Playing school?

"... has something to do with the concern I raised just now, actually", says the host. Of course it does, since out of the hundreds of challenges the show has in store he picks as he goes along the one most suitable for the current situation. And the current situation, as he sees it, is that Ellie is too close for his comfort to being scared off. He needs to poke her pride while relaxing the sexual aspect... for the time being.

"Perhaps I was harsh in making conclusions about your academic abilities", the host continues. "Although I do hope you will consent to discussing the other point of view at some point. In any case, you will now have a chance to prove me wrong by showing your strength in pure knowledge. We have two sets of multiple choice questions prepared, all on the history of feminism, all written, as a matter of fact, by a graduate of the same course in which you are now enrolled. You can pick a set randomly."

"And what, I win a gazillion of Swiss Franks for each right answer and have to strip and give you a lapdance if I get any wrong?" The voice of the underwear-clad girl, exposed and lonely on the brightly lit stage, very obviously young and scared and putting on a brave face, is seething with venomous sarcasm. She wants to go on, but the host cuts her off just in time.

"No, nothing of the sort", he assures her, his calm tone contrasting starkly with the aggression in hers. "There are no penalties at all for wrong answers and a certificate with a grade in the end. Tell you what, we'll throw in a box of sweets for an A or an A*". Ellie is taken aback, as he knew she would be. To continue her attack in the face of reason and amity would be seen as a childish tantrum; he mentioned candy and school-style grades for a reason. Of course the "student" is in fact 19 and is parading her underwear for countless viewers, but the more he treats it matter-of-factly, the better the chance she will too. There is even a warm air current around Ellie unbeknownst to her, ensuring feeling cold will not remind her unnecessarily of her state. For now.

"So just a multiple-choice quiz, I get a piece of paper in the end and I can listen to the next challenge and go if I like? No tricks or traps?" Ellie sounds suspicious, but the host is beaming with reassurance now. "Exactly. And a box of chocolates if you do well, don't forget that", he adds, but his smile makes it clear even to the most easily offended person that this is but a harmless joke.