Vocab questions reduce spelling bee to 3 letters: A, B or C

By BEN NUCKOLS
Associated Press

OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — An onstage vocabulary round introduced a new element of randomness into the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The multiple-choice vocabulary questions forced spellers to demonstrate a different skill set and knocked out some of the bee’s most accomplished spellers during Wednesday’s semifinals. Among those who were eliminated without spelling a word incorrectly were Roy Seligman and Vivinsha Veduru, who tied for fourth place in last year’s bee. Veteran spelling coach Grace Walters called the vocabulary results “tragic.” Among the words and phrases that spellers failed to define were “Stockholm syndrome,” “ragout” and “rumbustical.”