The audience below burst into applause after he finished speaking.
The second speaker was a female judge, Yang Yin, also a doctor of literature, who had published over thirty works, was fluent in multiple languages, and was a doctoral supervisor at a university.
"I largely agree with Principal Kang. The performance of these children has been commendable, and it has shown me that our country has so many outstanding children.
Of course, there were also a few foreign contestants, and they were also very good. Knowledge knows no borders. Keep up the good work!"
...
Finally, it was Zhao Dewang's turn. He was the oldest and most influential among the judges.
His calligraphy had gained international recognition, and he was also the chairman of the Calligraphy Association. He had represented the country on overseas visits and was a truly veteran figure.
"They've all said so much, so I'll keep my remarks brief. The performance of these children is indeed praiseworthy, but learning is endless. I hope this stage is just the beginning for them, and that they will go further and further!" With that, he put down the microphone.
"Thank you to the four teachers for your comments. As you all said, it's not just the contestants on stage, but countless children out there. I hope everyone will love learning and surpass themselves.
Now, let's move on to the competition. Please welcome contestant number eighteen, Christopher!" the host announced.
As the host finished speaking, a boy with blond hair and blue eyes walked onto the stage.
This contestant was from the United States, aged fourteen. He was the one who had boasted on the bus about eliminating Tongtong in the first round.
Despite his arrogance and lack of manners, he was a capable individual with an eidetic memory, exceptional mathematical skills, and knowledge of ancient Chinese poetry and allusions.
His performance was outstanding, and he also gave the correct answer within ten seconds.
Next were contestants nineteen, twenty, and twenty-one, and twenty-two.
Contestant twenty-one answered incorrectly but still had two more chances.
The next contestant was twenty-three, Tian Tian: "Tian Tian, are you nervous?" the host asked with a smile, looking at the person standing at the answer desk.
Tian Tian flashed a sweet smile: "Not really!"
"It seems Tian Tian is very confident in herself. Do you think the questions so far have been difficult?"
"Hmm... so far, I've answered all of them correctly," Tian Tian replied with an innocent look that appeared simple and harmless.
The host said, "It seems we have another prodigy! I won't waste any more time.
Tian Tian, please choose your question!"
Tian Tian looked at the thirty-two questions on the large screen, each with a question mark behind it.
After a moment of thought, she also chose question number thirty-two: "So far, I think student Song Yicheng's questions have been the most challenging.
Therefore, I choose to face the challenge and select question number thirty-two!"
"Bold! However, our questions are randomized. After each contestant answers a question, a random question will be drawn from the reserve pool to replace it.
As for whether this question is difficult, I don't know. Let's all look at the large screen and see.
And please, contestant Tian Tian, get ready. You will also have fifteen seconds to watch the video. Seize the opportunity."
After the host finished speaking, the large screen began to count down.
Soon, the video appeared. It showed a woman stringing beads. A handful of colorful beads were scattered on the table.
The woman spoke as she threaded the beads.
When the woman finished speaking, the video ended.
Before the host could even ask the question, the audience below began to speculate about what it would be.
Some guessed it would definitely be about the number of beads, either the number of beads of a certain color or the total number of beads. That was a sure bet.
However, the host's next question once again baffled everyone. It was truly more absurd than the last, bordering on the ridiculous.
"Please listen to the question: In the video just now, when the woman said the weather was turning cold, at which second did the word 'cold' appear?
A. The eighth second, B. The ninth second, C. The tenth second, D. The eleventh second. Timing starts now, please contestant answer!"
As soon as this question was asked, everyone's expression was one of utter astonishment.
Had they heard correctly? There was no time display during the woman's speech in the video. How could anyone possibly know which second the word appeared?
Not only were they stunned, but the other contestants were also completely bewildered, each suspecting that there had been a mistake in the question.
This question seemed unrelated to memory. It was a clear test of deductive reasoning.
Even Song Yicheng was stumped. If asked about the number of beads, he could have calculated it by recalling the video.
But to ask him about the timing of the word "cold," he truly didn't know.
Many people had focused on the beads and hadn't paid close attention to what the woman was saying. They hadn't even heard what she said.
Liu Yifeng remembered what the woman had said: "The temperature will drop significantly tomorrow, and it's snowing in many places. The weather is turning cold, don't forget to add a few more clothes."
He could also calculate the number of beads and specify them by color.
But he truly didn't know the host's question, nor could he deduce it. He could only guess.
More than 98% of the people present were stumped.
It could be said that this question was even more difficult than Song Yicheng's.
Many people felt that Tian Tian had truly risen to the challenge by choosing such a difficult question, and now she was doomed.
However, Tian Tian's expression was serious as she began to deduce at which second the word should appear.
Although there was no time display below the subtitles as the woman in the video spoke, a person's watch was captured in the last second of the video. The time on the watch was 3:15:26 PM.
Combining this with what the woman said, it wasn't difficult to deduce at which second the word "cold" was spoken.
She calculated that the word "cold" was spoken at the twenty-second second. Twenty-six minus twenty-two equals four.
Then, fifteen minus four equals eleven. Therefore, the correct answer was D.
As she stated her answer, Tongtong said the answer D almost at the same time as her.
After hearing her answer, everyone waited for the host to announce the result.
Xia Qianqian saw that Tongtong had the same answer as the contestant on stage and knew that the girl was correct.
Although she didn't know how Tongtong had calculated it, Tongtong's ability was undeniable, and she had no doubt about Tongtong's accuracy.
The host wasted no time and immediately announced the answer: "The correct answer is D, the eleventh second."
His words caused another uproar in the venue. This girl was incredible.
However, they were curious about how Tian Tian had known the answer. The video hadn't directly displayed the time. Was it purely a guess?
If it was indeed a guess, then her luck was extraordinary.