-Students from McLean, BASIS Independent, Chantilly meet today on "It's Academic."

♪♪ ♪♪ And now the host of "It's Academic," Hillary Howard.

-Hello, everybody.

I'm Hillary Howard.

Welcome to "It's Academic," produced by Altman Productions in association with David M. Rubenstein Productions.

-Support for "It's Academic" has been provided by the following... Mitre, a not-for-profit research and development company working in the public interest.

-The world is full of challenges, and at Mitre, we're committed to solving them, from aviation and health to cyber and national security, our people know we are called to do more.

♪♪ Mitre, solving problems for a safer world.

♪♪ -So glad to have you with us today.

And this is a playoff match, so let's jump in with Fast Start.

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

The first team to buzz in gets to answer.

So be quick, everybody.

And viewers at home, the students do not see what you do on your screens.

Let's do this.

Ding, Dong Bell.

Let the bells ring, as these questions are all about bells and all about the letters B-E-L-L. See if you can identify the following.

The words "Dashing through the snow" begin this familiar song.

McLean?

-"Jingle Bells".

-Yes.

This American wrote the novel "For Whom the Bell Tolls."

McLean?

-Hemingway.

-Yes.

The inscription on the Liberty Bell is from this third book of the Bible.

-McLean?

-Leviticus.

-Yeah.

Currer, Acton, and Ellis Bell were pen names for members of this literary family.

McLean?

-The Bronte sisters?

-Yeah.

-The mythical Bellerophon rode this winged horse.

McLean?

-Pegasus.

Correct.

She wrote "The Bell Jar."

-Plath.

-Yes, McLean.

You hear bells and cannon in Tchaikovsky's overture named for this -- McLean.

-1812.

-1812 is right, McLean.

This fairy is a character in "Peter Pan."

McLean.

-Tinker Bell.

-[ Laughs ] Tinker Bell is right.

Well done.

That is it for our Fast Start.

Alright, let's recap these scores.

McLean 180, BASIS Independent, 100 points, Chantilly, 100 points.

[ Applause ] Well, now that that Fast Start is over with, it is time for the Mix and Match round.

And first, we get to meet the teams.

In this round, by the way, each team will have an opportunity to answer 5 questions worth 20 points apiece.

There are no penalties, guys, for a wrong answer.

Okay, to McLean High School.

Let's first meet Carter.

Carter, how are you doing?

-Hi, I'm Carter and I'm a 17-year-old junior.

-Wonderful.

Anything else you want to tell us?

-Um.

Not really.

[ Laughter ] -Alright, then.

Good to have you, Carter.

Noah, hello.

-I'm Noah.

I'm an 18-year-old senior, and I'd like to thank one of our players who's not here, Ethan Zhou.

He couldn't make it, but he's with us in spirit.

-Alright.

And, Andrew, hello.

Tell us about yourself.

-Hi, I'm Andrew.

I'm a 16-year-old junior, and I'd like to thank our coaches, Mr. Brocketti and Ms. Benedict and our principal, Dr. Reilly.

-And I should mention that you are the returning champions from last year, so I thought everybody should know that, as evidenced by that first Fast Start.

Okay, let's do this.

"Hot terrapin soup."

Hidden within this phrase about a terrapin, you can find what kind of small aquatic mammal described in the book "Ring of Bright Water"?

-Otter.

-Yeah.

Vacationing, sleeping, wavering.

If you were vacillating, you would be doing which of these?

-Wavering?

-I think so, yeah.

-Wavering.

-Wavering is right.

You don't need extrasensory powers to complete this word, the name of what kind of colonial committees that Samuel Adams formed to protest British rule?

-Correspondence.

-Correspondence is correct.

Osceola, Geronimo, Sitting Bull.

Had there been a summit meeting of Native American leaders, which of these men would have represented the Apache?

-Geronimo.

-Geronimo is right.

"There are no morals in politics."

These, words of what man who led the Bolshevik Revolution and became the first head of the Soviet Union?

-Lenin.

-Lenin is right.

Nicely done, McLean.

280 points.

[ Applause ] BASIS Independent McLean, you're up.

Let's first get to say hello to, who do we have?

Caden!

Hi, Caden.

-Hello, my name is Caden Zhang.

I'm a 16-year-old sophomore at BASIS Independent McLean.

And I'd like to thank Mr. Cavan Galbadon O'Neill for this opportunity.

-Well, it's great to have you here.

And Rithik, hello.

-Hi, Hillary.

How are you?

-Good.

My name is Rithik.

I'm an 18-year-old senior.

I'd like to thank the support that we've gotten from Dr. Hight, our club sponsor.

He's been phenomenal.

And the support that we've gotten from our coach, Ms. O'Neill, she's also been phenomenal.

Unfortunately, she couldn't come today, but she's with us in spirit.

-Alright, wonderful.

And Phoenix, hello.

-Hi.

I'm Phoenix Do.

I'm a 16-year-old sophomore, and I'd like to thank Mr. Nielsen for the excellent coaching he's given us.

-Alright, guys, here we go.

"A rumba variation."

Hidden here is the name of what large German state whose capital is Munich?

-Bavaria?

-Yeah.

Vigor, vanity, virtue.

You would most appropriately say that a person displaying vitality is displaying which of these?

-Vigor.

-Vigor it is.

Do fill in the blanks here to name what river that carved out the Grand Canyon?

-Colorado.

-Colorado, yeah.

Ghana, Guinea, Guyana.

Two of these countries are in Africa.

Which one is on the coast of South America?

-Guyana.

-Yeah.

-"I want to put a ding in the universe."

This was the remark of what now-deceased entrepreneur, the co-founder, chairman and CEO of Apple?

-Steve Jobs.

-Nicely done, BASIS Independent McLean.

200 points.

Yay.

[ Applause ] Now finally to Team 3, Chantilly High School from Chantilly, Virginia.

Xavier, how are you doing?

-Hi.

-Hi.

-I'm Xavier Lewandowski.

I'm a freshman at Chantilly High School.

I run cross-country and track for the school.

I also play baseball and I'm also a member of my school's DECA chapter.

-Awesome.

Great to have you, Xavier.

Hello, Haley.

-Hello, Hillary.

I'm Haley Oeur.

I'm a 17-year-old junior at Chantilly High School.

I'd like to thank my parents for being here and my brother for being here, and Ms. Kieffer, our coach, for being here.

-Yay to family and coaches.

-Griffin, hi.

-Thank you.

Hello.

My name is Griffin Lewandowski.

I am a 17-year-old junior.

I would also like to thank our coach, Mrs. Kenkeremath, for being here and for supporting us throughout the school year and for inviting us to this stage.

-Wonderful.

Here we go, Chantilly.

"An opera I sing."

Although this phrase mentions opera, hidden within it is what small, dried fruit named in the title of a play by Lorraine Hansberry?

-Do you guys see a fruit?

A raisin?

-Raisin, yes.

Incessant, innocuous, inalienable.

A noise that doesn't stop can best be described by which of these words?

-Incessant.

-Yeah.

Fill in the blanks here and you'll name what tube through which food passes on its way to the stomach?

-Esophagus.

-That's it.

From the twins, in stereo.

-Congressional salaries, trial by jury, income tax.

The 27th and most recent constitutional amendment deals with which of these?

-Congressional salaries.

-Yeah, that's it.

"Continuing unto the end yields the true glory."

This is one of the few authenticated statements by what 16th century British sea captain who was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the world?

-Hmm.

I'm not sure.

Do you know?

-Sir Francis Drake?

-You are right.

Well done, Chantilly.

200 points.

[ Applause ] And that is it for Mix and Match.

The Picture Perfect round is coming at you next.

-I'm David Rubenstein.

From the Kennedy Center and the National Archives to the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, I've been pleased to support many important organizations and historic sites linked to American history, art, culture, education and more.

I believe giving back to our country isn't just an idea, it's an action -- a patriotic action that involves all of us, and it begins with education and learning about our nation's past so that we, the people, can make a more perfect union for the future.

We can do it together.

Please read, learn, get involved, and make a difference.

♪♪ -Time for the Picture Perfect round.

But first, let's check those scores.

McLean, 280 points.

BASIS Independent, 200 points.

Chantilly, 200 points.

[ Applause ] In this Picture Perfect round, it's a buzz-in, so the first team to buzz in gets to answer.

Questions are worth 20 points up or down, so be careful.

Ready?

Here we go.

This is what's left of what ancient Italian city, which, along with -- -McLean.

-Pompeii.

-Pompeii, yeah.

Destroyed by an eruption.

Called a Komondor, this kind of dog has been used for centuries to protect livestock in what European country where Budapest is capital?

McLean?

-Hungary.

-Hungary it is in.

In New Orleans, the stars and stripes replaced the French flag in what same year that we purchased the Louisiana Territory?

-McLean.

-1803.

-1803 is it.

-McLean?

-2 million?

-I need an answer.

-No, it's 20 million.

-20 million?

-Yes.

You might see a scene like this if you took a trip through what swamp on the Georgia-Florida line?

BASIS?

-Everglades?

-No, Okefenokee Swamp.

Larches are trees, but you can rearrange the letters here to name what French physicist whose law states that -- -Charles.

-Charles it is.

These are the ruins of a fortress set up to provide protection for caravans traveling what Asian road?

-McLean?

-Silk Road.

-Silk Road is right.

That is the end of the round.

We've reached halftime now, which means it's time for the Packet Round.

Questions here are worth 20 points each.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

Feel free to take a chance here.

And don't forget, guys, that there is a 25 point bonus.

Alright, we begin with McLean, but BASIS Independent gets to choose which packet we're going to answer questions from, 1, 2, or 3?

-2.

-2.

You don't know, but this is Packet 2 right here.

Alright, here we go.

McLean, you don't have to buzz.

Take it easy.

You can breathe.

Engineers at the shipbuilding firm of Harland & Wolff must have felt sunk when what ocean liner that they designed sank on its maiden voyage in 19-- -Titanic.

-Yeah, the Titanic is right.

Mary Walker, a Civil War doctor, remains the only woman to have been awarded the highest military decoration.

What is it?

-Medal of Honor?

-Answer?

-Medal of Honor?

-Yeah, it's the Medal of Honor.

Before he became involved in family problems, Oedipus had solved the riddle posed by what mythical beast with a human head and lion body?

-The sphinx.

-Sphinx is right.

Here's your science question.

El Nino, Monsoon, Pacific Surge.

Which of these refers to a periodic warm change in the ocean currents and winds off Ecuador and Peru?

-Are you sure?

-99%.

-El Nino?

-Yes, it's El Nino.

-Among the treasures of our Library of Congress is Thomas Jefferson's personal copy of what papers in which Madison, Hamilton, and Jay urged ratification of the Constitution?

-The Federalist Papers.

-The Federalist Papers it is.

You can pick up interesting science information from the novels of what American author whose works include "The Andromeda Strain" and "Jurassic Park"?

-Michael Cinchona.

Crichton.

-Crichton it is.

That's right.

Here's your math question.

-Evaluate this expression.

-20.

-20 is correct.

The longest river in Alaska shares what same name with Canada's smallest and westernmost territory?

-Yukon.

-The Yukon, yeah.

McLean, 25 point bonus.

560 points.

[ Applause ] Alright, BASIS Independent McLean you are up.

Chantilly, 1 or 3?

-They can do 1?

-Okay.

-They can do 1.

-1.

BASIS, though hundreds of miles apart, both Venice and Amsterdam are characterized by what artificial waterways?

-Canals.

-Yeah, canals.

-Canals is right.

Millions of people in Bangladesh suffer from serious skin diseases because their well water contains high levels of what deadly element?

whose symbol is As?

-Arsenic.

-Arsenic is correct.

A reciprocity treaty between Hawaii and the United States was signed in 1875 during the administration of what 18th president, a former Civil War general?

-Grant?

-Yeah, Grant.

-Yeah.

Here's your science question.

Bioluminescence, Photosynthesis, Phototropism.

Which of these terms refers to the production of light by a living organism and is a feature of many deep sea fishes?

-Bioluminescence?

-Yes.

Isn't that cool?

I love that.

Allen Dulles, later a director of the CIA, was just eight years old when he wrote a book about what 19th century war involving Afrikaner and British forces in South Africa?

-Boer.

-Boer War is correct.

Born and raised in Algeria, but often described as French, what author is known for such novels as "The Plague" and "The Stranger"?

[ Indistinct chatter ] The answer is Albert Camus.

Here's your math question.

Simplify this expression.

-4x cubed?

I'm sorry?

-4x cubed?

-Yeah, 4x to the third.

Nice.

The ancient Minoan civilization took its name from Minos, the mythical king of what largest of the Greek islands.

-Crete.

-Crete is right.

BASIS Independent McLean, 320 points.

[ Applause ] And now Chantilly, you have what is Packet 3.

It is now illegal to use a cell phone when crossing the street in what capital city of Hawaii?

-Honolulu.

-I like that.

The XYZ Affair was not an algebra problem, but a diplomatic incident confronting what second US President?

-John Adams.

-Yeah.

-Though New England has a long shoreline, the only New England capital cities located near the coast are Boston and what capital of Rhode Island?

-Providence?

-Correct.

Here's your science question.

Lysine, heme, glycogen.

Which of these is an amino acid?

-Lysine.

-Lysine is right.

Nicely done.

American Revolutionary War negotiations were helped by the resignation of what British Prime Minister whose name identifies a compass point?

-Lord North.

-Yeah.

Author Stephen Crane achieved fame but not fortune in 1895 when he sold what Civil War novel for 100 bucks?

-No answer.

The answer is "The Red Badge of Courage."

Here's your math question.

Simplify this expression.

-2x minus 3?

-Yeah.

-The River of Nine Dragons is a Vietnamese name for what major river that flows through several countries before emptying into the South China Sea?

-The Mekong?

-Yes, that's right.

The Mekong River.

-Nicely done, Chantilly.

340 points.

That's it for the Packet Round.

The Grabbag is next.

But first, here's something really interesting.

-Hello, I'm David Rubenstein.

Did you know that a giraffe, the world's tallest animal, has a tongue 1.5 feet long?

Among other things, the giraffe uses it to clean its ears and its nose.

Giraffes have plenty of time for hygiene, since they only sleep about 30 minutes in a 24-hour period.

I'm David Rubenstein, reminding you to read, learn, get involved, and make a difference.

♪♪ -Well, before we get into the Grabbag, let's recap those scores.

McLean, 585 points.

BASIS Independent McLean, 320 points.

Chantilly High School, 340 points.

[ Applause ] So how are you guys feeling?

Pretty good?

-Pretty good.

-Yeah?

Alright.

You know, you folks at home probably forget, but these students have never been in a studio before, because of all of the pandemic shows, so it's really wonderful to see you all.

And now we can do this Grabbag round, where absolutely anything can happen.

All questions are worth 20 points up or down.

First team to buzz in gets the answer or gets to answer so I can see you over the buzzers.

You are ready.

Here we go.

Hollywood Awards given to child actors are named for what -- -McLean?

Answer in three, two, one.

-Temple.

-Nope.

Ruby slippers.

French has been called the language of diplomacy.

But what is the accepted international language for commercial -- McLean?

-English?

-Yeah.

One of the victims beheaded in the French Revolution was what scientists known as -- McLean?

-Lavoisier.

-Correct.

Your screens for a visual question.

You can visit this beautiful beach in what Caribbean island country where -- BASIS?

Answer?

-The Bahamas?

-No.

Barbados.

Had a B.

Painted in profile so that his face could be reproduced on coins, this is England's George I, the first monarch of what dynasty?

-McLean.

-Hanover.

-Hanover is right.

According to one quick study, a goldfish has an attention span of how many seconds equal to 1/20 of a minute?

BASIS?

-Three?

-Yeah.

To the horror of his friends, What doctor turned into a fiend in a story -- McLean?

I mean, BASIS?

-Doctor Jekyll.

Correct.

Now to another picture clue.

A physicist who professed such heresies is unworthy to teach science."

This was an early opinion of what 19th century German scientist whose three-letter name was later given -- McLean?

-Ohm?

-Ohm is right.

one of George Bernard Shaw's major works is "Major Barbara," a satirical treatment of what charitable religious Army?

McLean?

-Salvation Army?

Salvation Army, yeah.

A pyramid has a base of 4 square inches and a height of 6 inches.

What is the volume of the pyramid in cubic inches?

Anybody?

The answer is 8.

Ever since the 17th century, what short word has been used to refer to the left side of a ship?

Chantilly.

-Port.

-Port, yeah.

In addition to British General James Wolfe, what rival French commander was also -- McLean?

-Montcalm.

-Montcalm.

Right.

Mortally wounded at the Battle of Quebec.

Shasta daisies are a hybrid developed in the 19th century by what American botanist who shares his name with a California city?

-Sacramento?

-No.

Good try.

Burbank.

Only five days elapsed between the 1806 trial and the execution of what conspirator whose name has been given to the gunpowder plot to blow up -- -BASIS?

-Guy Fawkes.

-Correct.

Called Lucifer when first invented, what small, simple wooden devices were sold by a poor girl in a Hans Christian Andersen story?

McLean.

-Matchstick.

-Matches.

Yes.

The only man who signed the Treaty of Paris, The Declaration of Independence and -- McLean?

-Franklin.

-Yep, and the Constitution.

Benjamin Franklin is right.

In 1942, in the Philippines, what peninsula was the site of an infamous -- -Bataan?

-Yeah, Bataan.

Although he failed the entrance exams for two different colleges, what French writer got high marks for his essay "J'accuse," defending -- -Zola.

-Yeah, Zola.

Defending Captain Dreyfus.

William the Conqueror's daughter, Adeliza, was supposedly once engaged to what Anglo-Saxon king whom William rather unromantically -- McLean?

-Harold Godwinson?

-Yeah, you've got it.

17th century Europeans with a taste for adventure sometimes sailed for what East Indies islands named for such condiments as cinnamon -- McLean?

-Spice Islands.

-Spice Islands, and that is the end of the Grabbag round and the game.

We'll be back in a couple of minutes with the official scores.

But first, let's hear a word from one of our students about how important it is to get involved in your community.

-I'm David Rubenstein, and I believe giving back is something we all can do.

Students are getting involved in their communities in many important ways.

I've asked them to share with us how they're making a difference.

-Hi, my name is Mahfuz Saliz.

I am a student that goes to Montgomery Blair High School.

I volunteered with Difference Makers, and Difference Makers is an organization that helps with food pantry, recycling initiatives, and also helping with organizing events.

I think it's great to help your community and also feels good, and you know that you're making a difference.

-Like these students, you too can help improve the lives of so many people by volunteering in your town and community.

Please read, learn, get involved and make a difference.

[ Applause ] -We are back, and the scores are now official.

We begin with BASIS Independent McLean from McLean, Virginia, Caden, Rithik, Phoenix, 340 points!

[ Applause ] From Chantilly High School in Chantilly, Virginia, Xavier, Haley, Griffin, 360 points.

[ Applause ] And coming back for the semifinal, and you did not share the buzzer there at all, McLean.

McLean High School from McLean, Virginia.

Carter, Noah, Andrew, 805 points.

Amazing job taking that 25-point bonus, too.

Let's hear it for our incredible teams and you, our incredible viewers.

Really happy you could join us today and match wits with our very impressive students.

-Support for "It's Academic" has been provided by the following... Mitre, a not-for-profit research and development company working in the public interest.

-At Mitre, we're committed to solving some of our biggest challenges in national security, cyber, aviation, and health.

And our dedication to service starts at home, working to fight hunger, serving people in need, protecting public health, and supporting our civic institutions.

This is serving the public.

This is Mitre, solving problems for a safer world.

♪♪ -Next week, stay with us, because we'll have Einstein, Centerville, and Thomas Jefferson high schools competing right here in another playoff match.

I'm Hillary Howard.

See you then, everyone.

Bye.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪