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WASHINGTON -- The competition went to a second tiebreaker before James Williams, a 14-year-old from Vancouver, Wash., claimed victory Wednesday in the 15th annual National Geographic Bee. "I wasn't expecting this at all, it's really exciting," the soft-spoken James, oldest of six children, said after besting 55 finalists in two days of competition. The deciding question: "Goa, a state in southwestern India, was a possession of which country until 1961?" Portugal was James' correct answer, netting a $25,000 college scholarship, a lifetime subscription to National Geographic magazine and a week at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Adventure Camp. Dallas Simons, a...

WASHINGTON (AP) — James Williams, a home-schooled 14-year-old from Vancouver, Wash., won the 15th annual National Geographic Bee on Wedenesday. Williams captured the title by knowing that Goa in India was formerly a colony of Portugal.That answer gave him a tiebraker victory over Dallas Simons, a 13-year-old from Nashville, Tenn.Placing third in the competition was Sean Rao, 14, from Hubertus, Wis.Williams said being home-schooled was a big help in the competition because it gave him extra time to concentrate on things he enjoys, like studying geography.Williams made the trip to the competition here after participating in a science bowl...

Survey Says A National Geographic study released [in November] found that only about one in seven Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 could find Iraq [on a map]. Although 58% knew that the Taliban and al Qaeda were based in Afghanistan, only 17% could find that country. The survey asked 56 geographic and current events questions of young people in nine countries. Americans got an average of 23 correct answers. Mexico ranked last with an average score of 21. Topping the scoring was Sweden, with an average of 40, followed by Germany and Italy, each with 38. Other...