SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is a national series of contests designed for "career and technical students". While most concentrate on a single skill, the Quiz Bowl contest "test[s] the knowledge of selected team members on various aspects of general academic knowledge, professional development...and current events".
Format
SkillsUSA Quiz Bowl features 5-person teams answering questions in one of three areas: general academic (which paradoxically includes popular culture), current events (major "academic" and popular culture news stories from 3 months or less before the competition date "as reported in USA Today and multimedia sources"), and Professional Development (which uses "recognized official handbook[s] on SkillsUSA curricula" as sources).
The questions are all short and often contain hoses or other information that does not uniquely identify the answer at the beginning of the question.
At the national competition, there appears to be a written preliminary test; head-to-head play begins the next day and is called the "Active Round". Each match consists of 100 tossup questions. Players have five seconds after being recognized to answer. Correct answers are worth one point. Incorrect answers at any point lose one point. Teams may also be penalized for the following infractions: failure to provide an official resume for each player (one point per missing resume); failure to bring a number two pencil for the written test or a writing utensil for the "Active Round" (ranging from no penalty to unspecified points); violations of the official SkillsUSA dress code (apparently one point per instance of violation). All these aspects are associated with the general traits of bad quizbowl.
Sample Questions (2005 National Competition)
Academic
Plant cells need to regulate water loss to live. Water leaves through holes called stomata. What device closes the stomata to retain water?
Answer: guard cells
Baking soda and baking powder are different chemical compounds, but they act in the same way in baking. What do these compounds provide in baked goods?
Answer: Leavening (make dough rise)
Current Events
Name the creator of Star Wars.
Answer: George Lucas
How many cardinals participated in the conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI?
Answer: 115
Professional Development
What part of a letter begins two lines below the salutation?
Answer: Body
One contest for SkillsUSA has a February 1 deadline. The winner will receive recognition and monetary prizes for this contest. What is it?
Answer: The National Conference Pin Design Contest
List of Past Winners (Secondary Division)
| Year | Champion | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Metropolitan Vo-Tech | Little Rock, AR |
| 1994 | Botetourt Technical Education Center | Fincastle, VA |
| 1995 | McMinn County Vocational Center | Athens, TN |
| 1996 | McMinn County Vocational Center | Athens, TN |
| 1997 | Stockbridge High School | Stockbridge, GA |
| 1998 | Stockbridge High School | Stockbridge, GA |
| 1999 | Stockbridge High School | Stockbridge, GA |
| 2000 | McMinn County Vocational Center | Athens, TN |
| 2001 | McMinn County Vocational Center | Athens, TN |
| 2002 | Ayala High School | Chino Hills, CA |
| 2003 | McMinn County Vocational Center | Athens, TN |
| 2004 | McMinn County Vocational Center | Athens, TN |
| 2005 | McMinn County Vocational Center | Athens, TN |
| 2006 | ||
| 2007 |
External Links
http://www.skillsusa.org/compete/contests.shtml#QB
http://quizbowl.wflboces.org/