-From the KC Studio at WETA, students from Langley... Meridian... and Bishop Ireton meet today on "It's Academic."

♪♪ ♪♪ Hello, everybody.

Welcome to "It's Academic," the world's longest-running TV quiz show, now in its 65th season, produced by Altman Productions and the great WETA.

-Support for "It's Academic" has been provided by the following... George Mason University -- All Together Different.

♪♪ -Call us different.

-Different in where we come from... -...where we're going... -...and how we think.

-But the same in our dreams for tomorrow.

-Driven by the pull of possibility... -...to inspire... -...to think fearlessly... -...to protect and to heal the planet.

-We know the world will change.

-Together... -...we will be the ones to change it.

-Call Mason different -- All... -...together... -...different.

[ Applause ] -Hey, guys, we are so happy you've joined us for "It's Academic" today and we're going to have a really good game.

We start, as you know, with Fast Start.

You know that, guys, right?

Yeah.

So questions in this round are worth 10 points up or down.

First team to buzz in gets to answer.

And the students don't see what you do on the screens at home.

Here we go, teams.

These questions are all about geese and persons, places and things associated with geese.

Yes, Bishop Ireton.

-Gander.

-Gander, it is.

One species of goose is named for this Western Hemisphere country, that includes -- Bishop Ireton.

-Canada.

-Canada is right.

In Jack & the Beanstalk, a goose lays this kind of -- Meridian.

-Golden eggs.

-Golden is right.

Yep.

Ireton.

Answer.

3, 2 -- -Crachit?

-Yeah.

Yep.

Langley.

-Zero.

-Zero it is.

Langley.

-Hilton?

-No.

Stine.

Close.

Langley.

-Barnacle.

-Barnacle is right.

Ireton.

-Mother Goose.

-Mother Goose it is.

Meridian.

-Alberta.

-Alberta is right.

Geese fly in formations named for this letter.

Langley.

-"V."

-Yeah.

"V" is it.

And that does it for our Fast Start.

Let's recap the scores.

[ Applause ] This is one of my favorite parts.

We get to meet the teams, and we begin with Langley from McLean, Virginia, home of the Saxons.

Ryan, how are you doing?

-Doing well, thanks.

-Good.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

-Yeah.

So I'm interested in everything geography related.

-Ah.

Okay.

I like geography, too.

Hi, Lillian.

-Hi.

-So, what should we know about you?

-Um, I like to make art.

-Yeah.

Wonderful.

Anything particular?

-Uh, maybe watercolor.

-Watercolors, I remember that.

Hi, Leo.

-Uh, hi.

I'm Leo.

-And?

-Um, I like math.

-Wonderful.

And this is your first year on "It's Academic."

Everybody else has been here before but you.

So welcome.

-Thank you.

-You're welcome.

Alright, guys, in this round, questions are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

Hidden in this phrase about ice is the name of what river, the tributary of the Mississippi?

-Missouri.

-Missouri.

-Missouri it is.

Which of these two words are antonyms?

-Timid and audacious.

-Are you sure?

-Yeah.

-Um, 1 and 4.

-That's right.

Timid and audacious.

What same name was shared by these two men, one an architect and the other the author of "Native Son" and "Black Boy"?

-Wright.

-Yep.

That's it.

Combine the chemical symbols for these three elements, and you'll spell the name of what South American country, where Lima is the capital?

-Peru.

-Peru is correct.

Of these three Georges, which one strongly advocated adding a bill of rights to the Constitution?

-Mason.

-2.

-Yeah.

George Mason, who also wrote the Virginia Bill of Rights.

You can complete the name of this ancient Chinese rebellion named for the fee it charged to join by adding what traditional Asian food grown in paddies?

-Rice.

-Rice.

-Rice it is.

Nice.

Langley, 240 points.

[ Applause ] Over to Meridian High School from Falls Church, Virginia.

Hey, Lorien.

How are you?

-Hi.

I'm doing well.

-Good.

What should we know about you?

-Um, I love playing Dungeons and Dragons, and I love all forms of mythical creatures.

-Awesome.

My kid thinks I'd love Dungeons and Dragons, but I still haven't played.

I should, I should.

Hello, Anna.

-Hi.

-Hi.

What should we know about you?

-Um, well, I love history and international relations, and I've been playing the clarinet for nine years.

-Awesome.

Good to have you again.

Hello, Greyson.

-Hello.

Uh, my name is Greyson, and I'm really into marine biology, so... -Oh, wonderful, I like that.

Here we go, guys.

You'll have an advantage here if you can find the hidden name of what heavy metallic element whose symbol is PB?

-Lead.

-Lead?

-Yes, it is.

Of these four words, which two are opposite in meaning?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -2 and 3?

-That's it.

Indolent and energetic.

What same last name is shared by these two Americans, one the author of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," the other the inventor of the sewing machine?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Um... -The answer is Howe.

By combining the chemical symbols for these two elements, you can spell the name of what Biblical figure who murdered his brother?

-Cain.

-Cain.

-That's it.

Which of these groups was obsessed with the idea of turning various metals into gold?

-3.

-3.

-Yeah.

Alchemists.

To complete this quote, fill in the blank with what word that can describe a black mamba or cottonmouth.

-Snake.

-Snake is right.

Meridian, 220 points.

[ Applause ] To Bishop Ireton from Alexandria, Virginia.

Hiya, Dallas.

Tell us something about yourself.

-I'm a senior at Bishop Ireton.

This is my fourth year on the "It's Academic" team, and I'm very interested in electrical engineering.

-Alright.

Good to see you again.

And good to see you as well, Daniel.

-Hi, I'm Daniel, I'm a senior at Bishop Ireton.

This is also my fourth year on the team.

And I really love computer science.

-And finally Newman.

-I'm also a senior.

This is also my fourth year on "It's Academic" and I really like to sing in my church choir.

-Awesome!

And I will really miss all of you guys next year.

-Thank you, Hillary.

-Here we go.

See if you can find hidden in these nice words the name for what Asian country whose capital is Kathmandu.

-Nepal.

-Correct.

Which two of these words are synonyms?

-1 and 4.

-Correct.

Affluent and wealthy.

What same last name is shared by Elizabeth Cady, a prominent 19th-century suffragist, and Edwin, the Secretary of War in Abraham Lincoln's cabinet?

-Stanton.

-Correct.

Please combine the symbols for these elements to get the name of what British explorer killed by Hawaiian natives in 1779.

-Cook.

-Yes.

Washington's Vietnam Veterans Memorial, on which the names of more than 58,000 service members are carved, was designed by which of these women.

-2, Maya Lin.

-You are right.

To complete this statement by a 20th-century dictator, add what freedom named in the First Amendment along with speech, religion, petition and assembly.

-Press.

-Yes.

Freedom of the press.

Nicely done, Bishop Ireton.

260 points.

[ Applause ] That does it for Mix & Match.

We've got Picture Perfect coming up next.

-In 1961, nine high school students walked into a TV studio in Washington, D.C., to film the very first episode of "It's Academic."

-Good evening and welcome to "It's Academic," the weekly program... -Little did they know that over the course of the next 65 years, thousands of high school students would follow them onto the set and into broadcast history.

-I think what has kept "It's Academic" on the air for so long -- you had strong support from the schools, and we've had a strong community support.

-There aren't a ton of outlets to, like, be competitive in an academic setting.

-It teaches composure, knowledge, wisdom.

-And it's like an engaging, fun quiz show.

But it also teaches you so much about the world and so many different facets.

-Today, "It's Academic" is celebrating 65 years and is the world's longest-running TV quiz show.

Thank you, students, schools, viewers, and fans.

And remember -- "It's Academic."

-[ Cheering indistinctly ] Go, fight, win.

-Let's hear it for the Bishop Ireton Cheers.

And do you know they were the national cheer champions of all high schools?

How about that?

[ Applause ] Alright, guys, now we've had all these cheers, we've got all of this energy for the Picture Perfect round.

Are you ready?

Questions are worth 20 points, up or down.

Once again, the first team to buzz in gets to answer.

Painted several years before his death, this is what American, who was only 28 when he invented the cotton gin?

Langley.

-Whitney.

-Whitney is right.

What English author of "So Long" and "Thanks for All the Fish" made this statement?

It is...Douglas Adams of... You know Douglas Adams.

This painting shows what Viking captain arriving in America around the year -- Meridian.

-Leif Erikson.

-Correct.

Find the area of the square.

Langley.

-49.

-49 it is.

Nice.

The Noah's Ark story is the inspiration for this Kandinsky painting, whose title "Deluge," refers to the flood described in what first book of the Bible?

Yeah.

Bishop Ireton.

-Genesis.

-Yeah.

This fishing boat is shown on what Canadian Bay, famous for having the highest -- -Hudson?

-No.

Bay of Fundy.

Highest tides anywhere in the world.

Which of these substances occurs naturally in human saliva where it begins the digestion of starches?

Yep.

Langley.

-Bacitracin?

-No.

Ptyalin.

This is Idaho's Craters of the Moon National Monument, which was established in 1924 and later expanded by what 42nd president?

Yep.

Ireton.

-Coolidge.

-Pardon me?

No.

-Coolidge.

-No.

Clinton.

Clinton.

That does it for Picture Perfect.

Let's recap those scores.

And now we get to meet all the coaches who helped prepare these kids for competition.

I love this part of our show, by the way.

We begin with Langley.

Who is with you, Lillian?

-We have our wonderful coaches, Miss Banker and Miss Dornemann, as well as our principal, Mr.

Stroud.

-So wonderful to have you guys.

Thanks for being here.

Over to Meridian.

Anna, who's with you?

-Um, this is our awesome coach, Mr.

Pepper, and...yeah.

-And our favorite thing about him is his wonderful, flowing locks of hair.

-[ Laughing ] I'm sure he appreciates that.

It's very good to see you.

And finally, over at Bishop Ireton.

Daniel, tell us about this guy.

-This is our incredible coach and math teacher, Mr.

Cogliano, a.k.a.

Mr.

C. Our favorite thing about him is that he always tells us that the proof is in the parabola.

-It's wonderful to see all of you again, and thanks for supporting your teams the way you do.

Alright, great meeting all of those coaches.

And now we can begin the packet round.

Langley, you'll answer questions first.

Meridian, you choose which of these packets they answer questions from.

-3.

-3.

-3.

-3.

Alright.

Guys, questions worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

And if you get all of the questions right, there's a... -Bonus.

-25 points.

-Yes, 25-point bonus.

Thank you.

Here we go.

Somewhere between 13 and 18 billion years is the estimated age of what galaxy that includes our solar system?

-Milky Way.

-Milky Way is correct.

In an attempt to raise revenues in the American colonies, the British Parliament passed a 1765 act with what name that suggests postage?

-Stamp Act?

-Yes.

According to English law, you can be fined if you're caught in Trafalgar Square feeding what kind of birds that can be homing or carrier?

-Pigeons.

-Yes.

Here's your science question.

Which of these words refers to a gap between neurons across which a nerve impulse is transmitted?

-Synapses.

-Correct again.

When one 19th-century writer spoke of music for the eyes and a melody for the heart, he was describing what major German river that empties into the North Sea?

-Rhine.

-The Rhine.

-The Rhine is right.

In 1938, people panicked, thinking creatures from outer space had invaded the United States because of a radio broadcast of what H.G.

Wells story?

-"War of the Worlds."

-" War of the Worlds" is right.

Here's your math question.

What is the greatest common divisor of these three numbers?

-6?

-6 it is.

Though he's remembered for wrestling with affairs of state, what 16th president was a champion wrestler in his youth and is in the Wrestling Hall of Fame?

-Lincoln?

-Yeah, it's Abraham Lincoln.

25-point bonus for Langley.

[ Cheers and applause ] Nice job, guys.

Meridian, it's your turn.

Bishop Ireton, packet 1 or 2?

-2.

-2.

Isaac Newton must have been grateful to what popular fruit that, according to legend, hit Newton on the head and started him thinking about gravity?

-Apple.

-Yes, it was an apple.

The Yankee Fork is not an eating implement.

It's a branch of what Idaho River, named for a fish that swims upstream to spawn?

-Salmon.

-Yep, that's also right.

Of the 13 colonies, the only one not invaded by British troops during the Revolutionary War was what New England colony where the city of Portsmouth is located?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Rhode Island?

-No, it's New Hampshire.

Here's your science question.

Which of these compounds has been used to seed some clouds in order to cause rain?

[ Indistinct whispering ] Answer?

-Sodium hydroxide.

-No, it's silver iodide.

Though he was known as the French Sun King, Louis the 14th would not permit sunshades at what grandiose palace he had built just outside of Paris?

-Versailles.

-Yeah.

It's Versailles.

In 2002, file cabinets filled with original manuscripts and love letters were found in the home of what author of "For Whom the Bell Tolls"?

-Hemingway.

-Yeah.

Here's your math question.

What is the area of the right triangle if "A" equals 3?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -9.

-9.

-It is 9.

Nice.

"Those were the four most miserable years of my life," said what 6th president, referring to his years as chief executive?

-John Quincy Adams.

-That is correct.

Meridian High School, 360 points.

And now packet number 1 for Bishop Ireton.

Although there were 13 states in existence at its inception, the constitution was signed by only 12.

The exception being what smallest state?

-Rhode Island?

-Yep.

It is.

What classical God of the sea was credited with giving the horse, but not the seahorse, to mankind?

-Poseidon.

-Yep.

That's correct.

On a range of 0 to 10, the Torino Scale measures the possibility of the Earth being hit by what small celestial bodies, thousands of which orbit between Mars and Jupiter?

-Asteroids?

-That's correct.

Here's your science question.

Which one of these instruments can convert sunlight into an electric current?

-Photoelectric cell.

-Yeah.

In a 1905 bloodless revolution, Norway declared its independence from what other Scandinavian country with which it shares a border?

-Sweden.

-Sweden's right.

"The Autobiography of a Horse" is the subtitle of Anna Sewell's novel about a mistreated horse with what 2-word name?

-" Black Beauty."

-It is.

Here's your math question.

What is 5% of 80?

-4?

-Yes.

It took 36 ballots before the Republicans chose what nominee who became our 20th president, but was assassinated in 1881?

-Garfield.

-Garfield is right.

We've got another 25-point bonus for Bishop Ireton.

Well done, guys.

Anything can happen next because it's the Grab Bag.

See you in a minute.

-"It's Academic" has been on the air for 65 years.

And over the decades, we've showcased thousands of high school students from all over the D.C.

area.

Today, "It's Academic" continues to celebrate education and remains a critical part of WETA's mission-focused programming.

With the recent loss of federal funding for public media, we need your help now more than ever to support "It's Academic."

Please make a donation and become a Friend of It's Academic today and help keep "It's Academic" on the air and streaming for our students and their futures.

[ Applause ] We've reached the Grab Bag round and, guys, it'll be fast, so I look forward to seeing what you bring.

Questions are worth 20 points up or down.

Here we go.

First team to buzz in gets to answer.

I know you know that.

If you were listing the Great Lakes alphabetically, which lake would you put first?

Yep.

Ireton.

Answer, 3... -Erie.

-That's it.

An Arabic word meaning journey is the root of what word identifying a large-scale hunting -- Ireton.

Answer, 3... -Hunt.

-Nope.

Safari.

Chief Kepuha established Christianity on what G-initialed Pacific Island, now a U.S.

territory that sends -- Langley.

Answer... -Guam.

-Guam it is.

On your screens.

This is a marmoset, a monkey that belongs to a genus named for what mythical king who had the golden touch?

Langley.

-Midas.

-Midas is right.

The mythical dryads were nymphs who lived in what type of vegetation?

Meridian.

-Trees.

-Yeah.

Good job.

What number is 64% of 50?

Yep.

Ireton.

-32.

-32 is correct.

Though nicknamed the Pathfinder, what 19th-century explorer couldn't find the path to the presidency as the first nominee of the Republican Party?

Yep.

Ireton.

-Fremont.

-Yeah, you're right.

On your screens.

This picture shows the scene just before what battle, where Charles Martel defeated the Moors in -- Ireton.

-Poitiers.

-Correct.

The nation's first BA degree in martial arts was awarded by the University of what B-initialed city, Connecticut's largest?

-Boston.

-Yep.

Ireton.

No.

Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Choice.

An element with atomic number 3 will most likely combine with the element -- Meridian.

-Uh... -Answer.

-Hydroxide.

-No, we're looking for a number.

It was 9.

Sorry.

In "Alice in Wonderland," players used flamingos to hit the ball in what lawn game?

Meridian.

-Croquet.

-Yeah.

Good job.

On your screens.

This is the flag of Cape Verde, an island nation that, until 1974 -- Langley.

Answer.

-Portugal.

-Portugal's right.

His experience at Phillips Exeter Academy gave author John Knowles his idea for what 1960 novel about boys in a boarding school during World War II?

The answer is "A Separate Peace."

The Third Servile War or the Gladiators War, are names applied to the revolt led by what Roman?

Ireton.

-Spartacus.

-Spartacus is correct.

The World War II alliance of Germany, Italy and Japan shared its name with what imaginary line about -- Ireton.

-Axis.

-Axis is correct.

Here is another clue on your screen.

This is what man who played a pivotal -- Ireton.

-Dred Scott.

-Dred Scott's correct.

Rome is famous for what subterranean cemeteries that held -- -Catacombs.

-Catacombs is right.

The crown of the Statue of Liberty has what number of spikes equal -- Langley?

-7.

-7 is right.

Nice.

The phrase mad, bad and dangerous to know was first used to describe what English Romantic poet who wrote "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage" and "Don Juan"?

And the answer is Lord Byron.

Though he had become an American citizen, what 19th-century Italian -- [ Buzzer ] That does it.

That's the end of the game.

Stick around.

We'll have those scores in just a minute.

I'm Hillary Howard, host of "It's Academic," and I've got a question for you.

The answer is WETA+.

That's right.

WETA+ is a free and easy-to-use streaming service created specifically for D.C.-area viewers like you.

With WETA+, you can watch local shows like "It's Academic" or PBS hits like Masterpiece, wherever and wherever you want, on your TV or on the go.

WETA+ is free and available to download on all major streaming devices and smart TVs.

For more information, go to weta.org/wetaplus.

[ Applause ] The scores are now official.

We begin with Meridian High School from Falls Church, Virginia.

Lorien, Anna, Greyson, 380 points.

[ Applause ] From Langley High School in McLean, Virginia, Ryan, Lillian, Leo, 525 points, winning a 25-point bonus.

[ Applause ] And the victor in today's game is Bishop Ireton, home of the Cardinals in Alexandria.

Dallas, Daniel, Newman, 545 points.

[ Applause ] We are so glad that you were with us today.

Can't wait to see you next time.

I'm Hillary Howard and remember, everybody... -"It's Academic."

-Bye-bye.

See ya.

-Support for "It's Academic" has been provided by the following... George Mason University -- All Together Different.

♪♪ -Call us different.

-Different in where we come from... -...where we're going... -...and how we think.

-But the same in our dreams for tomorrow.

-Driven by the pull of possibility... -...to inspire... -...to think fearlessly... -...to protect and to heal the planet.

-We know the world will change.

-Together... -...we will be the ones to change it.

-Call Mason different -- All... -...together... -...different.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪