Contests & More

Learning doesn't have to be dull, nor the rewards from education deferred. At C2, we believe carefully structured contests and reward challenges can help engage some students and provide them with the incentive they need to shift their learning into a higher gear.

Words of the Week
Brain Teasers
C2 SAT Challenge

Words of the Week

Herman Melville once wrote "a fool thinks that by mouthing hard words he understands hard things." Never were there truer words - especially when it comes to preparing for the SAT. Real mastery of vocabulary comes not from just mouthing words, but from understanding them, using them - and knowing when not to use them.

Each day, devote yourself to learning a new word - one you normally wouldn't use in conversation. Here are some suggestions:

Root: JECT, JET – to throw
Several very common words use this root, from the Latin jacere.  These include the verbs reject (“to throw back”), eject (“to throw out”), inject (“to throw in”), object (“to throw against”), project (“to throw forward”), and subject (“to throw under”), all of which are fairly straightforward translations from their roots.  Two very important grammar terms, though less obvious, still relate to the root: subject (“the noun under which the sentence is thrown or constructed”) and object (“a noun that can be thrown up against another noun”).

• abject (adj.) [ab-, “away from, down” + -ject, “to throw”] – completely hopeless, miserable; low, vile
  Many people in Africa live their entire lives in abject poverty.
  Noun form: abjectness
• conjecture (n.) [con-, “together, with” + -ject, “to throw”] – speculation; guesswork
  Rather than rely on conjecture, Stan always provides plenty of evidence for his theories.
  Noun form: conjecture – to theorize with insufficient evidence; to guess
• dejected (adj.) [de-, “down” + -ject, “to throw”] – in low spirits; depressed
  Her mother’s illness often left Minka feeling dejected.
  Noun form: dejection
  Verb form: deject
• interject (v.) [inter-, “between” + -ject, “to throw”] – to insert between other things; to interrupt
  When she heard her friends arguing, Raina could not help but interject her opinion.
  Noun form: interjection – an isolated remark indicating emotion (such as “Hey!” or “Ouch!”)
• jettison (v.) [je[c]t-, “to throw”] – to discard or throw out; to throw overboard
  The pilot was forced to jettison most of his fuel before attempting the crash landing.

Check out previous Words of the Week »

back to top

Brain Teasers

Forget what the anatomy books tell you. The brain is indeed a muscle, and the only way it gets stronger is through exercise. Train yourself to become the intellectual equivalent of Arnold Schwarzenegger with a daily brain workout. Check back regularly for the C2 Brain Teaser of the Week, and push yourself.

March 10, 2008 Teaser:

ABBA: (source: www.brainden.com; contributed by Jacob Peterson)

Each letter in the following equation represents a digit. Replace the letters with digits to make the equation true.

(AA)B = ABBA

Check out previous Brain Teasers »

back to top

C2 SAT Challenge

Think you got game? Score big and win some money in the process.

The C2 SAT Challenge is an excellent opportunity for high school students to get practice for the PSAT, SAT or ACT without having the scores officially recorded. Students in middle school preparing for Duke's TIP program, various Gifted and Talented Programs, and private school entrance exams have also taken the C2 SAT Challenge as a test-run for their individual big tests.

Awards. The top three finishers at each regional competition will receive the following cash prizes:

First Place	$500
Second Place	$300
Third Place	$200

Winners will also receive a plaque and have an article written up in the sponsoring newspaper and USAEDUNEWS.

How it works. Any student in grades 6-12 age is eligible to take the Challenge. You don't have to be enrolled at C2. To register for a Challenge, contact a local C2 center. Registration fees vary from $30-$40 by region. Following the Challenge date, students can get their competition results by contacting a local C2 center. Parents are invited to accompany their children to the Challenge where they can hear more about C2 offerings along with information on the college application and financial aid process.

C2 SAT Challenge Dates.

March 15, 2008	Seattle
April 5, 2008	New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania
April 12, 2008	Atlanta
April 19, 2008	Chicago
April 26, 2008	Houston
May 17, 2008	Maryland, Virginia and D.C.

back to top