Difference between revisions of "SkillsUSA"

Revision as of 15:08, 9 December 2020

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).

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/

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 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.
+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).