Reality High Test Results, September 14 – 21: Two Ways to Create Ethnic Diversity

Meanwhile, the Detour itself proved to be very interesting. Witness the answers that Kellie & Jamie and Tom & Terry made to the ninth question:

9. True or False: You should always choose the Detour that’s closest and requires the least amount of time for you to do.

Both teams answered “false.” While just about everyone else chose “Labor,” which was a mile away and was physically demanding but could be done quickly if the team had the required strength, both Kellie & Jamie and Tom & Terry chose “Leisure,” which was two miles away and wasn’t so physical but required balance and could take a long while. True, Kellie & Jamie were cheerleaders, so they may have chosen a little better than Tom or Terry considering that the task required balance. But they still were one of the last teams to finish the Detour.

And finally, there’s the final question, which refers to the “Labor” Detour:

10. Your Detour choice involves paving a 45-square foot section of sidewalk with bricks. What should be your first move?

A. Figure out if there’s a pattern to paving the sidewalk section and then figure out the pattern before you begin paving the sidewalk.
B. Just begin paving the sidewalk. It’s a race, after all.
C. Argue and fight with each other over who’ll pave what section of the sidewalk.

Unfortunately, a few teams answered “B,” including Lyn & Karlyn. The correct answer is “A.” You need to figure out if there’s a pattern to paving the sidewalk section first. If there is one, then you need to figure out the pattern. While this wasn’t the end of the road for Lyn & Karlyn, it could’ve been. It was just fortunate that they were one of the four teams to leave at the earliest time. And while they lost a lot of time struggling with the climb up the Great Wall, they were lucky in that one team did even worse than they did, and that another team was way behind them.

Whoa! Two Philiminations in a single leg! I’m familiar with double-elimination Tribal Councils from Survivor, but not two Philiminations! What went wrong with Bilal & Sa’eed, two nice guys? Well, they arrived on the second flight thanks to having problems finding the rental parking area. Then they wound up being one of the last teams to finish the Roadblock. But the kicker was that their cab driver didn’t know where he was going, and that gave Erwin & Godwin the edge they needed to stay alive. Rotten luck, but luck plays a major role in TAR.

And what went wrong with Vipul & Arti? Well, they managed to survive the first of the eliminations, but they were at the back of the pack. Once they went for the Detour, they were screwed by a driver that didn’t know where to go or to speak English. But they could’ve learned how to speak at least some Chinese, or even better, they could’ve gotten a map of Beijing. If they had done either thing, they might’ve beaten Lyn & Karlyn (who had a tremendously hard time climbing up the Great Wall of China) or David & Mary. Instead, they were eliminated.

In any case, I gave out my grades as usual, and began with the remaining S:CI people. Adam got a “B-” and seemed okay with it. Candice got a “C+” and nodded. Cao Boi got a “C” and he said something like, “I’m already an outcast.” I said, “Not yet, Cao Boi. At least you cured Brad’s headache.” Jessica got a “D,” and I told her to step up her game or she’d be gone. Jonathan got a “C” as well, and he frowned. Finally, Ozzy got an “A,” and he was delighted about it!

Next, I gave grades for the remaining TAR 10 teams. Kellie & Jamie got a “D,” more for failing at World Religions 101 than for their choice of Detour tasks. Lyn & Karlyn also got a “D,” and I told them to calm down or I’d really be mad at them! Rob & Kimberly got a “C,” but they were relieved that at least they didn’t have a meltdown. However, the previews indicate that they may have one soon.

Finally, I was left with the two teams from TAR 10 that were eliminated, and with Sekou. I began with Sekou first. I told him, “It’s not always a bad thing to take a leadership role early in the game. Somebody has to be the leader, after all. But there’s a good way to be a leader and there’s a bad way to be one. You chose the bad way. You hooked up too obviously with Nate, neither of you included the women in the decision as to who would go to Exile Island, neither of you thought about getting a third person until after you lost the challenge, and you needed breaks way too often!”

Then I turned to Bilal & Sa’eed, and I told them, “I’m really sorry you guys had to go. Unfortunately, you took a wrong turn and ended up on the second flight. Then you were one of the last teams to reach the Roadblock and finish it. But then the kicker is that your cab driver claimed to know where he was going, but didn’t. And no, you couldn’t have known that you would be eliminated before the first leg was through. The whole thing could’ve been avoided if only you hadn’t run into traffic and then taken a wrong turn at the airport. Then the bad taxi cab driver wouldn’t have meant the end of you.”

And finally I turned to Vipul & Arti. “I’m also sorry you two went,” I said. “Sadly, you too took a wrong turn and wound up on the second flight. You were luckier than Bilal & Sa’eed because you survived the first elimination, but then you got lost just trying to direct your motorcycle driver! That was a problem that could’ve been avoided had you only had a map of Beijing. But you didn’t, you got lost, and by the time you found your way, it was just too late for you.”

Before I sent the two teams and Sekou home, I gave them their grades. Sekou got an “F” for screwing up so badly in his leadership role. He said, “Maybe I deserve it,” as he left. I’d say you did. But look on the bright side: you didn’t get Detention, and no slime for you! Bilal & Sa’eed got a “C+” for taking that wrong turn, while Vipul & Arti got a “C-.” Both teams noted that at least they didn’t get a failing grade.

Join me next week as we see whether Manihiki can recover from their first immunity loss or whether they’ll go to Tribal Council for a second time, whether Lyn & Karlyn can manage to gain my respect after their attitude towards Peter & Sarah, and whether Rob & Kimberly will be the first team to face Detention or not.

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out these other recent Survivor: Cook Islands articles here on RealityNewsOnline:

Belle Book is a library clerk for a community college in Pennsylvania. The Amazing Race is her favorite Reality TV show, so she’d love to be on it sometime! If you wish to contact Belle, she can be reached at BelleBook@aol.com.

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