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Sample Questions

 

The following are some examples of questions asked in the written and final battles.

All Championship Battle questions will use the ‘In what book” format.

Not all questions will fall into these precise categories.

 

1. “Name of important character or significant nickname of a minor character”

You knew this character as Rip, but what name did Red call him?

 

2. “In what book”

In what book did the characters go on a scavenger hunt around San Francisco?

 

3. “Comparison with another book(s) on the list”

In FRONT DESK, Mia and Lupe bonded over wishing they owned dogs. In what other book did a character not only own dogs, but race with them?

 

4. “Important setting or location”

What was the name of the outpost where Mina met Neela, Varli, and Eione?

 

5. “Give one out of two or more possibilities”

At her new school, Cordelia made two new best friends. Name one of the two.

 

6. “Short answer – significant title, event or object”

In FRONT DESK we learned that in China people say a certain word when a picture is taken, similar to how Americans say "cheese." What is this word?

 

7. “Quotation directly from the book”

In what book was a character described as the following: "He was everything they had heard the foreign devils to be: tall, hairy-faced, with a nose like an albatross's beak. He stood straight as a ship's mast, wearing a stiff, deep blue jacket".

 

8. “Definition of unique terms or important words”

In COG, you learned that a robot modeled after a natural creature is called a WHAT?

 

 

 

ANSWERS

1. Mason Irving     p 3

2. BOOK SCAVENGER     p 79

3. DOG DRIVEN     p 11

4. Dern     p 155

5. 1) Benji  2) Agnes     p 113

6. Eggplant     p 160

7. HEART OF A SAMURAI     p 30-31

8. Biomaton     p 24

 

 

Helpful Hints

 

• Listen carefully to the question.  Is it asking for the title of the book or the name of a character?  Did the question ask for both a first and last name?
   

• There are 3 ways to answer a question about a Battle character.
   

• If the question asks for the first and last name, both have to be correct.
   

• If the question asks “Name the Battle character,” you need to give a name such as “Mia.”  You may give both the first and last names, but both names need to be correct.  Saying “Lupe’s friend” rather than a name would not be correct.
   

• If the question asks “What Battle character” any identifying name or title would be acceptable.
   

• When giving a title, use the complete title as listed on our Battle Booklist, such as “A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME” Just saying “Ballgame” is not acceptable.
   

• PLEASE NOTE- SHADOW SCHOOL is the name of the book series and will not be accepted. ARCHIMANCY is the name of the book.
   

• We will not ask for more information if your answer is incomplete.  However, be careful to not give so much information that part of your answer is wrong.
   

• Multiple Choice and True/False questions may be used during Written Battles.  Many questions can be written in multiple ways.  For example, the question “At what age do characters lose their powers in POWERLESS?”:
   

  • TRUE OR FALSE:  True or False. In POWERLESS, kids lose their powers at 13.
     

  • MULTIPLE CHOICE:  At what age do kids lose their powers in POWERLESS? A) 11 B) 12 C) 13 D) 14

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TEAM MANAGER OVERVIEW

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Being a Battle of the Books team manager is a very important job.  The team manager helps the team work together by dividing up reading responsibilities, helping the team practice, and making Battle of the Books a fun, positive experience. If you are interested in learning more about what the team manager does, please attend the Team Managers’ Meeting at the Library on Saturday, January 13 (tentatively scheduled for 11:00am).  We will discuss how to form and register your team, how to write questions for your team to practice, how your team will participate in virtual battles, the new semifinal battle format, and our new prize money and trophy incentives.

 

As the team manager, it is your responsibility to register your team. Register online by midnight on Monday, January 29. Some schools have additional forms to be filled out, so also check with your principal, media staff, or school Battle Coordinator about what is required at your school.

 

A person can act as a team manager for more than one team if they so choose.

 

When choosing a team name, remember that school names cannot be a part of the team name and that your team name will be listed exactly as it appears on the form. Team names should also be appropriate for a public setting and inoffensive to all people and groups involved. Your team should also select an alternate name since team names are given to the first team to submit the registration form to the Youth Services Desk, and your first choice may have already been taken. Note: The Library reserves the right to refuse any team names that are deemed inappropriate. Teams will be asked to choose an alternative option if Library staff find that a name is not appropriate for use during the competition.

 

An important part of Battle of the Books is having fun as a team, and there are many ways to accomplish this regardless of how far your team goes in the battles. 

 

We also encourage you and your team to watch MCTV's taping of the Championship Battle.

 

The library staff deeply appreciates the hard work and commitment of the team managers who make Battle of the Books possible!
 

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HELPFUL HINTS FOR TEAM MANAGERS

 

The following hints have been suggested by previous team managers.

Please choose the ones you feel comfortable using.

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• Remember that reading should - first and foremost – be enjoyable, so keep your team’s interest up and the pressure off by planning fun activities related to the books.

 

• Let your team members and their parents know what you expect of them in terms of reading and commitment. Have them acknowledge their agreement to these commitments by signing a permission slip.

 

• Encourage each team member to read as many books as possible. Some managers divide the books, making each team member responsible for certain books.

 

• Make a chart with the book titles across the top and your team members’ names down the side. As each member finishes a title, put a star in the appropriate spot.

 

• Keep notes for all of the books with the main characters, the important events, the settings, etc. listed below each title.

 

• As your team members read the books, have them write down questions and share them with other team members.

 

• Quiz the members periodically for authors’ last names.

 

• Read some of the books yourself and discuss them with team members.

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• Emphasize the fact that every participant is a winner. It is important for your team members to learn to win and lose graciously.