Final Jeopardy: Authors in the News (5-13-13)
The Final Jeopardy question (5/13/2013) in the category “Authors in the News” was:
When Curiosity touched down on Mars in 2012, its landing site was named in honor of this author who died weeks before.
Trevor Walker, an MIT sophomore, Daniel Donohue, a Northwestern junior, and Hannah Shoenhard, a Scripps junior, are the players up in the first semi-final match of the 2013 Jeopardy! College Championship.
Hannah was the biggest money winner ($26K) of all the quarter-finalists. Trevor was the lowest with $12,001. Daniel was a wild card winner with $14K.
Hannah found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “You Did Bad.” She was in second place with $3,800, $800 behind Daniel in the lead. She bet $1,000 and thought it was “exile.” That was WRONG.
This term for exclusion from a group goes back to temporary banishment in ancient Greece. show
Daniel finished in the lead with $6,200. Hannah and Trevor were tied in second place with $2,400.
Hannah found the first Double Jeopardy Daily Double in “The 17th Century.” She was now in second place by herself with $4,000, $1,400 behind Daniel’s lead. She bet $2,000 and she was RIGHT.
In the painting seen here, this Dutch artist portrayed another girl with a pearl earring, possibly his daughter. show
Trevor found the last Daily Double in “2 Animals in One.” After some super catching up, he was now in second place with $8,000, $200 behind Daniel in the lead. He bet $2,000, and he was RIGHT.
This little rodent hops on its hind legs. just like its namesake marsupial. show
Trevor finished in the lead with $19,600. Daniel was next with $11,000 and Hannah was in third place with $5,200.
Only ONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.
On August 22, 2012, which would have been Ray Bradbury’s 92nd birthday, it was announced that NASA was naming the landing site of the Mars rover Curiosity after him, calling it Bradbury Landing. “This was not a difficult choice for the science team,” said Michael Meyer, NASA program scientist for Curiosity. “Many of us and millions of other readers were inspired in our lives by stories Ray Bradbury wrote to dream of the possibility of life on Mars.” Bradbury passed away on June 5, 2012. More info: NASA: Mission News
Hannah got it right but bet nothing so she finished with $5,200.
Daniel thought it was Arthur C. Clarke, who died in 2008. He lost $10,998 and finished with $2.
Trevor thought it was Carl Sagan, who died in 1996. That cost him $2,401, but he won the match and a spot in the finals with $17,199.
Hannah and Daniel both get to go home with $10,000 each.
