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Which of the following geometric shapes features an orthocenter?
A. Circle. B. Pentagon. C. Square. D. Triangle.
The correct answer will be worth $100,000 to a University of Missouri graduate student returning to “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” on Monday. Cassie Belek made it to the $50,000 mark on Friday’s program, and her game continues Monday after a weeklong delay caused by the appearance of a guest host on the TV game show. The show airs at 6:30 p.m. on KMIZ.
Belek, a University of Missouri graduate student from Overland Park, Kan., taped the show in November, so by now she knows the correct answer is “triangle.” Program rules prohibit her from revealing whether she got it right on the show. Math in general, she warned, is not her best subject.
She’ll have a few options. Belek could walk away with the $50,000 she earned if she’s not comfortable with her guess. She still has a “lifeline” left, so she could enlist the help of an expert. if she guesses incorrectly, Belek still walks away with an automatic $25,000, an amount guaranteed once a contestant passes that mark.
“Really, winning at $25,000 makes it possible for me to do what I want after graduation,” said Belek, who will receive her master’s degree in journalism at MU this weekend. “I’m moving to L.A. Without winning the money, it would make it a much more difficult process, especially since I don’t have a job yet.”
Belek hopes to get into television production. Appearing on the game show, she said, gave her an inside look at production and helped her seal her career decision. “I was so excited to see the production process behind everything,” she said.
Belek auditioned in August after failing to snag a spot on “Jeopardy!” She submitted a video on why she would be a good contestant and then passed an online test.
On Friday’s show, Belek relied on the audience’s help when asked to name which country Bashir Gemayel was elected in before being killed in 1982. At audience members’ recommendation, Belek correctly guessed Lebanon, program publicist Trisha Miller said.
Then, when faced with a question about U.S. presidents, Belek used her “Double Dip” lifeline, allowing her to have two guesses if need be. She didn’t need the extra guess: Miller said Belek correctly answered William Howard Taft when asked about the only U.S. president to also administer the oath of office because he later became chief justice of the Supreme Court.
Belek said she will be glad when her final appearance on the show has aired, not only because it’s been tough to keep her performance secret but also because she won’t get the money until after the show.
“It’s been a long time to wait, but I’m glad it’s finally airing,” she said. “My loans are starting to run out, so I’m waiting for the check.”
Reach Janese Heavin at 573-815-1705 or e-mail jheavin@columbiatribune.com.
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