VERBAL SPONTANEOUS: COMPOUND INTEREST

 

JUDGE READS TO STUDENTS: (Do not read numbers or phrases in parenthesis.)

1. You will have one minute to think and four minutes to respond. Questions count against your thinking time.

2. You will receive one point for each common response. Highly creative or humorous responses will receive five points. This will be a subjective opinion of the judge and the judge's decision is final.

3. Your team is to take turns in sequence. You may not skip your turn, nor repeat nor pass. If one member of the team is stuck, the team is stuck.

4. Once the time begins, it will not be stopped. If the judge asks you to repeat or to clarify your answer, it counts against your time. Speak loudly and clearly.

 

THE PROBLEM IS:

Many English words are compound nouns. That means they are made up of two shorter nouns put together, such as "teapot" –the word "tea" plus the word "pot," or "baseball" – "base" plus "ball". Your team’s problem is to think of as many compound nouns as you can during your thinking time. During your response time, the first person will say a compound noun. The second person will say the first half of the word and give an example. The third person will say the second half of the word and give an example. The next person will give a new compound noun. The person after that will say the first half of THAT word and give and example, and so on.

For example, team member number one could say "carpet", which is "car" plus "pet." Team member number two could say "car – Volkswagen." Team member number three could say "pet – my dog." Then team member number four could say "dollhouse," team member number five could say "doll – Barbie," and team member one could say "house – firehouse." And so on.

The compound nouns will receive no score. Only two out of three responses will be scored. Each person giving an example of half the compound noun must say that word first before giving an example. That examples will be scored.

 

(Judge reads "The Problem Is" again, then begin one minute thinking time.)

NOTE TO JUDGES:

The person who says the compound noun receives no score. Only the EXAMPLES given by the next two team members are scored.

Common answers would be any that give basic examples of an object (such as "pet – dog" or "doll – Barbie").

Creative answers would be any unusual examples, humorous answers, play on words, etc.

For example, if the compound noun "sunset" were given, creative responses might be "sun – JackSON, Mississippi" and "set – a mathematical grouping." Or, for "teapot," creative responses might be "tea – TEAcher," and "pot – See SPOT run!"

 

© L.Love ‘02