national park on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River. This park is in the northeastern part of what country. India yes. Shady Komodo dragons like this one on a beach in the lesser Sunda Islands are among the unusual forms of wildlife that attract nature tours to which equatorial country Indonesia. You're right Alex. These white horses and hundreds of species of migrating birds attract travelers to the Camargue

in southern France. This marshland is in the delta of what River their own river. Yes Ryan. Tourists who want to see marine iguanas in the wild must travel to a group of volcanic islands in the eastern Pacific to name these islands. Oh I know. Sorry. They are the Galapagos Islands and that means we have one mints for you and that takes us to the end of this round. Congratulations to all of you and I found your car because of your second miss we have to say goodbye. But it was great for you. Young quarterback for the San Francisco forty niners one of the great things about geography. Is that it is all around us and all we have to do is recognize for example many professional sports teams have names that are tied to geography. My team the San Francisco forty niners is named after an important event. They had a huge impact on the development of the

entire San Francisco area. What was that event. And how did it shape San Francisco's geog. Were there 49 of them. From the 49ers saying now if were you going to man in the Gold Rush. Exactly. We had secretly call. Them. The San Francisco 49ers take their name from the people who flocked to the area during the gold rush of 1849 in hopes of striking it rich. San Francisco was the nearest port to the gold fields near Sacramento and in less than two years San Francisco grew from a small town of about 800 people to a city of more than 25000. Gold rush of 1849 was an important event in the city's history and development and that's why we're called San Francisco forty niners. So what do you think those Forty niner started playing football. We have now completed our series of visual clues and the remaining final round questions will require oral answers from the students only.

Matthew We begin with you copper and zinc are mined at Flin Flon a town that lies on the border between Manitoba and which other prairie province. So I scratch and that is right Paul. Kenya's chief port was founded on an island in the Indian Ocean. Name this port city. Nairobi story Nairobi is the capital. The port city is Mombasa. That's just one miss for you shady. The discovery of what resource was a major factor in causing Australia's population to almost triple between 1850 and 1860 will go. That's it Alex. The region north of the Firth of Clyde in the Firth of Forth was known to Romans as Caledonia. Today this region makes up most of what political unit Scotland Yes Ryan. Name the island country south of Sicily that has had military importance because of its

strategic location in the Mediterranean Sea. Malta. Right. Back to Matthew. Most of what country's coastline lies between the deltas of the red and me Kong rivers. Yes Paul Devil's Island a penal colony during the late 19th and early 20th centuries is off the coast of which French overseas department. In Caledonia. No sorry it is French Guiana French Guiana a second miss for you. The curial islands which extend from Hokkaido to they come chock up an insula stretch across the entrance to what sea. The Sea of Okhotsk. Yes Alex. Hydroelectric facilities on the sound Francisco River provide power for the northeastern part of which South American country. If you put the

question right hydroelectric facilities on the sound Francisco River provide power for the northeastern part of which South American country. Then as well. Sorry. Brazil is the right response that is oneness for you Ryan festively is a region located east of the Pintos mountains in which Mediterranean country. Please repeat the question. Festivity is a region located east of the Pintos mountains in which Mediterranean country Greece. Yes and that takes us to the end of this round and we have. Already. Begun. Live I was. Going to continue trying to get it down to our two finalists Matthew. Name

the river that is the principal source of fresh water for the Sea of Galilee. Your river. Yes Shady the Colima river basin where political prisoners in Gulag labor camps once mined gold is in what country. How do you spell Good luck. G U L A G. Russia. Yes Alex. Name the large estuary formed by the pot on ya and one of y rivers. I. ALEX That's your second miss it is the Rio de la Plata Rio de la Plata. A second miss for you Ryan. Name the European country that has expanded its living space by draining much of the Zeiger Zee. The Netherlands the

Netherlands is right and Alex I'm sorry but congratulations on much. Seems a lot tougher to miss something when you're 12 years old. All right gentlemen. Now we're trying to determine who the two finalists will be Matthew. The region west of the Essex Keeble river has been the subject of an ongoing territorial dispute between Guyana and which neighboring country. So the name Surinam is incorrect. The right response is Venezuela. So that's a second miss for you. She the Narmada a river that rises in the Michael low range and flows into the Gulf of combat a is one of the most sacred rivers for followers of which religion

Hindu ism that is right Ryan. Most people who live on France's largest island in the Mediterranean Sea speak an Italian dialect named this island Corsica Corsica is a right Matthew to miss is for you you will finish with a $10000 arrested. For. Gentlemen we are now down. To our. Final list and in. A few moments. They will begin the championship round and one of them will emerge as the national geography bee champion from 1996 while our two finalists take a few moments to collect their thoughts and gather themselves we'd like to share some moments from the week's activities that have led up to today's competition. On Monday the 57 state district in territorial champions arrived in Washington D.C.. Over the past few days. They shared stories and experiences with

kids from other parts of the country and territories around the world. It's all added up to a week in Washington that these remarkable young people will remember for the rest of their lives. We're not ready ladies and gentlemen for the championship round she and Ryan are starting off this round with a clean slate. I will ask three questions.

Whoever winds up with the most correct answers at the end of the round will be the 1996 National Geography Bee champion. Gentlemen when I ask you to do so you will put your cards in the slots in front of you and read off your response. You'll have 12 seconds. Once again to deal with each question. Here is the first one for you. Name the sixteenth century Flemish geographer who designed a map projection for use in navigation and who is credited with producing the first collection of maps called an atlas named the 16th century Flemish geographer who designed a map projection for use in navigation and who is credited with producing the first collection of maps called an atlas. Time's up the cards are up in the slots. Ryan was unable to come up with a response.

Shay wrote down Gherardo smirk a. then crossed out the first name I suppose. Did you think you had misspelled it. Yeah. My caterer is right and so you lead in the final one point to nil. Here is the next question for you. Name the Portuguese territory on the east coast of Asia that is scheduled to revert to Chinese control in one thousand ninety nine. Name the Portuguese territory on the east coast of Asia that is scheduled to revert to Chinese control in one thousand ninety nine. Ryan you know of course that if you miss this one and she gets it he will be the new champion. Right. Put your cards up please. Ryan what did you write down. Look how. She and you both wrote down the same response and you were both correct and so shaky you have two points. Ryan has one.

As we go to our next question. Name the European cold principality who's heads of state or the president of France and the bishop can name the European co-principal ality. Who is heads of state are the president of friends and the Bishop of heaven. All right Cards up please. Ryan on this one you know that Monaco you wrote down Monaco you know that you must be right and she must be wrong. You know order for you to tie him. She what did you write down. The European call principality who's heads of state or the president of France and the bishop who have is. Andorra. And that means.

Me. Right you know. You. Are right. Are. You a warrior ladies and gentlemen I CAn't STAND UP YOUR theory or. Presentation of the awards and I would ask to join me on stage the chairman of the National Geographic Society Mr. Bill Grosvenor and a vice president with a Chrysler Corporation Mr. Rob the Liberty gentleman. Or this is our eighth national geography bee. And I get the feeling and I hope you share it. But the kids are getting smarter and smarter because they have

dealt with some tough material. What are your impressions. Well I'm really worried about next year I don't think our professional geographers are going to come up with tough enough questions. Well they certainly deserve what they are about to receive. And I would ask you and Rob to make the presentation now the third place check goes to the young gentleman from Oklahoma. Matthew come forward please. Are. You sure you are. There were ten thousand dollar scholarship grant. Second place a $15000 scholarship grant to Rob Ryan. Being from Maine are. Arab. And in the case of this young man the second time proved to be a charm for say a New Jersey national champion.

You're wrong. Are you are. You are. Julie you earlier your mother said that you were very devoted. You're good at studying and all of that when you didn't win two years ago at the age of 10. Big disappointment for you. I know but you kept trying and now you're back. How do you feel. I feel good. You know this is a tough question. Oh go ahead. Yeah this is a tough question for you. What do you do for an encore when you achieve this much success at the age of 12 when the team tournament on the other show what a great thing. Ali thank you for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen thank you THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

THANK You're all going to gradually you're going to YOU JULIE. shut up you fool us to to less him. This program has been made possible by the people at Chrysler Corporation and its divisions.

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