The Final Jeopardy question (5/1/2012) in the category “Fictional Beings” was:

These fictional beings are also called Periannath & Halflings, but this familiar term means “Hole-Builders.”

It’s Day 2 of the Teen Tournament and our three new players are: Anshika Nirau, a sophomore from Beachwood, OH: Sam Leanza, a senior from Laguna Hills, CA and Ben Greenho, a junior from Plano, TX.

Sam found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “Holidays and Observances.” She was in last place with $2,000, $1,600 less than Anshika and $1,000 less than Ben. She bet $1,800 and she was RIGHT.

Although the first celebration of this holiday occurred in October 1792, it didn’t become a Federal Holiday until 1937. show

WHAT IS COLUMBUS DAY?

Anshika finished in the lead with $5,800. Ben was next with $5,200 and Sam was last with $3,600.

Ben found the first Double Jeopardy Daily Double in “The National Park System.” He was now in the lead with $16,400, $4,200 more than Anshika in second place. He said a geyser, but that was not specific enough so he was WRONG.

Discovered in 1870, this natural feature of a National Park has been called “Eternity’s Timepiece.” show

WHAT IS OLD FAITHFUL?

Anshika found the last Daily Double in “Historical Quotes.” She was in second place with $14,200, $3,200 behind Ben who still had the lead. She bet $1,500, counted out ‘we hold these truths to be self-evident’ before she said it and she was WRONG.

The preamble to the Declaration of Independence begins with these 7 words” show

WHAT IS ‘WHEN IN THE COURSE OF HUMAN EVENTS’?

Ben finished first with $17,400. Anshika was in the middle with $12,700 and Sam was last with $7,200.

TWO of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.

WHAT IS A HOBBIT?

One source says “Tolkien translated “hobbit” from “holbytla” (hole-builder) and explained that the term “hobbit” was a worn-down form of the original.” (The Evolution of Fantasy Role-Playing Games). Another, Quest for Middle-Earth, says: ” A search of early English sources for the word ‘hobbit’ has turned up the possible root word. The word is hob, which means ‘sprite’ or ‘little man’, as in hobgoblin.”

Sam wrote down “a fawn.” That cost her $5,000 and her final score was $2,200.

Anshika got it right and bet $4,701, bringing her up to $17,401.

Ben also had it right. He bet $3,000. His $20,400 total made him the second teen to earn a semi-final spot.

So Ben will join Eliza Scruton in the semi-finals and the 4 other scores so far are:

Anshika Nirau: $17,401
Rose Schaefer: $15,400
Sam Leanza: $7,200
Jeff Haylon: $200