-Students from South County, Blake, and Fairfax meet today on "It's Academic".

♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheering ] ♪♪ Hello everybody.

I'm Hillary Howard.

Welcome to "It's Academic", the world's longest running TV quiz show, 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.

-What happens when the right people connect?

Diversity challenges convention, mentors inspire greatness, and passions drive innovation.

From health to transportation and national security, cyber and AI, to space and back, MITRE connects the power of government, academia, and industry to meet our nation's challenges together.

MITRE connects.

♪♪ -Okay, we're going to kick off this game with the Fast Start, where questions are worth ten points up or down.

First team to buzz in gets to answer.

The students do not see what you do on the screens at home.

Here we go.

You have to measure your answers carefully here to identify the following animals and birds, all of which have six letter names.

Blake.

-Donkey.

-Yeah.

Blake.

-Badger.

-Badger.

-Yes.

A species of this P-initialed constricting snake has -- Blake.

-Python.

-Python, it is.

Blake.

-Falcon.

-Yeah.

Yes, Fairfax.

-Penguin?

-Walrus.

Sorry.

Close.

Benjamin Franklin wanted this large edible bird -- Fairfax.

-Turkey.

-Turkey is right.

This animal goes "pop" in an old children's -- Blake.

-Weasel.

-The weasel is correct.

This bird names Baltimore's major league baseball -- Blake.

-Oriole.

-Orioles is right.

And that's the end of our Fast Start, and let's check those scores.

South County -- 100 points.

Blake -- 160 points.

Fairfax -- 100 points.

Good job, guys.

We have Mix & Match mow.

As you know, questions are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

But before we dive into the questions, we're going to meet these fine teams.

We begin with Lorton, Virginia's South County High School.

Hello, Matthew.

How you doing?

-I'm doing good.

How are you?

-I am very well, thank you.

What should we know about you?

-Well, I'm a 17-year-old senior, I love to do theater, and I love to collect socks.

-[ Laughs ] Really?

What kind of socks do you like to collect?

-Anything that just looks funky and anything unique.

-Favorite pair?

-These watermelon socks.

I'm wearing them right now.

-[ Laughs ] Hello, Morgan.

-Hello.

-What should we know about you?

-I am a 17-year-old junior at South County High School, and in my free time, I like to crochet and knit.

-Oh, very nice.

Do you do anything special?

Sweaters?

-I make a lot of hats.

-A lot of hats.

Great.

Hello, Maddie.

-Hi.

-Hi.

Tell us about yourself.

-I'm a 15-year-old sophomore at South County, and I like to play video games with my friends.

-Favorite?

-"Assassin's Creed".

-Alright.

Thank you, Maddie.

And now, I have some questions for you.

In case you forgot -- 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

You'll enjoy this fair more if you can find hidden here what metallic element with atomic number 26, that's the main component of steel.

-Iron.

-Iron?

-Iron it is.

Which of these words refers to a marshy body of water such as those found in Louisiana?

-Bayou.

-Bayou.

-Bayou is correct.

Blank Nevada.

Blank Madre.

What same S-initialed word should be placed in the blanks to name mountain ranges in the Western United States and Mexico?

-Sierra.

-Sierra?

-Sierra.

-Sierra it is.

Of these three monstrous creatures, which one was half woman, half serpent?

-Lamia.

-Lamia?

-Lamia is right.

This view of x-rays comes from what 19th century scientist who introduced the absolute temperature scale?

-Kelvin.

-Kelvin?

-Yeah.

Kelvin.

Nicely done.

South County -- 200 points.

Now we get to meet the team from Silver Springs' Blake High School.

Hello, Luke.

How you doing?

-Hi.

I'm good.

-Good.

-I am a 15-year-old sophomore.

I'd like to thank our social studies teachers, Miss Loveland and Mr. Mendenhall, for supporting us, and I'd like to thank Mr. David Rubenstein for producing this program.

-Beautiful.

Fred, how are you doing?

-Hi.

I'm a 16-year-old junior, and I'd like to thank all of our Penny Point donors, along with Nathan, our teammate who unfortunately could not make it here today.

-Okay, I can barely see your eyes in there.

I've got to go down, but I like your bangs.

Hiya, Nikhil.

-Hi.

-Tell us about yourself.

-I'm a 16-year-old junior, and I'd like to thank our new principal, Miss Sneed, along with our parents and teachers who helped prepare us for today.

-Alright.

Beautiful.

Here we go with some questions.

You won't need a dictionary if you find in this phrase what table of elements devised by Mendeleev.

-Periodic?

-Correct.

If something is malleable, it would be described by which of these words?

-Pliable?

-Yeah.

You go from A to Z at the start of the name of what North Atlantic island group that is an autonomous region of Portugal?

-Azores?

-The Azores is right, and I've been there and they are beautiful.

All of these inventions had major economic impact, but which one was the work of England's Richard Arkwright in the 18th century?

-Spinning frame?

-Spinning frame is correct.

These are the words of what English theoretical physicist, the author of "A Brief History in Time"?

He died in 2018.

-Hawking?

Hawking is right.

Nice, Blake.

260 points.

Way to go.

[ Cheering ] And now the gentleman from Fairfax High School.

Hi, guys.

Sami, tell us about yourself.

-Hey, I'm Sami, I'm a 17-year-old senior, and I play on our school's tennis team.

-Wow.

Nice.

How long have you been doing that?

-Since ninth grade.

-So you're pretty good?

-You could say that.

-Very good.

Hiya, Connor.

Tell us about yourself.

-I like to play jazz guitar and pole vault.

-Beautiful.

Tell me about your jazz guitar.

-It's just -- I just love soloing over chord progressions.

What can I say?

-Really nice.

Good.

We're big jazz people in my family.

Hello, Henry.

-Hello.

I'm a 17-year-old senior, and I play lacrosse and do track and field.

-Very good.

Do you like one above the other?

-Lacrosse is my favorite.

-Okay, here we go, guys.

"Foreman deliver goods".

You can deliver 20 points if you find in this sentence the hidden name of what Austrian monk who founded the science of genetics.

-Mendel.

-Yeah.

If someone is exacerbating a problem he or she is doing.

which of these?

-Making it worse?

-Yes.

Here you have every other letter in the name of what Asian country, also known as Burma?

-Myanmar?

-Myanmar.

-Myanmar is right now.

A chrysalis is important in the life cycle of which of these?

-Butterfly.

-Yes.

This was the comment of what Russian cosmonaut, who, in 1961, became the first man to go into space and orbit the Earth?

-Sputnik?

-Oh, when I say it, you're going to know it.

It's Yuri Gagarin.

-Oh, yeah.

-Alright.

Fairfax High School -- 180 points.

Nice job.

When we come back, we have the Picture Perfect round.

So, stay where you are.

-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.

-Now this question is for you, our viewing audience.

The answer is cosmic latte, according to the astronomers at Johns Hopkins University.

They do admit to being caffeine-biased.

Back to the teams.

[ Cheering ] Alright, it's time for the Picture Perfect round.

You guys know how this works, I'm pretty sure.

Questions are worth 20 points up or down.

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

First question.

This is what large southern African desert that covers much of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South Africa?

The answer is...Kalahari.

Scarlet tanagers are one of the few American birds whose name, tanager, comes from what language widely spoken in Brazil?

Blake.

-Portuguese.

-Yes.

These ruins are those of a Bulgarian chapel dedicated to sailors who sail what sea where Bulgaria is located?

Blake.

-Black Sea?

-Correct.

What is the greatest common divisor of these three numbers?

Yes, South County?

-12?

-No.

It's 6.

The Syrian flag is flown all over government buildings in what Syrian capital?

Yes, Fairfax?

-Damascus.

-Damascus is right.

It's the oldest continuously inhabited city on earth.

Amazing.

Choice.

This excerpt is from what Ancient Egyptian book of prayers?

Yes, Blake?

-The "Book of the Dead".

-That's right.

Known as the monkey eating eagle, this bird is native to what archipelago nation, whose chief islands include Mindanao and Luzon?

Yes, Blake.

-The Philippines.

-Philippines is right.

And that's the end of the Picture Perfect round.

We have South County with 180 points, Blake with 340 points, and Fairfax with 200 points.

[ Applause ] Now, these students are all awesome, and you know what?

They have an awesome team that works with them.

We're going to meet those folks, and begin with South County High School.

Morgan, tell us who's here with you.

-We brought our wonderful coaches, Mr. Grayling and Mr. Byrd.

They do a lot for us, and they're wonderful.

They're just amazing.

-Well, we're very happy to have them, of course.

Blake, how about you?

Fred?

-We have here Mr. Caulfield, a retired English teacher who frequently substitutes at Blake, and Mr. Colina, who helps out with us a lot.

-Awesome.

It's really good to see you guys again.

And of course, from Fairfax, Connor?

-We have our wonderful coach, Miss Loomis, student director of activities, Miss Melnick, and then our amazing principal, Dr. A.

-Ooh, a whole team, huh?

That's great.

Alright, now that we've met everyone, let's do this Packet round.

As you know, questions in this round are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for wrong answer.

There are these three lovely packets filled with questions.

South County will answer them first.

Blake, which packet will they answer them from?

-Packet 1, please.

-Packet 1.

South County, the need for fire safety was brought home to American colonists in 1608, when a fire nearly destroyed what first permanent English settlement in Virginia?

-Jamestown.

-Jamestown?

-Yes.

Humans aren't the only ones who sing about romance.

So do the males of one species of what small flying mammals who sing to attract a mate?

-Bats.

-Bats?

-Yes, bats.

Who knew?

I didn't know that.

Here's your science question.

The sun's radiant energy comes from a process of fusion.

During this process, hydrogen is converted to which of these?

-Helium.

-Helium?

-Helium is right.

Yeah.

Virgil's "Aeneid" is divided into how many books, a number signify by the Latin prefix "dodeca"?

-12?

Or is it 10?

-Answer.

-12.

-Yes, it is 12.

One of the first writers to earn a large fortune from his work was what American, whose moneymaking novels include "The Call of the Wild"?

-Oh, Jack London.

-Huh?

-London.

-London?

-London.

-Yeah.

Jack London.

Here's your math question.

Solve for X, giving your answer as a positive integer.

-3.

-3?

-No.

It's 9.

Although he himself attended Bowdoin College in Maine, a college in New Hampshire is named for what native son, who was our 14th president?

-Pierce.

-Pierce?

-Franklin Pierce is correct.

Nice job, South County.

300 points.

[ Cheering ] And now, Blake, you're up.

Fairfax, 2 or 3?

-Let's go with 3.

-3.

Okay.

3 it is.

Guys, George Washington was already president in 1791, when the states ratified the first ten amendments to the Constitution known by what three-word name?

-Bill of Rights.

-Yeah.

In 1916, Cumberland College lost 222 to zero to a team coached by a man whose name was attached to what highest award in college football?

-Heisman.

-Yes.

Here's your science question.

On a weather map, the lines connecting points at the same temperature are called which of these?

-Isobars?

-No.

Isotherms.

The US suffered over 50,000 casualties in both Vietnam and what other Asian war that we fought from 1950 to 1953?

-Korea?

-Yes.

People who are not too proud to read "Pride and Prejudice" will be reading one of the novels by what English woman?

-Austen.

Austen.

-Yes, it is.

Here's your math question.

Solve for X if the perimeter of the isosceles triangle is 50 feet.

-10?

-Yes.

It's 10.

In a speech before Congress, what 15th president referred to himself as "old public functionary"?

-Buchanan.

-Buchanan is right.

Well done, Blake.

460 points.

[ Cheering ] And that leaves us with packet number 2 for Fairfax.

Verdi's opera "Aida" was commissioned to celebrate the opening of what manmade waterway in the Middle East?

Answer?

In three, two, one.

The Suez Canal.

Commissioned an officer in the French Musketeers at age 13, what French nobleman came to the aid of the American colonies when he was 19 and made a major general?

-Lafayette?

-Correct.

Here's your science question.

At sea level, water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit, but if a container of water is subjected to high pressure, the boiling point would do which of these?

-Increase?

-Increase is right.

During the last year of World War II, Allied pilots made use of Biscari airfield, strategically located on what largest Italian island?

-Sicily?

-Yep.

It's Sicily.

"High Hopes" might have been a paraphrase of the title of what Dickens novel, whose characters include Pip and Miss Havisham?

-"Great Expectations"?

-Yeah.

Here's your math question.

Solve for X.

-2?

-2 is correct.

Although he didn't win the white House.

What man carried the popular vote over Rutherford B. Hayes in the disputed election of 1876?

-Teddy Roosevelt?

-No.

Samuel Tilden.

Good job, Fairfax.

300 points.

That is it for the pack it round.

We have the Grab Bag round next, and anything can happen.

See you in a minute.

-Hello, I'm David Rubenstein.

Did you know that the phrase "In God We Trust" did not become the official US national motto until 1956?

It replaced the Latin motto "E Pluribus Unum", meaning "Out of Many, One".

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

-Now this question is for you, our viewing audience.

And the answer is through their butts.

It's not very efficient, but every little bit helps in a river.

So, take a deep breath, and we're back to the game.

[ Cheering ] In my hands I have the questions for the Grab Bag round.

In this round, as you know, questions are worth 20 points up or down, but before we dive into the round, you know, guys at Blake, I don't think we were properly introduced to your mascot earlier.

[ Chuckles ] Who is that?

-This is Benny the Bengal.

-Benny the Bengal.

And does Benny the Bengal bring you good luck?

-Yeah, it's been a tradition for...who knows how long.

-Actually, I know that because Benny's never changed his shirt or sunglasses, so... [ Laughs ] Alright, well, now that we've cleared that up, how about we begin this Grab Bag round?

Right now, South County has 300 points, Blake has 460, Fairfax has 300.

Obviously, those scores will be different in just a couple of minutes.

First question.

The first dinosaur skeleton found in America was unearthed in 1858 in what Mid-Atlantic state, where students can bone up on paleontology at Princeton?

Blake?

-New Jersey.

-New Jersey it is.

What Navy vessel was not only the first nuclear submarine -- -Nautilus.

-Yeah, Nautilus.

Very good, Blake.

Everybody has favorite foods, including what Austrian composer who liked to nibble on liver dumplings while writing such works as "Don Giovanni" and "The Magic Flute"?

Yes, Fairfax?

-Mozart?

-Yep.

Mozart is right.

Nice.

On your screens.

Cloves, which grow in wet, steamy climates, are native to the Maluku Islands and are part of what nation, Whose capital is Jakarta?

-Indonesia.

-Yes.

Very good.

Blake.

Not surprisingly, the Pony Express National Museum is located in what small Missouri city where the Pony Express began?

Yes, Blake.

-St. Joseph.

-St. Joseph is correct.

How many common tangents do two circles intersecting at two points have?

The answer is...two.

In an effort to facilitate trade with China, in 1899, Secretary of State John Hay promoted a policy described as what sort of door?

-Open door.

-Open door is correct.

On your screens.

These are some of the amazing rock formations you can see in what African country where Luanda is capital?

Blake.

-Angola.

-Angola.

-Yes.

You're right.

Many Gothic cathedrals soar skyward, supported by what type of arched buttresses?

Yes, South County?

-Flying?

-Yeah, you've got it.

Though he was nicknamed "Old Fuss and Feathers", what 19th century -- Blake?

-No.

Scott.

Scott.

-Scott.

-Scott.

Winfield Scott.

One study theorized that the extinction of many sea species millions of years ago was due to an underwater eruption of what gas, whose formula is CH4?

Yes, South County?

-Methane.

-Methane is right.

On your screens.

This Kente sash was hand-woven -- -Ghana.

-Ghana is right, Blake.

The title of John Philip Sousa's shortest march names what island that is new York City's smallest and most densely populated?

South County.

-Manhattan.

-Manhattan is correct.

For medieval scholars, a prime example of irrational desire was demonstrated by what Greek sculptor who supposedly fell in love with his statue, Galatea?

And the answer is...Pygmalion.

[ Buzzer ] And that is the buzzer.

And that is the end of the game.

We'll give you these scores in just a moment.

The judges are going to take a look and we'll have their answers.

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

Many students are getting involved in their communities in important ways.

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

-Hi, my name is Pearson Lee and I'm a junior from Loudoun County High School in Leesburg, Virginia.

One thing I do for the community is I'm part of a volunteer orchestra called Arirang Chamber Orchestra, where we promote Korean culture by performing traditional songs.

We perform in nursing homes and facilities for veterans all throughout the DMV area.

I've been playing violin for six years and I really enjoy performing for others, and it's very rewarding seeing them enjoy our music and making their day.

-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.

-Now, this question is for you, our viewing audience.

The answer -- Texas.

But now there's another question.

Why are people writing on cows?

Back to the teams.

[ Cheering ] Alright, everybody, the scores are now official.

And we begin with Fairfax High School from Fairfax, Virginia.

Sami, Connor, Henry -- 320 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] From Lorton, Virginia, Matthew, Morgan, and Maddie from South County High School -- 360 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] And coming back for the playoffs with their finger on the buzzer a lot, Blake High School from Silver Spring, Luke, Fred, Nikhil, and Benny the Bengal, right?

-- 620 points.

Well done, guys.

Keep it here because we're going to be back in just a second and tell you a couple of other things, so stay where you are.

Now, this question is for you, our viewing audience.

The answer -- Alabama.

Horses like ice cream, and horse thieves used it to get horses to follow them out of town.

Who knew?

Back to the teams.

-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.

-What happens when the right people connect?

Diversity challenges convention, mentors inspire greatness, and passions drive innovation From health to transportation and national security, cyber and AI, to space and back, MITRE connects the power of government, academia, and industry to meet our nation's challenges together.

MITRE connects.

And that is the end.

We want to thank you, our fabulous viewers, for being here today with these fabulous teens.

I'm Hillary Howard.

See you next time.

Bye, guys.

Let's take some pictures.

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