1989 National Geographic Bee

Good morning. I'm good Grosvenor with National Geographic Society. I'd like to welcome you all here to the first and I hope and the National Geographic Geography Bee we have with us today as our most honored guests the fifty five great winners at the state level. We have with us all the winners we have no losers today. Every. Every kid is a state champion. We've had two glorious days. If I really thought that you could break the weather the way you have on the last two days you'd be here every day. We started with a wonderful meeting with President Bush. I was very pleased that every kid could answer his quiz. Everyone knew where Bolivia Oman Hong Kong

were located. And fortunately the kids read the newspapers because his last question was Where is Kennebunkport. And they knew. We had a wonderful preliminary round to the finals yesterday. I was impressed. I was very impressed with the knowledge I had seen the questions I knew the answers and I still missed one. But these kids know their geography. I was also impressed with the enthusiasm and the sportsmanship of these youngsters. We had a delightful picnic last night. I think that was a highlight for me is to get around and talk to parents and teachers because of course you're on the front line. We have several people here today that special people here today that I would like to introduce.

First I would like to ask the professional geographers and judges who serve so well yesterday to stand up. Although this is risky. I would like to particularly think Janet Crane who was responsible for working with a lot of people in coming up with the questions. So you're to blame Janet not me. She went through a tremendous process to try to make this contest as fair as possible. I'd also like to single out Mary Lee Eldin who has been coordinating this program from day one Mary Lee where are you next.

I'd like to recognize our own Washington hero of academic competitions. Mac McGarry. He has been a tremendous success in the Washington area and he has been able to to bring education to the forefront and make it fun and interesting. Next. I'd like to recognize a man that is known by everyone in this room. Senator Bradley he is perhaps the best traveled in the good sense of anyone in the member of Congress. He's been to more countries than probably anybody in this room. His knowledge of geography is extraordinary. But when you understand his background you will learn why he is so good at geography. He was a scholar at Princeton University where he

also managed to play basketball. He was a Rhodes Scholar. After that he managed to play a lot more basketball and he's traveled the world and he is one of the best representatives in Congress for supporting education Senator Bill Bradley was the one that really co-sponsor geography Awareness Week which has been so important to enhancing geography across this country. He also hosted a geography bee in the state of New Jersey that was so successful that we stole it. And I am the first to admit that senator. He is committed to education. He has left a busy schedule on the Hill today to be with us. And I would like Senator Bradley to address this group.

Thank you very much. And let me thank the National Geographic for their outstanding work in hosting this national geography bee. I never thought I'd appreciate a theft but I certainly do appreciate this one. And I in introducing the National Geography awareness week along with many of my colleagues hope that we would focus public attention and public interest on the study of geography and I think that we've succeeded in many ways. But I can think of no more fitting or important way than this geography bee today knowledge of geography is all those of you in this room know helps us understand ourselves our relationship to the earth and our interdependence with other peoples of the world.

Our country of the United States is a continental nation. We have a population with a diverse ethnic and racial heritage. We have broad landscape beautiful resources. All of this contributes I believe to our status as a world power and as a nation we have worldwide involvements and global influence and that simply demands that our citizens have an understanding of the lands languages and cultures of the world. That's why geography is all about. And besides anyone who's played the Capitol game Capitals game in the car on long drives as a kid as I did knows it's also tremendous excitement and fun. So I want to say once more how much I appreciate National Geographic's support. And leadership. Let me also say to all those who have participated and this includes all those who participated in the New Jersey State B and all of the state B's with

didn't make it here. And that includes all those who came and didn't make it to the stage and that includes all the nine who won't make it to be the National Geography Bee champion. Let me say to all of you thank you. I believe as Gill said you are all winners because by your interest and your ability you are helping us to say to the country that geography is important and geography is fun. Good luck to all of you. Turnabout is fair play the senator has stolen all the earmarks. I was going to say about the importance of geography. Behind every successful student is a

supporting nagging yelling cajoling parent. And I would like to ask all parents of our 55 winners just please stand up and stay standing. I want you to promise me you'll do one thing when you go back home. You take a real close look. At your school system. You are the ones that can impact education in this country. If parents really take an interest in their school they can make it a top notch school that this country can be proud of but it's parents

that have got to be there and do it. If you promise that the whole trip's been worthwhile for me thank you. Next I would like all the teachers to stand who have winners here today. From presidents on down. There is probably not a successful man or woman in this country that doesn't look back in time and point to some teacher that influenced his or her life you people are on the cutting edge of education. When that door closes in the classroom you are the ones that are going to make or break

education in this country. We have to support you and at the geographic we are trying to support you but you are the ones that are responsible for what we're doing today. And for the incredible showing that these kids have made here. And I would like to ask you to do one thing for me I would like each of you to go back to your own school and continue because I know you've been doing this continue to motivate your principal other teachers to recognize the importance of geography and the total school experience you as a group can be very powerful. You can be influential in restoring geography to the curriculum in this country. We're doing everything we can to help train teachers to teach geography. Clearly you all don't need any help you've you've brought your students to the national finals

but we need to restore geography in every school in this country and you can be effective. And I thank you very much. And now I'd like all 55 of our finalists to stand up. We so often hear the bad news about schools we hear about kids dropping out. We hear about kids misbehaving in school and disrupting the school. But you people you kids represent the hope in this country. You're at

the other end of the spectrum. You are the ones that we are looking to to lead this country. And when you get out of school and you're suddenly on life's field you'll find that the knowledge you have gained in school particularly geography will be of great help to you. And when I'm out green pastures nibbling on the grass I will rest assured because I'm convinced that with kids like you coming along this country can remain great and a powerful and positive influence on planet Earth. And I thank you for being here. We are really very fortunate to have with us today a real pro Alex drawback. He's going to be our moderator.

The Los Angeles Times publication for which I usually have a lot of respect for him said that if game shows were universities his show Jeopardy would be Harvard. While I think they're damning with faint praise as a Yale man I think he's far above that. Clearly Jeopardy is a very popular educational show and we are more than a little delighted to have him share with us his great ability to orchestrate a competition. He's renowned for his ability to be fair to be impartial and to be fun. When we made the announcement back in March that he had agreed to be with us today. He joined several of us for lunch and I must say you know there were professional geographers there. We were all

awed with his knowledge of world geography and foreign languages. After lunch several of us went and said You know I think Alex Trebek knows more about geography than 95 percent of us at the graphic. The man is brilliant and he is well-traveled and he has 22 million people watching him perform every night. But he also seemed to be on Jeopardy. He's a very active participant in World Vision. World Vision is an international relief and child sponsorship organization which has as one of its major goals to try to eradicate world hunger. And now I want to introduce to you the man whose intelligence and grace comes through and television sets throughout the nation.

Every night we consider him a member of the geographic family and a good friend. Ladies and gentlemen Alex Trebek. Thank you. Good morning ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the first national geography bee. Fine has a nice sound which I hope we're beginning a tradition here. They have to begin somewhere you know. I hope I'll be asked to do this again for many many years to come. I was delighted when I was invited to participate in this year's event and I'm very excited probably more excited than I am when I do jeopardy and I'll tell you why it is because of these young people. I get emotional because when I look at young people such as these I see the future of this country. And when I look at such bright young people and believe me they are bright. This isn't just a memory test that you're going to be experiencing here today. Then I

feel very reassured. As Mr. Grosvenor's said a few moments ago about the future of this country it hasn't been an easy process for these young people getting here. As you know there were between 15 and 20000 schools participating in the preliminary round. We went on to state finals then we had the preliminaries of the national finals here in Washington yesterday and we came up with these 10 young fellows. It hasn't been easy for me getting here as was the case with most of you I suppose I was delighted that USA Today yesterday took such an interest in this event gave it front page coverage. I then took the test in the D.S.. Which might have been a mistake. There were four parts to the test. Gill said a moment ago that he thinks I know more geography than many of the people here at the National Geographic Society. Well I only got 87 percent on the test yesterday. I attribute that not to a lack of

knowledge but to faulty memory. And I want to apologize. I want to apologize to the people of Idaho and Wisconsin for the life of me yesterday and I tried desperately to remember the Capitals and I couldn't come up with Boise and Madison I'm so sorry about that. You'll have to forgive me on that score. These young people that you see before you range in age from 12 to 15 and before I explain how we are going to conduct this National Geography Bee final Let's spend a few moments meeting them going to start with Ian King of Utah by the way the students are seated here in a random selection. They were drawing numbers from a bowl and we wound up with this order. So Ian King of Utah tell me a little bit about yourself. Lots of folks will get to know you I'm from Utah. What school. Churchill junior high. Are you more nervous today than you were in the semi-finals yesterday or meeting the president yesterday.

Yeah you are right. Have you always been interested in geography for a long time. Are you are you a good student in other subjects as well. If you had your choice of visiting any country in the world where would you go in their Soviet Union or to Antarctica. All right. Interesting. Nice having you with us and congratulations on being the Utah State Champion. Thanks Ralph. Tell me about yourself first of all tell me how to pronounce your name. Ralph Phil hey hey. And it is for middle school in Indianapolis Indiana. Are you an only child. Yes. I see. What grade are you. Hey eighth grade What's your favorite subject. It doesn't have to be geography. Oh it's in math. Really. What do you want to do when you finish your school and go on through high school and college I assume you want to go to college. I'm not sure you. Know. All right. Key Lou. Yes. Correct. Tell me about yourself. I live in Riverdale I know that I go to can we're going to take it back from the center in. I never. See any brothers or sisters

to two in the world are they here today to cheer you on in school. And they should be in school. All right. Michael tell me about you. I'm like a son down 13. I'm from Arkansas. And I got a lot of Cella. And the brothers and sisters. Yes. They all have red hair like you know you're the only one. Yes. You take a lot of ribbing because of that red hair. Yes. I want to get really good really. Well that's that's the best kind. How do you do in school. Are you a good student is geography one of your favorite subjects. Yes it's my life. Yeah. You score well in it. Yes. OK well enough to become the Arkansas state champs. Congratulations Jack. Yes. My name's Jack's dad and I'm from a small very small Seventh Day Adventist Christian school that has six students at present. Six students. Yes I'm the shortest of my class. I was I was going to ask you about that because I noticed when

Mr. Grosvenor asked fifty five champions to stand I was looking at the monitor backstage and you were the tallest student out here. How tall are you. About six six. I'll ask you the obvious question. Do you play basketball. Not too much. OK. Good for you. Now six students in your school only. Yes. And you won that competition there. Yes. Well that was probably my brother my brother was pretty good at it so I will I'm not going to say it was the easiest. Oh really. All right. Well nice having you with us Jack. Thank you. Let's go over here and we have to Christophers as you notice. Ladies and gentlemen. Let's start with this one. Tell me how to pronounce your name. Jutes. Jesus Jesus Jesus. That's Polish. Yes. All right. Where are you from Chris. I'm from New York. Where is it. It's in the Mohawk village near Utica. I was a geography expert. I knew that. And if you believe that. How old are you. I'm 12. I see. And what are some of your interests. What do you like doing. Well

I like to swim. I like to read. I like to play the clarinet and I like drawing is school fun for you. I guess you could say it is you know. Does a contest such as this one make it more exciting for you. Yeah. Yeah. Well that's good. We could come up with one of our purposes. Let's go to the other Christopher. You are. Chris they were from Spokane Washington D.C.. Tell me about yourself and your family and your school. Well I have two little brothers and a sister and two little brothers are seven years old each of their twins. And my sister is 12 years old and and she's a she goes to school and they're both they're all at home. What are some of your ambitions. Well I've had 12 different things that I wanted to do that I don't have anything in particular that I want to do. It's kind of early to be called upon to answer that question isn't it when you're just 15 still in primary school for junior high. 14 in your case. All right let's go over to Matthew. Matthew Joseph and tell me about yourself.

Well my name is math Joseph. OK. Beaton called me. I beat you to it. You come on that I can call you mad Joe Joe Joe. OK. OK. I'm from Huntsville Alabama from mountain gap middle school. Which is a big school and a large school. How many is on big. Oh that's a good size school. So it's not like six over there. And where would you like to travel if you had your druthers any country that really fascinates you. Probably India. India. OK. Makes sense. Michael. How are you. Michael Shannon. You're one of the 12 year olds in this file. Well I'm not that short. No no I'm not talking about height we're talking about age. I'm 14 for 14 sort. All right. I don't hold that against you. OK. Thank you. Somewhere. Somewhere in my contract it

must say host must play straight man to. Comedic talents of young people. All right Michael tell me about you. Well I'm got to pro-criminal school in Reading Massachusetts. And I have one sisters here. Good point. All righty. Any people watching back home you think are interested back home. Well I like to think my classmates are there probably in our favor. They're going to be blasé unless you come home a winner and you are a winner. Now in this state but I mean if you come home as the national champion. Believe me they will cease being blasé. Let's go to our number 10 man here and I believe this is the 12 year old right. Yeah. Well almost but what you mean almost 13 in a couple of months. Oh I'm only telling you my age. I'm young. Seventh grader Benjamin as you get older you're going to become touchy about a lot of things. You're like. Age is the least of them. Tell me about your background. Where are you from. Well I live in Goldhill Oregon that's kind of a blink and you'd miss it towns are old Southern Oregon.

Yeah I know. Blink and you'd miss that kind of town. Are there any people. Are there any people from that city here in the audience today. Oh we blinked and we missed them. You have brothers and sisters. What a great time. I'm going 73 huh. I have a handy junior high. That's sort of in-between. But two hundred and thirty four kids they think going there. It's about to get shut down though. So. Senator Bradley I don't know why he's looking in your direction. It's about to get shut down. You know. I think we've got an appropriations bill coming up here. Why is it going to be shut down. BENJAMIN Well see because our school district needs the funding to my junior high. So. Well I'm a firm believer in more money for education and I'm not trying to curry favor among the teachers in the audience. But I believe teachers should be paid a lot more than they are right now. I don't. Get support from them. Well good

luck to all 10 of you. You know the rules of the final but I'm going to explain them briefly for the benefit of our audience here. I'm going to be asking each of the contestants a question they will have 15 seconds in which to come up with a response if they want me to repeat the question they will have to ask me immediately upon the first reading they will still have the same 15 seconds at the end of 15 seconds if the student has not given me a response. I will ask for one the player will then have two seconds. And if he does not come up with a response then we'll have to call time on him. And as you can see in front of each student there are lights we will put the lights on. Now each time a student gives an incorrect response one of the lights will go out. When a player has responded incorrectly two times that player will be asked to leave the stage at the end of that round. Now we'll change the format when we get down to our last two players and I'll explain that when

we get there. But right now if we are all set to go and you ladies and gentlemen of the audience can participate by watching the large screens in front of you. Let us begin the finals of the National Geographic Society's geography bee. Oh by the way before we do that I want to say a little while ago I mentioned how difficult it was to get here. One of the most difficult things for me was finding a tie with the National Geographic Society's colors on it that believe me as an accomplishment. All right we're going to begin with Ian King. I'm going to ask you a question about a photograph of a cultural landmark. You'll be able to see it on the television monitor in front of you the audience will be able to see it on the big screens. The landmarks that you will be seeing will show how human cultures have helped give identity to a landscape. Ian take a look at this picture and tell me what is this landmark called Stonehenge. You're absolutely right.

Let's go to our next student. Ralph look at this picture and identify the structure. The Parthenon. Correct. The name the building in this photograph I think caused. It. Oh I'm sorry. That's incorrect. You had the right idea. This is the Notre Dame Cathedral and that means that you have one. Strike against you and one light is out. We'll go to Michael. Michael I want you to name this abandoned city. Maku P-Q. Machu Picchu. Yes. In the Andes That's all right we don't penalize you for pronunciation or spellings when we get down to the written questions. Congratulations you're right Jack. Name the building shown here. Jack.

Give me a response please. New York. No no. No I'm sorry. This is the famous Sydney Opera House. It's designed to look like the sails of a boat such as the one in the foreground. All right. That's one strike against you. And we now go to this side to the first of our two Christophers. Christopher where are these giant stone figures found Easter Island. That's it. Let's go to our other Christopher. Christopher Hayward of Washington you knew that one right. Let's see if you know this one. Name this ancient landmark the Roman Coliseum the Roman Coliseum is right. I would caution some of the students here because I just heard a murmur come out of this part of the audience somebody said as Christopher was responding. Somebody said Kelsey please don't do that because I would hate to have to penalize one of these finalists up here. All right. Let's move to Matt. Joe.

What is this large building called Buckingham Palace. You know we're in the right area. But you picked the wrong building. These are the British houses of parliament and that's one strike against use the one light goes out. Let's go to Michael Shannon of Massachusetts. Michael name this man made passage. The Panama Canal well done. Yes it's been in the news a great deal lately it was a canal obviously and you pick the right one. Congratulations then Foley here is your photograph and I want you to name this well-known place. Title har Square. I'm sort of with the same old farce where

Trump Oh you're thinking of Trafalgar Square. Yeah. No I'm sorry. That is incorrect. This is the view from St. Peters in Vatican City. Didn't know that. That's right. That's all right. That's only one strike against you. All right. We're now going to go to the second question and this one is a written question. So you can get your little boxes out in order to ensure privacy as these students are writing and see they have these boxes and they have paper and pen in there so it will be a very private affair. Believe me. Here is the question for all of you. In what country is the government in power. Call the Sandinistas and the forces that oppose the government called the conference. Yes. No.

And I will ask you to give your answer orally as well. So. All right time is up what your pens down. Ralph we'll begin with you this time. What is your response. Hold up. Please. Tell me what you wrote down. Nicaragua is right here you go Rog well correct. Michael. Nicaragua. Well done Nicaragua. Let's go to Christopher Nicaragua. Nicaragua what is Nicaragua. Get. I've got to recruit good players for Jeopardy everywhere I go. Michael in Nicaragua and Nicaragua Congratulations all of you came up with the right response on that one. Well done. Oh. I'm. Andy. Yes. Thank you very much.

All right. Now we have a part of the test that the audience will not be able to participate in fully. I want you all to take out your book with the maps please students and we'll go to page one. First of all we'll help you out ladies and gentlemen in the audience by showing you a map of the world and you'll see the correct responses on the screen. But you won't see the choices that are available to the players on an outline of the map of the world. As you can see players you can see some numbers when I give you the name of the country. I want you to tell me the number that you see inside that country's political boundaries you understand. We're going to begin with you for this round. I want you to take a look at the map and tell me which number locates Poland. 17.

You're absolutely right. Michael. Which number locates Paraguay poll 13 in South America. Well done. Jack. Which number locates Nigeria 10. Correct Christopher. Which number locates New Zealand. 23 yes. Christopher Haywood. Which number locates Kenya. Yes. Matthew. Which number locates the Philippine. 18th. That's right. Which number locates Syria Michael. Number 5 right then which number locates Ecuador. Number two. Correct. So go back here to

Ian which number locates Thailand. Number 11. Correct. And finally Ralph which number locates Afghanistan number 19. That is right. Congratulations. Close your book let's set them aside. And use them. In a few moments. Once again all of you will be answering the same question at the same time. So pick up your pens and papers. Here. Is the question for you. In which state in which state is the United States most active volcano in which state is the United States most active volcano. Think about it. Write down your response. Time is up pens down. Michael we're going to begin with you this time.

What if you put down as your response while a wise writes Jack. A while. What did you written down before. Well that was the Nicaragua's from the last time. All right. You can use a fresh. It doesn't matter. Christopher. You had Hawaii. Good. For. A while. Right. Matthew Joseph Wise writes Michael put down Alaska. What is incorrect. So one light goes out. Benjamin had a while. Let's go back here to Ian. Hawaii is right. Ralph Wahi and he got Hawaii also. Congratulations. Now what's your pens and papers down. Our next series of questions require short answers. Jack we're going to begin with you. The Bay of Pigs lies along the coast of what country. Cuba. Right. Let's go over here. Christopher. What city is at the eastern end of the Trans-Siberian Railroad and is the Soviet Union's major Pacific port Glasscock

Vladivostok. You're right. That's close enough. If you were on Jeopardy we'd give it to you. Christopher Hayward. What is the southern most region of Argentina and Chile called. No I don't think we can except that Sierra del Fuego is the right response. And that means one light goes out in front of you. Matthew named the mixture of rocks and of rock and earth materials deposited directly from a glacier. The mixture of rock and earth materials deposited directly from a glacier to. Right. Michael Herman Melville the 19th century American novelist is best known for writing about what New England economic activity activity. Whaling. That's it. You wrote Moby Dick. What does that mean fully.

What is the name for fine silty sediment deposited by wind. Blast. What is the name for fine silty sediment deposited by wind. Sandy Possehl. Know the name we're going for the specific name it's spelled L E S S and it's called. Lessons for Benjamin. That's two strikes against you. Hang on a bit. Let's go over to this side now. Ian King on what Island did the Minoan civilization flourish. Can you repeat that. On what Island did the Minoan civilization flourish. Australia. No sorry. The correct response is Crete Crete. That's one strike against you. Let's go to Ralph.

The water level in the Aral Sea is rapidly dropping. What human activity causes this irrigation. Right. Key what Russian word refers to the program of political and economic restructuring now taking place in the Soviet Union perestroika. That's it. Yes you had a choice there and you came up with the right one. Michael the Amazon tropical rain forest is experiencing rapid deforestation. I want you to give me one reason why large tracts of this forest have been cleared in recent years for agricultural use except for agricultural use cattle ranches farms. Yes well done. All right. That wraps up this round. And we have to say goodbye to young Benjamin Foley a champion from Oregon. Benjamin Congratulations. To. All of our finalists. Of course we see your five hundred dollars in cash for making it. To this

point. Now we're going back to the screens. We're going to show you some more photographs. Gentlemen each of the photographs illustrates a distinctive human use of the land or a pattern on it. These are not trick questions. By the way. So don't think about. An answer is going to be wrong just because it's obvious to you. All right we're going to begin with Christopher. Here is the first photograph. What is this group of structures. Looks like something from a power plant. Can you be more specific there. The steam pipes from a power plant should be more specific than that. That's where the action takes place that makes the power for the power plant. What I'm going for here Christopher is a nuclear power plant. And I'm afraid we'll have to rule you incorrect on that. So you've got one strike against you. Let's go to Christopher Hayward.

What type of agricultural activity is evident in this photograph. Christopher. Yes. In a culture grape growing you're right that Joe what commodity is produced here. Take a look. Have the. Response. Yes. Ovoid. Don't scare me like that. You probably knew the answer early on and you were just toying with me Michael. For what purpose is this land being used wanting.

We're going to get a ruling on that because I want you to be more specific there's this term we're going there you're going to use the word for. Construction. No I'm sorry man you can't accept that we were going for tree farming because logging. Is done in the wild not necessarily as you can see by the orderly positioning of all of the trees. These trees were planted specifically for development. Later on we're going to get a ruling here from the judges. OK. We have a ruling from our judges and they say yes we're going to accept that. So. Right. Now we go over to you and King of Utah. What is the large circular feature in this photograph.

A copper mine open pit stop an open pit mine very specific Have you visited this mine but you know yet. All right Ralph. What commodity what commodity is produced at this damn electric power. That's it. It's going to have the key. What causes the circular patterns in this photograph. The irrigation system. You're right. Yes. Let's go to Michael for what purpose is this site being used. For solar energy. Yes. Solar energy for energy. Jack these workers are harvesting pineapples what agricultural system is used to produce much of the world's pineapples

and sugar cane system. Plantation plantation is right. Now we come to Christopher. What industry is featured in it. I asked Christopher already. I did. Thank you. There is one. One student is gone. All right congratulations gentlemen you're still alive. Now we're going back to short questions and this time we begin with Christopher Hayward I believe the relative lack of rainfall in summer on the West Coast of the United States is caused by what atmospheric condition. Would you please repeat the question. Yes the relative lack of rainfall in the summer on the West Coast of the United States is caused by what atmospheric conditions range out of range.

I don't know I'm sorry to say subtropical high pressure system. Sorry Christopher that's two strikes against you Matt. The Alaska pipeline runs between what two points. Pluto Bay and Valdez. Yes. Boy you really toy with this man. It's crazy. You're great for drama. Michael in 1988 what country provided greater financial assistance to less developed countries than the United States did. Kapan Yes. Right. Ian what is the major cause of deforestation in the Himalaya which also contributes to flooding in Bangladesh. Repeat that what is the major cause of deforestation in the Himalaya which also contributes to

flooding in Bangladesh. Erosion a way of topsoil. No that's not the major cause the major cause is cutting firewood which results in erosion and the loss of the topsoil. That's two strikes against you. I'm sorry let's go to Ralph. Name the world's driest desert in parts of which many years may pass without any precipitation. The Sahara who it's in South America on the coast of Chile and it's called the to come to come. One strike against you Ralph. Let's go to key names the two official languages of Peru. Spanish and get Cero Kitchell well done I guess. All. Right. I know I was on the tip of everybody's tongue. Michael.

What is the influence of the Earth's rotation on wind direction. Call. The earth rotates and the world stays where it is. No we're looking for the name Michael. No circulation. No. It's called the Coriolis force the Coriolis force. That's one strike against you. Go to Jack. What river flows through Hell's Canyon. The deepest canyon in the United States. Snake River. Correct. Let's go back here to Christopher. What pesticide threaten the United States breeding populations of Australia's bald eagles and other birds of prey by causing them to lay eggs within fragile

shells. Repeat the question. What pesticide threatened the United States breeding populations of Ospreys bald eagles and other birds of prey by causing them to lay eggs with thin fragile shells herbicides. DDT DDT. Christopher that's two strikes against you. And that wraps up. Yes. All right. OK we have to say goodbye to our New York champion. Washington c.a.p. And. R-Utah. All right students as we go to the next round May I caution you please no talking among yourselves while we

proceed through this. Coming up next a colorful map of the world will be projected for the members of our audience. And after the answer is given we will project a map with the correct location so that you folks out there can see what we're talking about. The area will be highlighted in yellow. The contestants of course will be using the maps that we gave you earlier. So if you will I will give you the characteristic and you will give me the numbers in this round we are going to begin with Matthew Joseph. Go to page two first. But each of you will be dealing with a different page. Matthew Joseph which two numbers on page two locate two major wheat growing regions. One in six. So you. Picked the wrong.

One. Yes you have a halt. There. All right. We I've just been informed that we were supposed to give you 30 seconds not 15. So we will what we will do is we will forget about this one. And the correct response. Was one in three. Will give him another question. We can go to the next one we'll just do it in the proper rotation. Now Matt go to the next page if you will. Page 3. By the way 1 and 3 with the correct response there and for. Those of you who are fans of Jeopardy you know how often I tried to include Canada in our material in Canada of course is a major weed growing nation in the world. On page three then map. Which two numbers on this page. Locate two areas with fjord coastlines you'll have

30 seconds. That you have a response one and seven. So you've got New Zealand. The other one is three and that would be the tip of South America. So that's two strikes against you. Sorry Matt we'll go to Michael now turn the page Michael. Page for and your Mac. Map booklet. Which two numbers on this page located two coffee growing centers two and five two and five is absolutely right.

Seven would have been acceptable also. All right congratulations you're still alive as we go to Ralph. Take a look at the map on page five Ralph and tell me which two numbers on that page located to coastal resort areas to coastal resort areas. 2 and 5. 2 and 5. That's correct. Seven would have been acceptable also. Michael. Which two numbers. On a map on page seven. Locate to areas where cold ocean currents occur. Cold ocean currents.

Two. And five or even pick the wrong one have to go to 2 7 off the coast and east coast of Canada. Of the Labrador Current. That's two strikes against you and we wrap up this round with Jack. STABENOW of Kansas. You're on page 8 and your math book looks good. Which two numbers on this page. Locate two centers of extensive copper mining four and six that is right. And that wraps up this round and we have to offer our congratulations to the champions from Indiana Arkansas and Alabama.

All. Right. Now ladies and gentlemen we have to determine our two finalists. There are three left. Each of these young gentlemen has earned himself a considerable amount of money. The poorest of the three is going to make $10000 in cash. All right you can put down the maps for now and we'll go to short answer questions. We're going to try to break the tie for second between second and third place. So we'll go until somebody misses if two of you missed them will break the tie between those two. All right this time we'll start with Michael Shannon. Here is your question requiring a short answer. We're back to the shorter time of course 15 seconds the Yalta conference took place

toward the end of World War 2 on what Peninsula is Yalta located the Crimean peninsula. You've got to. Get points for Annunciation to Michael. Key what term describes of rainfall resulting from the vertical rise of moist warm air until the moisture condenses into raindrops. You repeat the question. What term describes the rainfall resulting from the vertical rise of moist warm air until the moisture condenses into raindrops evaporation. It is called Conventional. Rain. All right hang on a second we've got to deal with Jack Jack. New Orleans is located on the south shore of what lake. Leak by you know sort of. That is incorrect. It

is Lake Pontchartrain. Guess what Michael. If you want to take a little break now and go backstage. You can do that because you are going to be one of the finalists for the championship so congratulations to you. Way to go. You know relax for a few moments and we will continue with KY and Jack to determine our third and other finalists. All right Jack. Name the lowest portion of the Earth's atmosphere. Mesosphere. Sorry that is incorrect. It is called the troposphere. It's a strike against you. Hang on a key key. Name one of the two Caribbean islands that are overseas departments

of France kind of came in Cayman Island. No that is incorrect also. So you guys are still tied. After the breakup of Pan JTA drak what supercontinent included only Africa South America Australia Antarctica and India Gondwana Gondwana don't want to land. You're right. Kate. You love it when they agree with you. He sense the 15 hundreds the African seaport of Zanzibar has been a trading center. I want you to name the agricultural commodity with which it's 19th century prosperity was associated. With spices.

Can you be more specific I need the exact spites culprit. Oh sorry. The correct response is close. And that's a strike against you. You've won ten thousand dollars in this match. Jack is asking if he too can take a little break so we'll allow him a couple of moments to do that. He and Michael will take the break. We'll reset the stage here for the final. And while the young gentlemen are doing that I will tell you what's about to happen. We are going to determine the winner of the $25000 scholarship to second place. Gentleman will receive fifteen thousand dollars. As you know and here's how it's going to work each student will be dealing with the same five questions they will have to write down their responses.

If one person answers more questions correctly then the other person then that individual will be the winner and will receive the $25000. So we'll take a moment or two right now where we reset the stage. Now I would like a show of hands to see how many people in the audience got everything right so far. A couple of the runners up over here. All right. And that's not sour grapes because on a different day as I point out two contestants on our show on a different day with different material you could be a champion. You know sometimes it's the material may not as you go from one student to the other. One student might have been able to answer the other fellow's question a lot better than his own. But now we come to five and the students will have to deal with the same five questions should there be a tie at the end of five. By the way we'll repeat it with three additional questions. And at the end of four the ladies and gentlemen of the

press we will take a break while we clear the audience from the studio. And if you would like to interview some of the finalists for the champion you are most welcome to do that. And as a matter of fact those of you in the audience might be interested in remaining for that little press conference. We'll see how these future leaders acquit themselves when standing in front of a microphone and responding to questions that have nothing to do with a contest. We're all set. Bob May I have the material for the final round please. Thank you. And now ladies and gentlemen would you welcome back to our stage. Are they ready. I hope our two finalists young Michael Shannon on my left from Massachusetts and on my right Jack Statten of Kansas. Michael good luck to you. Good luck. You see here Jack. I go over that.

Second chair. All right gentlemen. As you know this is. Written round. I'm going to read five questions. We will give you enough time to answer each question in writing on your sheet of paper and then we will reveal the answers following that you let me know when you're ready. Michael has three pens five sheets of paper. What do you need Michael. You wanted more pens. This man is taking no chances. All right. Once again good luck to you both. First question. Name the flat Inter-Mountain area located at an elevation of about 10000 feet in the central Andes name the flat Inter-Mountain area located at an elevation of about 10000 feet in the central Andes.

Question number two name the port city north of the Arctic Circle that served as the Soviet Union's primary supply depot during World War 2. The port city north of the Arctic Circle that served as the Soviet Union's primary supply depôt during World War 2. Question number three in the 1980s census black Americans made up what percentage of the total United

States population in the 1980s census black Americans made up what percentage of the total United States population. Question number four. Cork comes from the bark of the cork oak. What country is the world's leading producer of Cork. Cork which comes from the bark of the coke cork oak What country is the world's leading producer of Cork. The fifth and final question. Name two island

countries in the Indian Ocean. Name two island countries in the Indian Ocean. All right you're all set. Let's find out what you put down as your responses. First of all to question number one name the flat Inter-Mountain area located at an elevation of. One or ten thousand feet in the Central. And Michael what was your response. The Peruvian plateau I'm sorry. We can't accept that is. It is called the Alte plan. Anti-climate That's one correct. Altiplano over here is right. You lead one. Nothing. Let's go back to Michael. Your response to question number two. Name the ports north of the Arctic Circle that served as the Soviet Union's primary supply

depot during World War II. What did you put down. Murmansk you are right. Jack. All right. That sounds like murmurings. I think we can accept the murmurings. Sounds like murmurings. It does sound like mermaid's you've got a two to one lead. Michael in the 1980s census black Americans made up what percentage of the total United States population. You wrote down 20 percent. I'm sorry. That is too much. Jack. 9 percent. That is too little the correct response was eleven point eight. We'd have accepted anything from 11 to 13 percent. That's one miss for you. But you're still leading by one over Michael. Michael we go now to our question number four court comes from the bark of the cork oak. What country is the world's leading producer. You put down Brazil. I'm sorry. That is incorrect. Australia Australia also is incorrect. The correct response is Portugal. All right. Michael has three Mrs. Jack

has two. And so Michael has to be correct on this one and Jack has to be incorrect for us to go on to another tiebreaking section. Michael name two island countries in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka and the Seychelles. Right. But Maldives you know sometimes I always mess up on not putting down glass when I'm in Madagascar off of Madagascar you put the Maldives and Madagascar. I couldn't down. What do you usually mess up on the last letter the last letter that you sort of got. Well it looks a little strange but I've got news for you. You're right and you're the champ. Congratulate. Me. For.

Me to get you guys out to this microphone and tell the folks how you feel at this stage. Michael first of all you're the runner up here. You've got $15000. Doesn't that sound good. Sounds great. Are you glad it's over. Yeah. My stomach's in one place now. It is. Was it tougher than you thought it would be. Yeah quite. Yes it was. Jack tell us how you feel right now. Well surprised. It was it was tougher. Right there on the first ones that you showed me that was the toughest into your wasn't quite so hard but I have problems with the pictures. Well imagine how those other students are going to feel back home in your class because you said that was the toughest part of the competition and they're all sitting there thinking Hey I could have won this too and maybe they'll compete. Maybe they'll take part next year. Mr. Grosvenor I believe you have some important business to transact with these young gentlemen. And can we have

our third place finisher out here also. That's great. As I said in the beginning. There are no losers and I would like all 55 kids who are in the finals to come up on the stage. I'm glad I wasn't in that contest. I would have embarrassed myself and I suspect there are a few people out in the audience that would not have been in the final three either. We would like to start with the third prize winner Qi Lu Lu.

I mean he got up there he's a neighbor we're glad to see the state of Maryland is right in there and we will take these checks. We will open up an account for each of the three winners so that the money will be earning interest while they're waiting to go to college. You'll find me if I may make a suggestion. Mr Grover and I hope you'll probably have thought of this already but may I suggest that you have these large checks framed because they do contain the amount and the students names. And by golly if I were a 14 or 15 year old and I saw this on my wall I would be able to impress my friends for ever. So let's get these framed by all means. I. Would write you and a lot of

drama. I think you've got a lot of potential jeopardy contestants. I hope so. Jack and for our grand winner Jack Stodden of Kansas. So. Is small school houses are still in vogue. That. Is. And while everybody's up here I'd like to ask Senator Bradley did come up and make a presentation. Thank you very much. There will be a new question next year and next question will be the winner of the geography bee receives a flag. Where was the

flag flown prior to the receipt by the winner. And the answer is. Over the capital Jack. Congratulations. I suspect there are some hugs that are waiting to be delivered out there in the audience because I can see a few moist eyes from here. Parents and teachers who are very proud of their students and their children so we'll let you do that right now. And in about four or five minutes we'll invite the ladies and gentlemen of the press to ask any kind of questions they want two of the finalists and certainly our three winners. Thank you all. Take a minute. Break. Siting. Here. Sure.

You are here. OK. Thank you very much. OK. Terrific. Oh thank you Senator. Appreciate. It's a great idea. I hope it continues. My pleasure. All. Right. Teenager. 13 to 17. If you're 18. You. Ever.

Read like 90 miles away or

something like it is. 26 something like that. So it's a pretty big district. Would you encourage encourage everyone to study and write to you. Definitely yes. I tell them that you. Know. People say well this is a basic job. What is there to study looking study for. Well I'd say we don't know what's going to be asked. But just study everything you get your hands on and not just. Just study this book in that book but I suggest reading through a. College geography book and especially looking at the pictures I think that would be a really good idea because they were the first one I missed was on the Sydney Opera House. Good to to. Learn. Things like. Vizio graphic if I have the right term physical feature things like. Ayers Rock or just stuff like that and old buildings famous buildings or structures that sort of thing would be what

people. Were so you could tell what what. Country. Pictures from just basically everything you can learn I guess what about travel plans any Australia I'm having. Well. You. Want to give me a free trip. This looks like a great story. Stay right here. You can ask them all you want. We'll get all three of you. Will. Play a little bit if we could get the three winners here we'll start a little press session for everybody. And Jack is here. Can I have the other two winners. And if I could ask the folks who want to participate in this. Back off. So they'll have a little room and we can we can ask them orderly questions you've all had a pretty good free for all. OK. Here in. Jackson financial status status that you just won the first annual

National Geography Bee $25000 scholarship and your comments are next. Jack Snedden what's next. I don't know what's next. I guess. We'll be staying around here at Washington. As you meaning us scholarships. I mean. Competitions. I don't know what will come up next. When. We got our school. Jeff and I my brother and I we did the WC to you the Christian Temperance Union essay contest right. And I won the state level on that. So I don't know maybe out. Maybe that one will end up winning the. National do. I don't know. OK. OK. All right. Michael could you come over. To make room. All right. Where is our number three. Where's a good job. I have idea. Ideas right. Now. I know it's it's difficult to ask for order in a press conference but if we could have questions one at a time and ask which of these you'd like to have answer and then we'll give them the mike and you'll all get it.

Now back out. Towards your question. No. We have let's see here. One two three families and they all have two children in their school. So there's three families in the school. No no they're not. They're not all tall people there's a little first grader who is about half my height. And so it's just all the way from down there to to me. Great Man seventh day adventist elementary school to seventh day adventist Christian school. I think this is really the first big thing. Like I was

telling a man here I had one day got Christ women's Christian Temperance Union essay contest on alcohol abuse for my grade. But I would just wait and see this June they'll use the same essay. We'll see if we can get that national and that one too. I don't know. Just. Wait and see on that. The. Question. She asked what kind of tips I would give to current contestants for next year. I would say that study. Get a college geography book and read through it and look at the pictures real well see if you can just by looking at the pictures identify the country where it's from that sort of thing. And another thing that is very important. It's the great the National Geography. Trivial Pursuit cards. There there are

some questions that happened to be on the trivial pursuit card too. I wouldn't say that stating that cards would would maybe outfit you for life as far as not knowing geography. But. For her for this it would tend to help. Well I didn't know what they were going to ask but I just learned as much as I could. Everything is geography. The geographers say that everything starts with geography they. Other scientists say that it all converges on geography. But in any case geography is pretty all encompassing. Well that $25000 scholarship you asking about that's I'll use it for a college somewhere. I don't know where our church has several colleges. Many colleges

worldwide and I'll use it for some college I don't. Some large college while the other two finalists have any other plans. Well I live near the University of Maryland in College Park so I'll probably go there. The question was relate my family background. Well I live in a large family. My mother my father lived with an aunt grandmother and two sister and three brothers. And we originally came from Vietnam. We came here.

In 1980. And we live in Maryland. Ever since. I don't know. Just go about studying my practicing my cello and whatever. I sleep. Same here. Well I knew it was start with a Q and Q You e and I take Spanish in school Spanish

3 so you and I speak for this competition I go over most of the statistical information about each country like language and import export products. And it just. And also my teacher Mrs Gough's gave me these cards to study and a half. So DiCicco information on each card. The flag name with a capital population and all the essential information about each country. Well I since I won the state B in April I study a little each night but this last few days I spent about three or four hours each night to study. And this last Wednesday I took a day off from school and

spend the whole day study. Wait a minute why don't we all wish that every time we took a day off from school we wind up winning $10000. All right. I'd like to. She asked how I feel and. I am glad that I won this this kind of a surprise. I'd like to thank the people back home Mrs. Riley's father who happens to be on a farm and he's been encouraging me all the way I'd like to really thank him and Mr. Kaiser who is a teacher up out there in Kansas and he was the coordinator for the. He did it. He was the coordinator at our school there. And I'd like to thank him for all the encouragement most of all I'd like to thank the Lord.

It's God's blessings not ours. And even if I hadn't won this I'd think the Lord anyway because. It's really it's nice to win. But if you don't win it gives you practice learning how not to win. And I. I saw this boy here one of them and not these two but got eliminated and he got eliminated and he was smiling. And I really admire that. Last question. Thank you very much. Bill. Well. All. Still something to do with you. You know I haven't got any rings. Let's see if we can.

Let's get. If. You want. Gil Grosvenor please get a photograph with. You. We want. To. Get it. All winter and get it right. I'm sure what you're saying is. This is the expert or anyone at the podium or should I get. My. Point. I want to set. The scene for you got tough questions. For you guys out there and you want to get this. Election in I'm not so keen on it. I have to. Say that every three winners go I like