Face-Off!
Cross-Trainer Division Oral Round
[These sample questions are the first 20 of a 40-question oral "Face-Off!" round used in January, 1999. The Meet also contained five alternate questions, in case of errors made by readers or writers. During this round, student teams have 15 seconds to answer each oral question, once they've buzzed in. Teams are called upon in order of buzzing, and may ask to have a question reread if they haven't buzzed in. The computer buzzer system for PC or Mac, times and scores the event. Each Meet also contains a 15-question Written "Face-Off!" which is done together by each team at the beginning of the Meet, while coaches set up other challenges. See Program Manual for complete rules.]

©1998 US Academic Triathlon. All rights reserved. This problem may not be duplicated or used without express, written consent except by members of 1998-99 USAT Season teams, or their member schools; or when offered in sample form.

  1. Who invented the phonograph?
    1. Thomas Edison

  1. How fast would you be travelling if you were going Mach 2?
    1. 663.2 m/sec or 2176 ft/sec or two times the speed of sound (accept any of these)

  1. If you wanted him to blow his horn, where would you find little boy blue?
    1. Under the haystack

  1. What is the capital of Nevada?
    1. Carson City

  1. At what college and in what state does Chelsea Clinton attend?
    1. Stanford, in California

  1. Its initials are V.C. What is the major abdominal vein returning blood to the heart?
    1. Vena Cava

  1. Math question, pencils please. Express the base 10 number, 22, in base 2.
    1. 10110

  1. Spot the adverb in this sentence. "He did poorly on the test."
    1. Poorly

  1. Who was the Native American woman who accompanied the Lewis & Clark Expedition?
    1. Sacajawea

  1. Define "perjury".
    1. Lying under oath (in a court proceedings)

  1. What gland produces insulin?
    1. Islets of Langerhans, in the pancreas

  1. Which of the following musical instruments is the so-called "odd man out": tuba, trombone, saxophone, trumpet?
    1. Saxophone. It is a reed (woodwind) instrument.

  1. Name the three rhyming words that mean to cover with paper, the juice of the maple tree, and to lightly hit with a hammer.
    1. Wrap, sap and tap (or rap)

  1. What is the minimum age for someone to become a U.S. Senator?
    1. 30

  1. He didn't mention whether it was a Best Western, the Hyatt Regency, or the Radisson. But what was Elvis Presley's first hit about where he was living "since my baby left me"?
    1. Heartbreak Hotel

  1. What is the farthest planet visible to the unaided eye?

  1. Saturn

  1. In music, what is it called when there are accents in unexpected place?
    1. Syncopation

  1. If you're going to replenish the potato chip bowl, what are you going to do with it?
    1. Refill it.

  1. Who was the first American in space? He later commanded a moon mission.
    1. Alan Shepard

  1. What are the nicknames of the four remaining Spice Girls?
    1. Baby, Sporty, Scary, and Posh
Note: no space for the text!
This round always consists of five types of questions, given sequentially in rotation. The five topic areas are Science and Health, Math and Music Theory, English and Literature, Social Studies, and Current Events and Kid-sumerism. Team captain may designate any team member as spokesperson for the group.