-Students from Bullis... DeMatha, Centreville meet today on "It's Academic."

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] 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.

-We'’’ll kick off the competition with the fast start round.

In this round, questions are worth 20 points up or down.

First team to buzz in gets to answer.

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

Here we go.

All your answers must begin with the letters "B," "L." That'’’s "B," as in boy, and "L." Centreville.

-Blizzard.

-Yeah.

Bullis.

-Blinken, right?

-Answer, Blinken.

Yes.

The answer is blood.

Bullis.

-Yeah.

-Blimp.

-Blimp it is.

Anyone?

The answer is Bloom.

Yes, DeMatha.

-Mount Everest.

No.

Mont Blanc.

-Oh, no, it'’’s Mont Blanc.

-Mont Blanc, you saved yourselves.

Centreville.

-Blow hole.

-Yeah.

Blow hole.

Nice.

In stereo.

The answer is blank.

And that is the end of the fast start.

Let'’’s recap those scores.

Bullis, 120; DeMatha, 90; Centreville, 110.

[ Cheers and applause ] We'’’ve got the mix & match round.

But before I ask any questions, let'’’s get to know these teams.

And we begin with Bullis from Potomac, Maryland.

Well, hello, Max.

Tell us a little about yourself.

-Hi, my name is Max.

I'’’m a senior at Bullis.

I'’’m a varsity tennis player, and I love to bake bread.

-Ooh, I love that.

-What kind of bread's your favorite to make?

-Sourdough.

Sourdough and challah.

-And challah?

-Yeah.

-Oh, nice.

All right.

You'’’ve got to bring some next time.

-I will.

-[ Laughs ] Hello, Henry.

-Hi.

How are you doing?

-I'’’m all right.

What are you up to?

-I play soccer and golf.

I'’’m a senior, and I also do model UN.

-Oh, model UN.

-Yeah.

-That must be very, I don'’’t know, enriching.

I would imagine.

-Yeah.

It is, yeah.

-Beautiful.

And hello, Shara.

-Hi.

How are you?

-I am good, how are you doing?

-I'’’m good.

Yeah.

-Tell us what you'’’re up to.

-Um, I play a lot of tennis.

-Yeah, a lot of tennis.

-Yeah.

-So, you travel and play tennis competitively?

-No, I mainly just play with my friends and family and school.

-All right.

It'’’s good to have you guys.

So, in this round, questions are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

And these are your questions.

Go at your own pace, and see if you can find hidden in this phrase on your screen, the name of what capital city of Norway?

-[ Whispering ] Oslo.

-Oslo.

-Oslo it is.

Thinking it a good excuse for a picnic, many people turned out on this date to watch what Virginia battle, the first major land battle of the Civil War?

[ Whispering ] Answer is... Bull Run or Manassas.

You'’’ll be in with 20 points if you fill in the blanks to get what last name of Bilbo in "The Hobbit"?

-Baggins.

Baggins.

-Yeah.

Of these three women from mythology and literature, which one was the faithful wife of Odysseus?

-Penelope.

-Penelope.

-Penelope is right.

This was the reaction of explorer Francisco Orellana when he ventured onto what largest South American river?

-Amazon.

-Amazon it is.

Bullis, nice, 200 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] And now we move it over to DeMatha Catholic High School from Hyattsville, Maryland.

Hello, Andrew.

-Hello.

-Tell us something about yourself.

-I'’’m a sophomore at DeMatha Catholic High School.

I play hockey and lacrosse.

-Nice.

Do you prefer one?

-Uh, hockey.

-Hockey.

Okay.

Jonathan.

Hello.

-Hi.

Um, I go to DeMatha Catholic High School.

I'’’m a junior in high school, and I play the clarinet in symphonic band.

-Wonderful.

And what sort of music do you prefer to play?

-Uh, it really depends.

But my favorite would be classical pieces.

-Classical pieces?

Lovely.

Hello, Dino.

-Hi, my name's Dino, I also go to DeMatha Catholic, and I'’’m in the DeMatha Players theater program.

-Good.

What are you working on?

-It'’’s three 1 acts called "Testing.

Testing."

And it'’’s really enjoyable so far.

-All right.

Great.

Well, guys, I'’’ve got some questions for you.

Ready?

-Mm-hm.

-You can thank a raccoon yourselves if you find hidden within this phrase the name of what city that is the capital of Turkey?

-Istanbul.

-No, it'’’s Ankara.

Had you been in London on this date, you could have seen the coronation of what British Queen, whose reign lasted 64 years?

[ Whispering ] Answer is... -Elizabeth I?

-Nope.

It'’’s Queen Victoria with her very long reign.

"In the blank of the sea, bury my blank at Wounded Knee."

Fill in the blanks here with what same word, and you can name books by Nathaniel Philbrick and Dee Brown?

[ Whispering ] The answer is... [ Imitates heart beating ] Heart.

Which of these mythical figures was a watchman who had 100 eyes?

-Argus.

-Yeah.

You got it.

[ Laughs ] This biting remark was written by Mark Twain, who claimed to have found what kind of personal journal supposedly kept by Adam and Eve, similar to that later kept by Anne Frank.

The answer is... -Diary.

-Yeah, diary, you got it.

Dino, nicely done.

DeMatha, 130 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] Well, let'’’s mosey on over to Centreville from Centreville, Virginia, of course.

Hello, Owen.

Tell us something about yourself.

-Hi, I'’’m Owen.

I'’’m a senior at Centreville High School, and I swim and swim coach.

-Very nice.

So, you coach other students, or...?

-I coach young kids, usually 4 to 10 years old.

-Really?

Very, very nice.

Hello, Jeremy.

-Hi, I'’’m Jeremy, and I'’’m a sophomore from Centreville High School, and I love playing the viola.

-Viola and the type of music you prefer?

-Um, also just classical music.

-Just classical music?

Well, it'’’s not just classical.

It'’’s classical.

-Classical.

-Hello, Conner.

-Hi.

I'’’m Conner, I'’’m also from Centreville, and I coach basketball.

-Very nice.

Guys, here we go.

Instead of worrying about emerging insects, see if you can find hidden in this phrase the name of what capital city of Portugal?

-Lisbon.

-Lisbon.

Yeah.

On this date, Winston Churchill gave a speech accusing communist countries of isolating their citizens behind what sort of metal curtain?

-The iron curtain?

-Yes.

-Blank island, blank fleet.

Fill in the blanks with what same word to identify a Robert Louis Stevenson novel and a fleet of ships sent forth by a 15th century Chinese emperor.

-"Treasure Island."

-Yes, you'’’re right.

Treasure.

If a rock group decided to name itself for the mythical character doomed to forever roll a rock up a hill, it would choose which of these names?

-Sisyphus.

-Sisyphus is right.

These were the words of what American whose inventions included the first practical incandescent light bulb.

-Edison.

-Thomas Edison is right.

Centreville with 210 points.

Way to go.

We'’’ve got the picture perfect round next.

So, you know, stick around for some pictures.

[ Cheers and applause ] -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, a question for you, our audience.

The answer is they eat lots of shrimp and algae, foods packed with beta carotene.

Now, think about that the next time you eat carrots or sweet potatoes, which also have a lot of beta carotene.

Back to the teams.

♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -Hey, let'’’s check out some photos in our picture perfect round where questions are worth 20 points up or down.

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

And here we go.

Sparkling white beaches attract tourists to what Caribbean island group that the US purchased from Denmark in 19...?

Bullis.

Answer.

[ Whispering ] Answer.

I need an answer.

It'’’s Virgin Islands.

The red square on this chart covers what lightweight, highly reactive metal used in alloys for aircraft and racing?

Bullis.

Answer.

In three, two, one, magnesium.

This little girl was painted by what impressionist artist whose first names were Pierre-Auguste?

Answer.

Or Auguste would be the proper way to say it.

It'’’s Renoir.

Evaluate this expression, giving your answer as a positive integer.

Bullis.

-8.

-No, it'’’s 4.

This theme is heard frequently in "Peter and the Wolf," a work by what Russian composer?

The answer is Prokofiev.

Prize toad.

You'’’ll win a prize if you rearrange these letters to name what geometric figure with four sides only?

Centreville.

-Trapezoid.

Trapezoid.

-Trapezoid it is.

Nice.

Robert Morris helped finance the American Revolution, but later went bankrupt, buying land made available through what ordinance of 1787?

Yes, Bullis.

-Northwest Ordinance.

-Yeah.

That'’’s it.

Nicely done.

Let'’’s recap the scores in this picture perfect round.

Bullis, 160; DeMatha, 130; and Centreville, 230 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] Just a little while ago, we had the pleasure of meeting these students.

Now, we have the pleasure of meeting their coaches.

We begin with Bullis.

Henry, tell us who'’’s with you.

-Uh, we have Mister Tim Hansen with us.

He teaches global history, AP world history, and AP US history.

He'’’s a really great guy, and he'’’s really fun to be around.

He makes "It's Academic" a lot of fun.

-That'’’s wonderful.

-And we learn a lot.

Yeah.

-Awesome, that'’’s always a good thing to have, someone who'’’s helping you have fun.

All right, DeMatha, Jonathan, fill us in on who'’’s with you.

-Uh, our team is Mister Hager.

He teaches chemistry in DeMatha Catholic High School.

He'’’s a really all out fun guy, and he makes chemistry really interesting.

-Now, that'’’s fun.

And chemistry is cool.

Uh, Centreville.

Jeremy, who'’’s with you?

-Um, our two coaches are Miss Crewe and Miss Robinson, and they both teach English at Centreville High School.

And they'’’re very fun.

And it makes "It's Academic" very fun to just be around them.

-That'’’s great.

Very happy to hear all that.

All right, guys, now it'’’s time for the packet round.

And we have these three lovely envelopes.

Bullis will answer questions from one of them first.

And DeMatha has the honor of choosing which one they'’’ll answer questions from.

-Number one.

-Number one.

And of course, if you get all of these questions right, there'’’s a 25 point bonus.

Questions are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer, so be bold.

The Devil Mountain Lakes, which are shallow lakes formed by volcanic explosions, are found in what northernmost US state?

-Alaska.

-Yes.

Number 84 of the 85 essays that make up the Federalist Papers refers to what important documents signed in 1215 by England'’’s King John?

-The Magna Carta.

-You are right.

Here'’’s your science question.

Which of these cloud types forms closest to the Earth'’’s surface?

[ Whispering ] -Stratus.

-Yep, yeah.

That'’’s it.

According to Plato, what legendary island mysteriously disappeared, sinking into the sea in just one day?

-Atlantis.

-Yes.

It'’’s Atlantis.

Although, it continues for 300 pages, a novel called "The Golden Gate" is written entirely in what poetic stanzas having 14 lines each?

-Sonnet.

-Yes.

Here is your math question.

If a = 4, what is the value of this expression?

[ Whispering ] -One-half.

-No, it's 1.

East meets West in 1860, when Japan sent a delegation to the United States during the administration of what 15th president?

-Buchanan.

-Buchanan.

-Buchanan is correct.

Nice, Bullis, 280 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] And then, there were two packets for DeMatha, which will answer questions for one of them.

Centreville.

What'’’s it going to be?

-Two.

-Two.

DeMatha... parks are usually pleasant places to vacation, but not what dinosaur filled park that titles a Michael Crichton novel?

-"Jurassic."

-Yeah.

"Jurassic."

That'’’d be a tough place to visit.

Ooh.

There'’’s a statue of Martin Luther King among those of the martyrs at what London Abbey where British monarchs are traditionally crowned?

-Westminster.

-You are right.

Here'’’s your science question.

If a power line transformer increases the voltage, there will be a decrease in which of these?

[ Whispering ] -Amperage.

-I'’’m glad you did.

That'’’s the right answer.

Amperage.

If the comic strip dog Snoopy were studying old ships, he might be interested in what Charles Darwin vessel with a canine name?

-The Beagle.

-Yeah, just like Snoopy.

The cruelty exhibited by the character Simon Legree made what Harriet Beecher Stowe novel a powerful force for abolition?

-"Huckleberry Finn"?

-Answer?

Give me something.

-"Huckleberry Finn."

-Pardon me.

Yeah.

That'’’s it.

"Uncle Tom'’’s Cabin."

You'’’ve got it.

Nice.

Math question.

Simplify completely this expression.

[ Whispering ] -18x - 45.

-No, it'’’s 2x - 5.

-Ah.

-Many historians say that the best account of the 1787 Constitutional Convention is found in the journals of what Virginia delegate who became our 4th president?

-John Quincy Adams.

-No.

James Madison.

And that is it.

DeMatha, 230 points.

[ Whispering, cheers and applause] Packet number three for Centreville.

I just felt like one of those models in like a daytime show, packet number three.

Here we go.

Saint Joseph, Missouri, became important in 1860 when it was the starting point of what horseback postal service that extended to California?

Answer.

-The transcontinental railroad.

-No, the Pony Express.

Seals locate fish by sniffing out the plankton the fish feed on, since the plankton releases a gas containing what element, whose symbol is S?

-Uh, sulfur.

-Yes.

Here'’’s your science question.

The electrolysis of water is an example of which of these?

-Synthesis.

-No.

It's decomposition.

Called the greatest eye in the Karoo, one of the world'’’s largest telescopes scans the heavens from the Karoo desert in what country where Pretoria and Cape Town are major cities?

-South Africa.

-Yeah.

A letter addressed to 221B Baker Street, London, would probably be met for what fictional detective who lived at that address in stories by Arthur Conan Doyle?

-"Sherlock Holmes."

-"Sherlock Holmes," I presume, is correct.

Here'’’s your math question.

Solve for x?

-6.

-Yes.

A Spanish official helped bring about the Spanish American War by calling what 25th US president a weak, cheap politician?

Answer.

Going to go for it?

The answer is William McKinley.

Centreville with 310 points.

The packet round is in the books.

The grab bag round is next.

Stay with us.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Hello, I'’’m David Rubenstein.

Did you know that in the Bahamas, there'’’s a small island inhabited only by pigs that like to swim in the ocean?

Tourists can visit, but only pigs are allowed to live there.

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

-The answer -- "Where is everybody?"

Back to the game.

[ Cheers and applause ] -It is time for the... [All] Grab bag!

Yes, it'’’s the grab bag round where questions are worth 20 points up or down.

Here we go, guys.

In 1868, the Pearsall family started the first school to teach Americans how to use what sort of vehicles now ridden in the Tour de France?

Yes, Bullis.

-Bicycles.

-Bicycles it is.

A few years ago, scientists discovered a species of frogs without lungs that instead breathed through what covering called...?

Yes, Centreville.

-Gills?

-No, skin, called the epidermis.

In Coleridge'’’s "Rime of the Ancient Mariner," the mariner has bad luck, because he shot what large bird he then had to wear around his neck?

And the answer is albatross.

Check your monitors.

This peaceful pond can be seen near Asunción, the capital of what landlocked...?

Centreville.

-Paraguay.

-Correct.

Ancient Roman gladiators were usually slaves, including what gladiator who led a major slave rebellion?

Bullis.

-Spartacus.

-Correct choice.

Which of the following devices would be used to detect a small electric current -- rheostat, galvanometer, or electroscope?

Yes, Bullis.

-Electroscope.

-No.

It'’’s galvanometer.

Mozart had written most of his 40 symphonies before he reached what age, now the minimum age for a member of the US House of Representatives.

Centreville.

-35.

-25.

Check your monitors.

What I really wanted was a GPS system.

This might have been a tweet from what mythical hero?

Given a ball of string by Ariadne, so, he could find his way out of the labyrinth.

Yes, DeMatha.

Answer in three, two, one.

Theseus.

-Theseus.

Dang.

-Mel, the Portuguese word for honey gives us what English name for the dark, sticky, sweet syrup that was part of the...?

Bullis.

-Molasses.

-Molasses is right.

Four pi radians is the equivalent of how many degrees?

Yes.

Centreville.

-360.

-No, 720.

Lazarus Long is the hero of Robert Heinlein'’’s novel, whose title names what biblical man who lived 696 years?

DeMatha.

-Moses.

Moses.

-No.

Methuselah.

Check your monitors.

They were both M'’’s, though.

This lovely city is what Scottish capital?

Centreville.

-Glasgow?

-No.

Edinburgh.

The ancient Greek philosopher Empedocles declared that earth, fire, air, and what fourth substance were the basis of...?

Centreville?

-Water.

-Water it is.

A wall built in Britain as a defense against the Picts and Scots, by what Roman emperor for whom a wall is named?

Centreville.

-Hadrian.

-Hadrian it is.

Friday is the day books by Faulkner are scheduled to be burned in what 1953 Ray Bradbury novel?

Centreville.

-"Fahrenheit 451."

-You are right.

In the International Phonetic Alphabet used by aircraft pilots... [ Buzzer ] And that is the end of the game.

We will be right back with the scores.

The judges are checking them out.

[ Cheers and applause ] -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 Lucas Olivo from Parkdale High School.

The volunteer work that I enjoy the most is with my dad'’’s nonprofit organization.

This organization strives to educate Latinos and Spanish speaking people and really help them understand the importance of nature and its stewardship, and the importance of getting out in nature.

-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.

-Here is a question for you, our viewing audience.

The answer is a crow will drop breadcrumbs into the water, wait for a fish to come up and take the bait, then swoop down and grab it.

Back to the teams.

[ Cheers and applause ] -So, the scores are now official.

Follow me.

We begin with DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland.

Andrew, Jonathan, Dino -- 190 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] From Centreville High School in Centreville, Virginia.

Owen, Jeremy, Conner -- 310 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] And coming back for the playoffs, Bullis school from Potomac, Maryland.

Max, Henry, and Shara -- 320 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] Great job, everybody, stick around, because we will be back in 1 minute.

-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.

-Well, first, I want to thank all of our amazing students and you, our incredible viewers.

I'’’m Hillary Howard.

See you next time.

Bye, everybody.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪