Re: Science Bowl Brouhaha

Jason Mueller <*jcmpn7_at_mujason.yahoo.invalid*> · Sun, 14 Sep 2003 00:12:59 -0000

I don't know about Science Bowl rules, but if that had happened in 
Missouri high school play, 1 kilogram would be incorrect because if a 
question asks for units, the answer would have to be stated in the 
requested units.  (I would, however, feel sorry for the person whose 
equivalent answer was ruled wrong on a technicality.)  My personal 
opinion would be to prompt, but as a moderator I would follow the 
protocol of the particular tournament/format rules.

Jason Mueller

--- In quizbowl_at_yahoogroups.com, matt_reece <no_reply_at_y...> wrote:
> Ah, I remember the joys of Science Bowl protest resolution. (I was a
> competitor about 3 years ago.) My favorite was when the opposing 
team
> answered a question on "How many sigma bonds are in benzene" 
with "0"
> (the right answer is 12), and convinced the judges they were right
> "because the electrons are delocalized." (The judges agreed,
> apparently not thinking about what the question asked or what this
> fact might have to do with the answer.) The whole time, their own
> coach, a chemistry teacher, was standing up and yelling at them that
> they were wrong. In the end we won anyway, but it was frustrating as
> the match was very close.
> 
> Anyhow, in your case, I would say they should be prompted, if the
> answer is not just accepted outright. The other feasible response I
> could imagine would be to read a question for only the second team.
> 
> Matt
> 
> --- In quizbowl_at_yahoogroups.com, zundevil <no_reply_at_y...> wrote:
> > Since I'm here, I thought I'd relate an unseemly event from this 
> > year's Science Bowl.  I don't *think* I posted this back when it 
> > happened; I'm sorry if I did.
> > 
> > (Conveniently, btw, the below situation happened in an 
elimination-
> > round of the playoffs, on the last question of a two-point game, 
on 
> > a question worth four points, in the room where I was the judge)
> > 
> > I don't remember all the words exactly, but the question boiled 
down 
> > to:
> > 
> > "How many grams of water are there in a liter of water?"
> > 
> > The first team answers "Ten-thousand": wrong, no penalty.
> > 
> > The second team answers "1 kilogram".  The correct answer 
is "1000" 
> > or "1000 grams".  You make the call.
> > 
> > FWIW, I'm happy with the outcome that our room chose, with the 
> > outside help of an official judge.  I'll post what we did to add 
to 
> > a discussion, if there even is any.
> > 
> > Jason