The $10,000 Story Questions and Answers

[Jenny]

Just for reference:


The Questions and Answers for the $10,000 cash prizes in the book:


First Chapter:
“The singer. The song. The composer,” he started. “What did we hear as the fountains of Bellagio were dancing?”

“It was Luciano Pavarotti, singing Nessun Dorma by Puccini,” said Alex Williams.

Won at Las Vegas-


Second Chapter:
Locked into the fence loops were three locks. The locks were U-shaped, each with five colored plastic dials; one red; one blue; one silver.
The Benefactor smiled. “Unlock your locks.”

(Dials had both letters and numbers- same color as the cars)

Kayla (Oakland) and her Dad (Neil Hawthorne) won by strategy. She went and sent an image back to him of the temporary dealer plate to use to unlock it.

Won at Grand Canyon overlook- Yavapai Point


Third Chapter:
How big is th--?

Erin Stanton interrupted immediately, “The Holsinger Meteorite is 1,406 pounds, or 638 kilograms!”

--is the Holsinger Meteorite?”

Won at Meteor Crater, Arizona

Fourth Chapter:

“What is the name of--?”

“Zebulon. Zebulon Pike.” It was Alex Williams

"--the captain and military explorer who tried and failed to climb this mountain in the early 1800s. First and last name, please.”

Won at top of Pike's Peak

[Jenny]

Chapter two was not just a Q/A, but a bit of a puzzle to work out....

Summary:

Q1) 3 things (singer/song/composer)
Q2) Unlock- 5 digits
Q3) weight- 4 numbers (or 3 in kg)
Q4) 2 things (first and last name)

[simpleson]

Chapter 2's of 5 digits connects to the stacks of 5 of 5. I've tried different grids and things for both the square and playfair ciphers but nothing yet

[GeneticBlend]

Does anyone think that clues to the methods are in chapters other than where that method will be applied?

[TheCoyWonder]

I have begun to think that myself.

[simpleson]

Can numbers in one chapter be used in another like a book code?

[susb8383]

You know what doesn’t make sense about the story itself? When The Benefactor explains the rules to them in the parking lot, he tells them that they’ll be traveling all over the country “hoping to locate ten treasures...worth a total of $100,000.” Which really isn't true.  They haven’t had to “locate” anything; just answer questions. And having been given instructions like that, it doesn’t make sense that two people in a car would be speculating about what kind of question he’ll ask for the $10,000 of the day. If I had those instructions, I would think it would mean something like they pull into a parking lot and The Benefactor says, “Ok, the first team to find the marble rock with a heron on it wins.” 

Just sayin’.

[stones]

I agree, it's not a treasure hunt, it's a quiz show.
But that doesn't really affect the story, or the solution I'm guessing.

Dec 5, 2020 7:58:42 GMT -5 susb8383 said:

You know what doesn’t make sense about the story itself? When The Benefactor explains the rules to them in the parking lot, he tells them that they’ll be traveling all over the country “hoping to locate ten treasures...worth a total of $100,000.” Which really isn't true.  They haven’t had to “locate” anything; just answer questions. And having been given instructions like that, it doesn’t make sense that two people in a car would be speculating about what kind of question he’ll ask for the $10,000 of the day. If I had those instructions, I would think it would mean something like they pull into a parking lot and The Benefactor says, “Ok, the first team to find the marble rock with a heron on it wins.” 

Just sayin’.

[davem]

Nov 19, 2020 9:29:12 GMT -5 GeneticBlend said:

Does anyone think that clues to the methods are in chapters other than where that method will be applied?

Yes, and it doesn't break the rule of needing other Chapters except the one you're working on, either.  I think Chapter Three's "ONE HIT BAM!" is a hint to Chapter Four's solve, for example.