Scripps Bee trivia

Scripps Bee Mini Quiz

Test your knowledge with these top questions!

Question 1

The Scripps National Spelling Bee introduced a multiple-choice test in 2013 to evaluate what skill?

The bee added a vocabulary section to ensure top spellers actually comprehend the English language rather than simply memorizing arbitrary letter sequences.

Question 2

Scripps National Spelling Bee competitors ask for a word's language of origin to discover what?

English is a blend of many languages. Knowing a word is French may suggest an "eau" ending, while a Greek origin often indicates an "f" sound spelled as "ph".

Question 3

The "schwa", an unstressed vowel, confuses Scripps Spelling Bee contestants for what reason?

The schwa is a neutral, unstressed sound like "uh". Since A, E, I, O, U, or Y can all make this sound, spellers cannot rely on pronunciation alone to guess the letter.

Question 4

Elite Scripps National Spelling Bee champions study Greek and Latin roots to help them do what?

Over 60% of English words have Greek or Latin roots. By mastering these ancient building blocks, spellers can accurately piece together words they have never heard before.