MACC English Questions
SUPER MACC Round 1
Please Read Aloud: All of the questions in this match are 5-second questions.
This is the first directed question for team A.
1A.
In the short story The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, during the drawing, who did Old Man
Warner say were a “Pack of crazy fools.”? Begin (People or towns that wanted to give up
the Lottery)
This is the first directed question for team B.
1B.
In the novel The Fault In Our Stars by John Green, what is the name of the experimental
drug that successfully shrinks Hazel’s lung tumors? Begin (Phalanxifor)
This is the second directed question for team A.
2A.
In the nonfiction selection What Wendell Wants Chapter 2 by Jenny Lee, what was the
couple afraid to use to close the squeaky ball with because they were afraid it would kill
Wendell? Begin (Krazy glue)
This is the second directed question for team B.
2B.
In the play Trifles by Susan Glaspell, what reason does Mrs. Wright give Mr. Hale as to
why he can’t see Mr. Wright? Begin (He’s dead)
This is the third directed question for team A.
3A.
In the novel The Help by Kathryn Stockett, who was the first maid to agree to be
interviewed by Skeeter? Begin (Aibilene)
This is the third directed question for team B.
3B.
In the poem The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe, what did the narrator say were “fiery .... [and]
burned into my bosom’s core.”? Begin (The raven’s eyes)
This is the fourth directed question for team A.
4A.
In the play The Ugly Duckling by A. A. Milne, what had caused the demise of the
Chancellor’s predecessor? Begin (He had implied that the princess had gotten her looks
from the king, or that they looked alike)
This is the fourth directed question for team B.
4B.
In the nonfiction selection Third World Driving Hints and Tips by P. J. O’Rourke, what two
specific facts should you have straight before you begin driving in an underdeveloped
country? Begin (Which side of the road you drive on and how to translate kilometers into
miles)
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This is the fifth directed question for team A.
5A.
In the novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, when Melinda and her friends redid their
rooms she said she only had two things in the room that were really hers. What were they?
Begin (Her stuffed rabbit collection and her canopy bed)
This is the fifth directed question for team B.
5B.
In the play Death Knocks by Woody Allen, how much money does Death tell Nat he has
when he says he doesn’t have $28? Begin (A few singles)
This is the sixth directed question for team A.
6A.
In the short story There Will Come Soft Rains by Ray Bradbury, how many silhouettes
were on the west side of the house? Begin (Five)
This is the sixth directed question for team B.
6B.
In the novel The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, where is the Heart
of Gold traveling from? Begin (The Horsehead Nebula)
This is the seventh directed question for team A.
7A.
In the play Antigone by Sophocles, what had happened to those soldiers who had been
killed with Polyneices in battle? Begin (Their bodies were also left unburied)
This is the seventh directed question for team B.
7B.
In the short story The Ransom of Red Chief by O. Henry, during the kidnapping Bill was
hit in the eye by a piece of brick by the boy. What was his reaction to this? Begin (He said
that action would cost the boy’s father an extra $500)
This is the eighth directed question for team A.
8A.
In the nonfiction selection Night by Elie Wiesel, how do the prisoners react when an air
raid occurs at Buna? Begin (With joy)
This is the eighth directed question for team B.
8B.
In the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding, which character climbed the
mountaintop in the daytime to confront the creature? Begin (Simon)
This is the ninth directed question for team A.
9A.
In the poem My Papa’s Waltz by Theodore Roethke, where did Papa waltz the poet off to?
Begin (Bed)
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This is the ninth directed question for team B.
9B.
In the nonfiction selection I Will Fight No More Forever by Chief Joseph, Looking Glass,
Toohulhulsote, and the old men are what? Begin (Dead)
This is the tenth and final directed question for team A.
10A.
In the novel The Pearl by John Steinbeck, what “mixed with essence of men and a curious
dark residue was precipitated.”? Begin (The essence of pearl)
This is the tenth and final directed question for team B.
10B.
In the short story The Jelly-Fish by David H. Keller, which character is described as
“Working at an unsolved problem, he seemed a soul detached, a spirit separated from its
earthly home, a being living only in the realm of thought. His body sat motionless, his eyes
catatonic, unwinking stared until his mind, satisfied, deigned to return to bone-bound
cell.”? Begin (Professor Queirling)
That ends the portion of the match with directed questions. Coaches, if you have any team
member substitutions, please send those team members to the stage at this time. (Note:
Allow time for substitutes to be seated, introduce substitute team members.)
No form of conferring is allowed during the tossup portion of the match. Conferring includes
sharing of written or verbal information or signals. Please remove all written material
from your team tables. Writing is not permitted during tossup rounds, except in the math
round.
We will now have ten tossup questions. Remember, the person who buzzes in must give the
answer immediately. Please wait until I recognize the team before you give an answer. The
penalty for buzzing in early and giving a wrong answer is minus 2 points, and the question
will then be reread in its entirety to the other team.
This is the first tossup question.
1.
In the short story The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe, what literary device is
created through the use of the dark, damp catacombs below the home of Montresor? Begin
(Mood)
This is the second tossup question.
2.
In the nonfiction selection Why McDonald’s Fries Taste So Good by Eric Schlosser, what
state produces about two thirds of the flavor additives sold in the United States? Begin
(New Jersey)
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This is the third tossup question.
3.
In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, who is described in the following quote: “Her
hair was the brightest living gold, and despite the poverty of her clothing, seemed to set a
crown of distinction on her head. Her brow was clear and ample, her blue eyes cloudless,
and her lips and the molding of her face so expressive of sensibility and sweetness.”? Begin
(Elizabeth Lavenza)
This is the fourth tossup question.
4.
From what poem by what author is the following quote:
“With Blue – uncertain - stumbling Buzz Between the light - and me And then the Windows failed - and then
I could not see to see -”?
Begin (I heard a Fly buzz—when I died— by Emily Dickinson)
This is the fifth tossup question.
5.
In the play Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw, why is Liza leery about taking chocolates
from Professor Higgins? Begin (She had heard of girls being drugged by gentlemen)
This is the sixth tossup question.
6.
In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, what did Jem mistakenly tell Scout the
new method of teaching was called? Begin (Dewey Decimal System)
This is the seventh tossup question.
7.
In the short story The Storm by McKnight Malmar, what does Janet find in the trunk?
Begin (The body of a murdered woman)
This is the eighth tossup question.
8.
In the nonfiction selection A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote,
besides never attending a picture show, Buddy lists several things his
friend has never done. List three of these. Begin (Any three from the
following list: never eaten in a restaurant, never traveled more than five
miles from home, never received or sent a telegram, never read anything
except the funny papers and the Bible, never worn cosmetics, never
cursed, never wished someone harm, never told a lie on purpose, or never
let a hungry dog go hungry)
This is the ninth tossup question.
9.
In the play The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, why did Laura describe herself as
making a clumping noise in chorus class? Begin (She wore a brace and she was selfconscious about the noise it made)
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This is the tenth and final tossup question.
(Emcee note – if match is tied after this question go to the three tie breakers at the end of these
questions – use all three, even if tie is broken on first or second question!)
10.
In the poem Messy Room by Shel Silverstein, what is the lizard’s name and where is he
located? Begin (Ed and he is asleep in the bed)
EMERGENCY QUESTIONS (To be used in an emergency only –DO NOT USE AS EXTRA TIE
BREAKERS – but they can be used in place of tie breakers as they would be used if a
question has a mistake, if the emcee “flubs” a question, etc.):
You have 5 seconds to answer this question.
1.
In the nonfiction selection A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote, how was Buddy
related to his friend? Begin (They were cousins, or very distant cousins)
You have 5 seconds to answer this question.
2.
In the novel The Help by Kathryn Stockett, why did Constantine give her daughter to an
orphanage in Chicago when she was just a little girl? Begin (Her skin was too white for
her to go unnoticed in the south)
TIE BREAKERS (To be used in cases of tie games – use all three questions, even if the tie is
broken with the first or second question; in case teams are still tied at the end of these
three questions, use the additional tiebreaker questions.):
This is the first tiebreaker question.
1.
In the novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, what is the boy’s name that Melinda refers
to as “It”? Begin (Andy, or Andy Evans)
This is the second tiebreaker question.
2.
In the nonfiction selection Night by Elie Wiesel, after being evacuated from their original
homes, where were the Jews of Sighet first sent? Begin (To a ghetto within Sighet)
This is the third tiebreaker question.
3.
In the short story The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell, how is Rainsford
separated from the yacht? Begin (He lunges for his dropped pipe, and loses his balance)
Additional tiebreaker questions
4.
In the novella The Pearl by John Steinbeck, what does Juana do on the night before they
are to leave for the capital to sell the pearl? Begin
(She steals it and tries to throw it in the sea)
5.
In the play Trifles by Susan Glaspell, who was sitting in the rocker when Mr. Hale opened
the door to the Wright house? Begin (Mrs. Wright)
6.
In the poem My Papa’s Waltz by Theodore Roethke, the poet’s father’s hand was battered
on what? Begin (A knuckle)