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Talent, hard work on display at Academic Decathlon
(Answers at bottom)
Question 1: The greatest significance of Sputnik II was that it:
A. Demonstrated that the Russians could deliver a nuclear missile anywhere
B. Appeared to prove that, if animals could survive in space, so could humans
C. Demonstrated that the Russians could launch satellites into low Earth orbit
D. Proved that the Russian rocket technology was superior to US technology
E. Appeared to demonstrate that satellites could remotely observe the Earth
Question 2: Which of the following came to power as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in March of 1985?
A. Gaidar
B. Yeltsin
C. Marx
D. Lenin
E. Gorbachev
Question 3: Non-resolved chords are known as:
A. Non-functional harmonies
B. Diatonic harmonies
C. Predominant harmonies
D. Dominant seventh triads
E. Cadence progressions
Question 4: Which reference to the ratio of its dimensions, the Milky Way galaxy is shaped most like a (an):
A. Pancake
B. Beachball
C. Dog bone
D. Cube
E. Amorphous cloud
ANSWERS:
1. — B, appeared to prove that, if animals could survive in space, so could humans
2. — E, Gorbachev
3. — A, non-functional harmonies
4. — A, pancake
During a question at the Yuba County Academic Decathlon on Saturday about the significance of the Soviet satellite Sputnik II, blood gushed from the nose of Wheatland academic decathlete David Adrian.
It wasn't the stress of competition that caused the 15-year-old sophomore's nose to bleed.
"It sometimes just happens for no reason," Adrian said.
The distraction didn't knock Adrian out, though.
Like a star point guard playing through a nagging injury in a big game, Adrian came back to finish the competition at the Marysville High School gymnasium. Holding a paper towel to his nose, Adrian stemmed the red tide from his nose with his left hand and continued answering questions about the red Soviet Union with his right.
Nearly 200 people attended the one-hour Super Quiz event on Saturday.
Adrian's persistence and determination typified the talent and hard work on display in the academic competition between Wheatland High School, Lindhurst High School and Marysville High School.
Despite Adrian's gritty performance, it was the team from Marysville that once again emerged the winner.
"All these kids work so hard, and they're all such good kids. They really help keep your faith for future generations," Marysville coach Angela Stegall said.
Lindhurst High placed second and Wheatland High came in third, coordinator Maggie Nicoletti said.
The Marysville team will once again move on and compete in the statewide Academic Decathlon in Sacramento in March.
Marysville has now won 10 of the last 12 competitions, including three state titles, in 2004, 2006 and 2007, Stegall said.
Students answered questions on history, economics, art, politics, science, literature and architecture with a mostly Russian-based theme.
Study preparations began last March. This year, all California decathletes had to read "Dr. Zhivago" by Boris Pasternak, students said.
Marysville sophomore McKenzie Colborn said working hard with her teammates makes the competition fun.
"It's a great opportunity to learn something new and make a lot of new friends," the 15-year-old decathlete said.
It was the first year of competition for Lindhurst junior Ma cus Joyce, whose cheering section came to show its support, clapping and waving a light-hearted homemade sign that read, "Marcus is smarter than a fifth-grader!"
Joyce laughed about his "fan base" during the competition.
"I feel like I'm kind of letting them down — I'm not doing so well," he joked. "I should have prepared more."
And Joyce said he's coming back next year to give rival Marysville a run for their money.
"I'll definitely be better prepared next year."
CONTACT Rob Parsons at rparsons@appealdemocrat .com or 749-4785. Find him on Facebook at /ADcrimebeat or on Twitter at @ADcrimebeat.
