At the start of a cross-subject（语境补充词）/cross-subject/ challenge, Mina's team received a real case rather than a textbook（教科书）/'tekstbuk/ exercise. The opening evidence connected software（软件）/ˈsɔfˌwɛr/, soil（土壤、土地）/sɒil/, solar（太阳的、日光的）/'sәulә/, soldier（士兵）/ˈsəʊldʒə/, solid（固体的；牢固的）/ˈsɑləd/, solution（解决办法；溶液）/səˈluʃən/, somehow（不知何故）/'sʌmhau/, somewhat（某物、几分）/'sʌmhwɒt/, sorrow（悲伤、哀惜）/'sɒrәu/, sort（分类）/ˈsɔːtɪŋ/, soul（灵魂、心灵）/sәul/, sour（酸的）/saʊər/, sow（母猪、懒胖女人）/sau. sәu/, and specific（具体的）/spɪˈsɪfɪk/. The links looked unusual, but each detail came from a witness, label, form, or measurement（尺寸、度量）/'meʒәdmәnt/ in the case file. The team has already reviewed the complete plan.

A second folder added splendid（光亮的、了不起的）/'spendid/, spot（污点、地点）/spɒt/, spy（间谍、侦探）/spai/, stability（安定、稳定性）/stә'biliti/, stadium（露天大型运动场）/'steidiәm/, stage（讲台；舞台）/steɪdʒ/, stare（凝视）/stɛr/, starve（(使)饿死、(使)挨饿）/stɑ:v/, statue（雕像）/'stætju/, steak（牛排、鱼排）/steik/, steam（蒸汽、精力）/sti:m/, steel（钢）/stil/, stimulate（刺激、激励）/'stimjuleit/, and straightforward（笔直的、率直的）/streit'fɒ:wәd/. Some entries described people and places; others recorded objects, actions, or changing conditions. The students sorted each clue by time and source instead of forcing an early answer. The final choice was explained to everyone at the meeting.

The hardest set included strait（海峡、困境）/streit/, stream（溪流；流）/strim/, strengthen（加强、变坚固）/'streŋθәn/, stress（压力、紧迫）/stres/, stretch（伸展、张开）/stretʃ/, strike（打击；罢工）/straɪk/, string（线、细绳）/striŋ/, struggle（斗争、努力）/'strʌgl/, studio（工作室）/ˈstudiˌoʊ/, stuff（东西；材料）/stəf/, style（风格）/staɪl/, subjective（主观的、个人的）/sәb'dʒektiv/, subsequent（后来的、接下去的）/'sʌbsikwәnt/, and substance（物质、实质）/'sʌbstәns/. Mina checked spelling and context while a partner marked facts that could be tested. Mina, who led（lead的过去式和过去分词）/led/ the discussion（讨论）/dɪˈskʌʃn/, asked for clear evidence. Then the supervisor（管理者、监督者）/.sju:pә'vaizә/ said, “Do not hide an awkward clue merely because it weakens（削弱、减弱）/'wi:kәn/ your first idea.”

The last working board brought together substantial（实质上的、物质的）/sәb'stænʃәl/, suburb（市郊住宅区、郊区）/'sʌbә:b/, subway（地铁、地道）/'sʌbwei/, suffer（遭受）/ˈsəfər/, sufficient（充分的、足够的）/sә'fiʃәnt/, suit（套装、诉讼）/sju:t. su:t/, sum（总数、总和）/sʌm/, summary（摘要、概要）/'sʌmәri/, super（上等的、特大的）/'sju:pә/, superb（极度的、华丽的）/sju'pә:b/, superior（更优的；高人一等的）/sju:'piәriә/, surf（海浪、拍岸浪）/sә:f/, surgeon（外科医生、军医）/'sә:dʒәn/, and surgery（外科、手术）/'sә:dʒәri/. The group compared the four boards, removed repeated claims, and wrote（写下）/roʊt/ a short reason beside every decision（决定）/dɪˈsɪʒn/. If the first method fails, we can try another one. That rule helped them correct two mistakes without blaming a teammate（队友）/'ti:mmeit/.

The team had to meet a deadline（按期完成）/mit ə ˈdɛˌdlaɪn/ and submit an application（提交申请）/səbˈmɪt ən ˌæpləˈkeɪʃən/. Members must be qualified for（有资格胜任）/bi kˈwɑləˌfaɪd fər/ their roles, be capable of（有能力做）/bi ˈkeɪpəbəl əv/ solving problems, and take responsibility for（承担……的责任）/teɪk riˌspɑnsəˈbɪləti fər/ results. They would respond to（回应）/rɪˈspɑnd tɪ/ feedback（反馈、反应）/'fi:dbæk/, take the initiative（采取主动）/teɪk ðə ˌɪˈnɪʃətɪv/, and be willing to（愿意做）/bi ˈwɪlɪŋ tɪ/ revise the plan. The completed record told（告诉）/toʊld/ a clearer story than the first draft. It did not pretend that every clue was equally important; it showed how disciplined reading, calm cooperation（合作、协力）/kәu.ɒpә'reiʃәn/, and a checkable（语境补充词）/checkable/ decision could turn a crowded case into useful（有用的）/ˈjuːsfəl/ action.