1. Teams: Each school will be represented by one team of five (5) members. Teams will not be allowed to compete with fewer than five members. (Schools should assign two alternate members in case someone gets sick; the alternates should also plan to sign up to compete in another event.) Once the competition has begun, there can be no substitutions beyond the use of the two alternates. Schools must submit the names of the five team members and the two alternates with their registration. Students who speak Portuguese as a first language are not eligible to participate in the Portuguese Bowl.
2. Scheduling: Due to the tournament nature of this event, it is important that you check the schedule upon arrival. It will be distributed to teachers in advance and will be posted outside the room in which the competition will occur. You must have your team in the proper room by the time the competition is scheduled to begin. Teams that are not in place within four minutes of the scheduled time will forfeit.
3. Question types: All questions will be asked in Portuguese. Questions will be selected from a pool consisting of the following types of questions in the proportions indicated:
40% grammar
Sample questions:
—Passe esta frase para o pretérito perfeito: “Vou ao supermercado hoje.” (Fui ao supermercado hoje.)
—Complete com a forma correta do verbo: "Aprendi a nadar quando _____(ter) 9 anos." (tinha)
—Complete com um pronome de objeto direto: “Não sei onde está a Ana. Eu não ____ vi hoje.” (a)
30% geography, history, culture, current events
Sample questions:
—Mencione sete países que têm o português como língua oficial. (Portugal, Brasil, Cabo Verde,
Guiné-Bissau, São Tomé e Príncipe, Angola, Moçambique, Timor-Leste)
—Pedro Álvares Cabral chegou ao Brasil em que ano? (1500)
—O fado é um gênero musical de que país? (Portugal)
—Qual é a capital de Moçambique? (Maputo)
30% vocabulary
Sample questions:
—O dia 24 de dezembro é conhecido como a _____________ de Natal. (véspera)
—O momento em que o sol aparece no horizonte, na direção leste, é conhecido como o _________. (nascer do sol)
—O pai do meu avô é meu _________. (bisavô)
4. Procedure: Play will proceed according to the following format.
A. There will be two types of questions, drawn from the question pool described above.
Individual questions are directed to the team member whose turn it is. Individual questions must be answered by the team member to whom they are directed; other members may not help. If a player answers an individual question incorrectly, the same question will be directed to the corresponding member of the other team. Individual questions are worth two (2) points.
Bonus questions are directed to a team that has just answered an individual question correctly. Team members may confer among themselves to answer a bonus question, with the final answer given by any member of the team. Bonus questions are asked only once; if answered incorrectly, they will not be directed to the other team. Bonus questions are worth one (1) point.
B. The moderator will flip a coin (“heads or tails” = cara ou coroa) to decide which team gets the first question, designated here as Team A. The moderator will then ask the first member of Team A (person “A1”) an individual question. If A1 answers correctly, their team will receive a bonus question. If A1 answers incorrectly, the same individual question will go to B1. If B1 answers correctly, their team will receive a bonus question, on which the team members may confer. Team B will then also receive the next question which would correspond to their regular turn for an individual question.
C. Play will continue with the moderator directing individual questions to consecutive members of each team (A2, B2, A3, B3, etc.). Whenever a team member answers an individual question correctly, the team receives a chance to answer a bonus question. If they answer incorrectly, the same individual question will be directed to the other team.
5. Responses to questions: The first response directed to the moderator (as determined by the moderator) will be considered the team's answer.
6. Time limit for questions: The team giving the answer must begin its response within 15 seconds. Thereafter, the team may continue its answer until correct. If, however, the team hesitates more than 10 seconds in answering, the answer will be judged as incorrect.
7. Ending the game: At the end of the playing time (12 minutes or 50 questions, whichever comes first), the team with the most points will be declared the victor and will advance to the next round of competition. If the game time expires while a question or answer is being given, the moderator will allow play to proceed until the end of that question.
In case of a tie at the end of the allotted time period, individual questions will be alternated until a team misses. THERE WILL BE NO BONUS QUESTIONS in the overtime period!
8. Moderator’s decisions: All decisions of the moderator are final.
9. Disqualification: Due to the potentially intense competition in the Portuguese Bowl, unfair practices will merit disqualification and elimination of the team, as determined by the moderator. These practices may include but are not limited to:
Inclusion of an ineligible team member (as ascertained at any time during the tournament)
Interference by a teacher, classmates or friends not on the team
Fewer than five members on a team
Failure to abide by any of the stated rules
10. Advancing to the next round: The tournament will be single elimination. Winning teams will advance to the next round until a single team is declared the winner of the bowl. A trophy will be awarded to the winning team in the awards ceremony.