Final Jeopardy: International Geography (12-16-25)
The Final Jeopardy question (12/16/2025) in the category “International Geography” was:
Today a state 309,000 square miles in area, on its founding it occupied half a continent
The 2025 Second Chance Tournament Week 1 continues with Game 2 and these 3 contestants: Dave Widmayer, a trivia host from Portland, OR; Evan Argyle, a data scientist from Salt Lake City, UT; and Ivanna Lopez, a librarian orig. from Tampa, FL.
The links in their names will take you to the original game each played.
Round 1 Categories: Second Chancery – In Memoriam 2025 – Something’s “Off” – Walking – Winter – Wonderland
Dave found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “Wonderland” under the $800 clue on the 10th pick of the round. He had $200 when he found it, but a reversal (see below) brought him up to $2,200. He was now in the lead with $400 more than Evan in second place. Dave bet it all and guessed “odder.” That was WRONG.
After eating a cake that makes her grow, Alice uses this word that means “even more peculiar” (& knows she is not using good English) show
Evan finished in the lead with $4,400. Ivanna was second with $4,000 and Dave was last with $2,600. All clues were shown.
Round 2 Categories: British History – You’ll Need Some Intelligence – Vamping It Up on TV – Science – That’s a Real Myth-Conception – Before & After
Dave found the first Daily Double in “Science” under the $1,200 clue on the 7th pick. He was in last place with $4,200 now, $3,400 less than Ivanna’s lead. Dave bet it all again and, this time, he was RIGHT.
Maximizing this, the rotation version of force, is why it’s easier to open a door by pushing far from the hinges than next to them show
Ivanna got the last Daily Double in “Before & After” under the $1,200 clue, with 10 clues left after it. In the lead with $11,200, she had $800 more than Dave in second place. Ivanna bet $4,200 and she was RIGHT.
Oscar-winning epic D-Day film about rescuing Vanna’s co-host show
Ivanna finished in the lead with $15,400. Dave was next with $14,000 and Evan was in third place with $7,600. All clues were shown.
NONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.
WHAT IS NEW SOUTH WALES?
The British established the Colony of New South Wales in 1788, covering about 1,584,998 square miles of the Australian continent, which was actually known as New Holland then. This page from the Year Book Australia, 1908 shows that included 1,454,312 square miles on the mainland, 26,215 square miles for Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) and 104,471 square miles for New Zealand. From there, you can see how the Brits took over the entire continent, renamed it Australia and established colonies that became Australian states.
This old clue from 2005 explains where some of the original 310,372 New South Wales square miles went: The Australian capital territory, which includes Canberra, was carved out of this most populous state
Evan came up with Mongolia. He lost $5,001 and finished with $2,599.
Dave went with California. He only bet $1,401 so he finished with $12,599.
Ivanna didn’t quite complete her Vatican response. She lost $14,600 and was left with $800. That gave Dave Widmayer the win and he advances to the finals.
Reversal: WINTER ($1000) Observed January 6, Three Kings Day is also know as the Feast of this – Ken reject “the Magi” from Dave and Ivanna got it with the Epiphany. The judges okayed Feast of the Magi.
A triple stumper from each round:
WINTER ($800) This Norwegian skater was only 11 when she competed in her first Olympics–the very first Winter Olympics in 1924
THAT’S A REAL MYTH-CONCEPTION ($2000) “A thing of beauty is a joy for ever” is the first line of John Keats’ poem named for this beautiful youth
2 years ago: TWO of the players got this FJ in “INVENTIONS”
Invented in 1816, it takes its name from Greek for “chest” & “observe” show
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I was 1/3 on DD and missed FJ. I said “Siberia”. That was a two level FJ. First was that it was Australia. But, then, since I’m not an Australia scholar, I would have said “Western Australia”. And, not for nothing, but, I can’t visualize 309k square miles.
And, just a tiny factoid: the Sakha Republic, in Siberia, is the largest first level subnational area in the world (Alaska is #7). Second is Western Australia.
Another close game. Ivanna came on so strong, and was a second or two away from blowing that creampuff of a DD in 2nd round. Something made me think Australia for Final, so I said what the heck, I’ll go with NSW,
First round categories must have been in my wheelhouse, because I was rattling off clue after clue, including the not-impossible first DD and the Norwegian skater. Second round was murderous other than that last DD.
When I read the final clue this morning, my mind went straight to what seemed like the likely continent and this folk song started playing in my head. It’s called Lime Juice Tub.
Here we are in New South Wales,
Shearing sheep as big as whales,
With leather necks and daggy tails,
And fleece as tough as rusty nails.
Of course, I didn’t expect any of them to know that song. It’s from one of my cool album finds in the library. But I did think at least one of them would go to the right continent!
I LOVE this!! I know I’ve heard it somewhere in my youth but I can’t remember where. Thanks, VJ, for the great memory
I’m really happy that you love that song, Sam. The album I had was William Clauson Sings Waltzing Matilda And Other Australian Songs. I played that so much, Waltzing Matilda skipped. lol. Someone put the whole album online a long time ago but now, the only place I see it is on Apple Music or eBay.
I love folk songs!