(Written by Mr Cedric Ongeri)

It was a buzzing and electrifying morning on the 31st of January 2025 at Millennium Global International School. The long-awaited inter-gender quiz competition was finally here! The stage was set, the buzz was palpable, and the reigning champions — the girls — sat poised, ready to defend their title. Their challengers —the boys — were equally determined, eager to seize the crown. The audience, students from Years 7 to 12, along with their teachers, were on the edge of their seats, ready to cheer their teams to victory. The directors of the school graced the occasion, their presence adding to the grandeur of the event.
The reigning champions, the girls' team, sat with confidence, their past victories fueling their determination. Across from them, the boys' team, ready for redemption, whispered strategies. Who would claim victory today?
The teams were set: Kimora, Mariam, Hudaa, Jasmine, and Jada represented the girls, while Jimmy, Hussein, Chad, Arjun, and Charis stood strong for the boys.
At exactly 11:15 AM, the competition kicked off!

Round One: English Language - A Strong Start
The girls came in hot! Demonstrating their linguistic prowess: Questions like "Give the opposite of the word 'futuristic'" (answer: archaic/old-fashioned) and the tricky spelling of "Antidisestablishmentarianism" that Mariam spelt with ease was a walk in the park for the girls. The girls excelled, correctly identifying homophones, and even knowing what palindromes are. They aced the bonus question: identifying a ladle as the soup-serving utensil. Their confidence was contagious, and the audience cheered them on.
Meanwhile, the boys struggled to keep up, missing points here and there. By the end of the first round, the girls were ahead, their supporters cheering wildly. They were dominating once again!
Round Two: Mathematics – The Tables Turn
Mathematics brought a shift in momentum. The girls started strong, but the boys' strategic thinking and quick calculations proved to be a force to reckon with. The boys saw their chance and pounced! Questions like “What is 84 divided by half?” (answer: 168) and “Give me the first four digits of the value of pi” (answer: 3.141) had the audience scribbling furiously. The boys’ ability to factorise complex algebraic equations and calculate the time it takes 12 men to dig a hole if 2 men take 2 days (answer: 8 hours) started to turn the tide.
By the end of the round, the boys had closed the gap, and their confidence was growing. The girls' fans looked nervous.
Round Three: Science & Round Four: Other Subjects
The battle raged on! The Science round was a mix of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. The girls showed they knew their cerebellum from their spleen, acing the Harry Potter series books in order of print and identified even the rarest blood type of them all—AB negative! But the boys' knowledge of chemical symbols and planetary facts and bank-related questions kept them in the game.
The competition was neck-and-neck!

The Buzzer Rounds: A Game-Changer!
Then came the buzzer rounds, and the boys team had a plan. The Milestone round tested their knowledge of current events and world records, from Queen Elizabeth II’s reign to the deepest ocean. Arjun swiftly implemented the boy’s strategy of hitting the buzzer at lighting speeds, giving his team the upper hand. The boys answered in rapid succession, gaining momentum with each correct response. The audience gasped with every fast-paced exchange. The girls tried to fight back, but the boys had found their rhythm. The pictorial round — identifying landmarks from the Burj al Khalifa to Machu Picchu — and the audio and video rounds — featuring clips from movies like Moana 2 and Mufasa, songs by Bruno Mars and Beyonce — added a multimedia dimension to the quiz.
The Ultimate Comeback!
The final scores were tallied, Mr. Hassam keeping us at the edge of our seats as we wait for him to announce the results. And then, the final scores were announced…
The boys had emerged victorious, dethroning the reigning champions with a final score of 2400 pointswhile the girls had 2200 points. The girls had fought valiantly, but the boys had taken the lead. Though disappointed, the girls graciously accepted their defeat, acknowledging the boys' impressive performance. The audience, regardless of their initial loyalties, applauded the winners, celebrating the spirit of healthy competition and the pursuit of knowledge.
A Quiz to Remember!
As students left the exam hall, they buzzed with excitement. "Did you know Germany gave us the first Christmas tree?"; “I had no idea that Australia is the only country in the world,that you would find a desert, snow-capped mountains, tropical rainforest as well as sandy beaches under sunny blue skies on the same day of the year.”
The quiz had been more than a competition—it was a roller-coaster of knowledge, excitement, and pure fun!

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