-From the KC studio at WETA, students from Churchill, Rockville, and St.

Stephen's and St.

Agnes meet today on "It's Academic."

[ Applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Applause ] Hello, everybody.

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

[ Cheers and applause ] -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 ] -Hi.

We are very happy to have all of you here for this edition of "It's Academic."

And you know we start with the Fast Start.

Students, you know that's where we begin, and you know how it works.

Questions are worth 10 points up or down.

The first team to buzz in gets to answer.

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

Here we go.

P in the middle.

The answer to each of these questions is a five-letter word that has the letter P in the middle.

That's P as in "paper."

St.

Stephen's.

-Alpha.

-Alpha.

-Yeah.

Churchill.

-Japan.

-Japan.

-Yeah, that's right.

Yep, Churchill.

Answer?

Three, two, one.

Sepal.

Churchill.

-Cupid.

-Cupid's right.

This corporation was founded by Wozniak and -- St.

Stephen's.

-Apple.

-Apple, yeah.

Churchill -Nepal.

-Nepal is right.

This cone shaped tent was used by Native American -- St.

Stephen's.

-Teepee.

-Yeah.

St.

Stephen's.

-Dopey.

-Yeah.

Yup, St.

Stephen's.

-Biped.

-Biped it is.

Yep, Churchill.

Answer?

Three, two, one.

-Pupil.

-Pupil.

Whew, just got it in under the wire.

Nice, guys.

Let's take a look at these scores.

Churchill 130 points, Rockville 100 points, St.

Stephen's and St.

Agnes 150 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] Okay, let's meet these teams, and we begin with Churchill High School from Potomac in Montgomery County.

The first person we get to greet is Andrew.

Hiya, Andrew.

-Hi.

I'm Andrew.

I'm a senior.

It's my first time at "It's Ac."

-Well, we're really happy to have you.

Hi, Ulden.

-Hello.

I'm Ulden.

I'm also a senior.

-Yeah.

You've been here before.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

It's good to see you.

And, Aaron, hey.

-Yeah.

Yeah, I'm also a senior.

-Alright, alright.

Okay.

Here we go, guys.

In this Mix & Match round, questions are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer, so go for it.

Walks to machine.

You can walk to 20 points if you find in this phrase the name of what digestive organ of the body?

-Stomach.

-Yes.

Use your skills to fill in the blanks here to name what New York mountains where Rip Van Winkle slept for 20 years?

-Catskills.

-Catskills is right.

I grew up not too far from there.

Uranium, tantalum, hydrogen.

Combine the chemical symbols for these elements, and you'll spell the name of what Western state?

-Utah.

-Uh-huh, that's it.

True Crime and Punishment.

No, that's not right.

Please eliminate one word to make this Dostoyevsky title correct.

-"True."

-"True" is correct.

Amazon, Boeing, Standard oil.

Here you see three corporations that have had a major impact on America.

Please arrange them in chronological order according to the dates they were founded.

-Standard -- -3, 2, 1.

-Yeah, 3, 2, 1.

-3, 2, 1.

-Okay.

Tell me.

3, 2, 1 you said?

-Yes.

-That's right.

"A new birth of freedom."

These words were spoken by Abraham Lincoln in 1863, in a speech dedicated to the soldiers who died in what 1863 Pennsylvania battle?

-Gettysburg.

-Gettysburg it is.

I love how you all answered at the same time, Churchill.

250 points.

[ Applause ] Over to Rockville, from Rockville, Maryland, also in Montgomery County, home of the Rams.

How you doing, Sanam?

-I'm doing well.

I'm a sophomore.

It's my first time on the show.

-Oh, it's great to have you.

Congratulations for being here.

Hiya, Rebecca.

-Hi.

I'm Rebecca.

I'm a senior, and this is also my first time on the show.

-Yay!

And, Hanna, hello.

-Hi.

I'm Hanna.

I'm also a senior.

This is also my first time on the show.

-All newbies.

We're so thrilled to have you guys here.

Ready for your questions?

Here we go.

Afghan oil well.

Instead of Afghan oil well, see if you can find hidden in this phrase what capital of Vietnam?

-Hanoi.

-Hanoi.

-Hanoi is correct.

By filling in the blanks here two different ways, you can identify the two surveyors whose names were given to the boundary line separating Maryland and Pennsylvania in the 1700s.

-Mason-Dixon.

-Yeah, that's it.

Bromine, arsenic, sulfur.

By combining the chemical symbols for these three elements, you can name what copper-zinc alloy?

-Brass.

-Brass is right.

The Count Down of Monte Cristo.

No.

Please eliminate one word to make this Alexandre Dumas title correct.

-Eliminate "Down."

-Yeah.

Midway, Mobile Bay, Actium.

Military action took place in all three of these watery places.

Please arrange them in correct chronological order.

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Yeah.

-Yeah.

-3, 1, 2.

-No.

3, 2, 1, Actium, Mobile Bay, and Midway.

"Everything has its own beauty, but not everyone sees it."

I like that.

These were the wise words of what Chinese teacher whose comments have been revered in China for over 2,500 years?

-Confucius.

-Yep, that's it.

Nice, Rockville.

200 points.

[ Applause ] Now over to St.

Stephen's and St.

Agnes from Alexandria.

Hey, Arleigh.

Good to see you.

-Hi, Hillary.

I'm Arleigh Womack.

This is my second year on "It's Academic."

And I am the co-president of my Model UN team.

-Wonderful.

Good to see you again.

Hey, Sabrina.

-Hi, Hillary.

I'm a senior, and this is my second time on "It's Academic."

-Awesome.

And finally, hello, Jackson.

-Hello.

I'm a junior at St.

Stephen's, and this is my third time on "It's Academic."

-I love seeing your faces again, all your faces again.

Here we go.

Lulu ran usually.

You can run with 20 points if you find hidden here the name of what planet, seventh from the sun.

-Uranus.

-Yeah.

Roo is a young kangaroo in "Winnie the Pooh," but add some more letters and you'll name what miser from Dickens' "A Christmas Carol"?

-Scrooge.

-Scrooge.

-Scrooge, yeah.

Carbon, argon, phosphorus.

Combine the chemical symbols for these elements to name what freshwater fish that poses a threat to the ecology of the Great Lakes?

-Carp.

-Carp it is.

The Hip Hobbit.

[ Chuckles ] Please eliminate one word here to make this Tolkien title correct.

-"Hip."

-Yeah, "Hip."

But he may have been hip.

I don't know.

Florida Secedes, Paul Revere is born, France joins the UN.

These three events all took place in January, but in different centuries.

Please arrange them in chronological order.

[ Indistinct whispering ] -2, 1, 3.

-That is right.

Paul Revere, Florida, France in the UN.

"What use could this company make of an electric toy?"

This was the comment of the president of Western Union when offered the rights to what new invention of Alexander Graham Bell's?

-Telephone.

-The telephone.

-Telephone is right.

Nice job, St.

Stephen's and St.

Agnes.

270 points.

[ Applause ] That does it for Mix & Match.

You know what's next.

It's Picture Perfect.

See you in a minute.

[ Applause ] In 1961, nine high school students walked into a TV studio in Washington, DC, 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."

[ Applause ] Welcome back, guys.

It's time for the Picture Perfect round.

which is always fun.

Questions are worth 20 points up or down.

Once again, the first team that buzzes in gets to answer.

Teams, this fish is native to what second longest river on the African -- Churchill.

-Congo.

-Answer?

Congo it is, yes.

"Lack of money is the root of all evil."

This was the comment of what British playwright who found financial success -- St.

Stephen's and St.

Agnes.

Early buzz, huh?

-Of -- -Shakespeare.

-No.

Plays like "Major Barbara."

Looking for George Bernard Shaw.

To see these birds in their natural habitat, you'd have to go to the Seychelles Islands, located in what third -- Yes, Churchill.

Answer?

-Indian Ocean.

-Yep, Indian Ocean is right.

How much tax would you pay on an $80 purchase if -- Churchill.

-4, right?

-4.

-4 it is.

This tiger which can eat over 100 pounds -- -Bengal.

-Siberian tiger.

Sorry, guys.

Looking very presidential, here is what -- Churchill.

-Tyler.

-Yeah.

John Tyler.

10th chief executive.

Seashells are carbonate formed by mollusks whose blood contains what element with atomic number -- Churchill.

Answer?

-Copper.

-Three, two, one.

Nope.

We were looking for calcium.

A French motto meaning "I remember" adorns a badge for troops from what Canadian -- Churchill?

-Has to be French and Indian War.

-Answer?

Three, two, one.

-Are you sure it's a war?

-Quebec!

-Oh, man, it's Quebec.

You just got it in.

Nice job.

Let's recap these scores.

Churchill 330 points, Rockville 200 points, St.

Stephen's and St.

Agnes 230 points.

Well done, guys.

[ Applause ] As you know, these students don't do this alone.

They've got a lot of help from some pretty extraordinary people.

Let's meet them.

We begin with Churchill High School.

Ulden, who's standing behind you?

And tell us something about him.

-This is Mr.

Vickery.

Well, he's a history teacher at our school and also our sponsor, and he's great.

And he knows a lot.

He's really well traveled.

-Wow.

That's awesome.

So you better not get any history questions wrong.

[ Laughs ] He's nodding behind you, Ulden.

Alright, over to Rockville.

Rebecca, who's the trio behind you?

-So, to my right, we have our assistant principal, Dr.

Penn, and then we also have our coaches, Dr.

Goodrich and Mr.

Smith.

-Awesome.

Dr.

Goodrich, how long have you been a coach now?

-Ooh, a long time.

-[ Chuckling ] A long time.

-Turn of the millennium about.

-Ah, see that?

Decades now.

Good to have you guys.

And over to St.

Stephen's and St.

Agnes.

Who is standing behind you, Sabrina?

-To my right, we have Miss Sandoval, our history teacher, and to my left, our 10th grade English teacher, Dr.

Klein.

We appreciate everything that they have helped us with to be here today.

-Yeah.

And, Dr.

Klein, you've been here a long time.

-That's true.

-Yeah.

Well, it's very good to see both of you, and, again, you guys have to get your history questions right, right?

Alright, so good to have you.

Now that we've made all the introductions, we can jump into the Packet round, and that means, Churchill, boom, you answer questions first.

Rockville, will Churchill answer questions from 1, 2, or 3?

-Let's do 3.

-Let's do 3.

Alright, Churchill, packet 3 for you, and if you get all the questions right, you guys know what that means.

It means a... -We win.

-Yes!

Thank you so much!

I appreciate that.

Okay, here we go, guys.

George Washington was already president when the states ratified, what initial group of 10 amendments to the Constitution?

-The Bill of Rights.

-Yes.

Bill of Rights.

At age 23, Mark Zuckerberg became the youngest self-made billionaire by launching what social network?

-Facebook.

-Facebook it is.

Several monuments in Montana and Idaho honor what same Shoshone Indian woman who helped guide the Lewis and Clark expedition?

-Sacajawea.

-That is correct.

-Holy cow!

-Here's your science question.

Paramecium, amoeba, algae.

Which of these is not generally classified as a member of the Phylum Protozoa?

-Algae.

-Algae.

-Yep, that's it.

Critics dubbed President Warren Harding "Wobbly Warren" because of his changing stance on what international organization that preceded the United Nations?

-League of Nations.

-That's right.

A grim view of humanity influenced what 1954 William Golding novel about a group of boys stranded on a deserted island?

-"Lord of the Flies," yeah.

-Yeah, "Lord of the Flies."

That book still haunts me.

Here's your math question.

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

-5.

-Yes, it's 5.

Convicted of voting illegally in the 1872 election and fined $100, what suffragist, whose likeness appears on a US coin, said she wouldn't pay and she never did?

-Victoria?

No.

-Yeah, Woodhull.

-Answer?

-Sure.

Woodhull.

-No.

It's Susan B Anthony.

Nicely done, though, Churchill.

470 points.

[ Applause ] Alright, Rockville, your turn to play.

St.

Stephen's and St.

Agnes, packet 1 or packet 2?

-Packet 1.

-Packet 1.

Alright, Rockville, here's packet 1.

One study has found you'll stay healthier if you avoid making what type of statements that made Pinocchio's nose grow?

-Lies.

-Yeah.

Isn't that amazing?

It makes sense.

Explorers Marquette and Joliet paddled down the Mississippi River in 1673, but turned back upon learning it emptied into what large body of water instead of the so-called Oriental Sea?

-Gulf of Mexico.

-That is right.

If you Googled Greenland, you'd find that the island was first colonized by what Norse explorer called "the Red"?

-Erik the Red.

-Yeah, that's it.

Here's your science question.

The atmosphere, mitosis of cells, rocket firing sequences.

The terms prophase, metaphase, and telophase are correctly applied to which of these phenomena?

-Mitosis of cells.

-You've got it.

"The American Crisis" sounds like a TV documentary, but it's actually the title of a call to battle by what colonial pamphleteer who also wrote "Common Sense"?

-Paine.

-Yeah.

What British author served up "The Restaurant at the End of the Universe" as one of the sequels to "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"?

-Stephen Douglas.

-No, you got half of it right.

It's Douglas Adams.

-Aw!

-Here is your math question.

What's the next number in this geometric sequence?

-27.

-Yeah.

Americans have been paying income tax ever since what number Constitutional amendment was ratified in 1913?

-19th.

-Nah.

The 16th amendment.

But you did a nice job, Rockville -- 320 points.

[ Applause ] And finally, packet number 2 for St.

Stephen's and St.

Agnes.

Guys, in 1630, the ship Arbella brought settlers to what Massachusetts town that made history because of its witch trials?

-Salem.

-Salem witch trials.

-Yes.

In Imperial China, a high-ranking mandarin was symbolized by what kind of red gemstone which also names the throat of a hummingbird species?

-Ruby.

-Yeah, that's it.

America is named for Amerigo, the first name of what explorer who mapped the east coast of South America in 1501?

-Amerigo Vespucci.

-That's it.

Here's your science question.

Koala, anteater, otter.

Which of these creatures is a marsupial?

-Koala.

-That's it.

Prior to the Revolutionary War, Sam Adams and other colonists kept in touch through what committees whose names suggest an exchange of letters?

[ Indistinct whispering ] Answer is... correspondence.

Committees of correspondence.

The last time Easter Sunday fell on April 15th was in what year, named in the title of Arthur C. Clarke's story about a space odyssey?

-2001.

-That's right.

Here's your math question.

If X equals 4, what's the value of the reciprocal of this expression?

-64.

-64.

-That's it.

The specific school cited in the Brown v. Board of Education desegregation case was an elementary school named for what fifth US president?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Monroe.

-Monroe is right.

St.

Stephen's and St.

Agnes, 370 points.

[ Applause ] That does it for the Packet round, and it's a pretty close game.

Anything can happen in the Grab Bag, which is next.

See you then.

[ Applause ] Did you know that some moths can remember things they learned as caterpillars, like what odors signal danger?

This is more proof, if any were needed, of the value of early education.

So now you know.

[ Applause ] As we embark on the Grab Bag round, we will first look at the scores.

Here they are -- Churchill 470 points, Rockville 320 points, St.

Stephen's and St.

Agnes 370 points.

[ Applause ] Alright, the Grab Bag.

Questions are worth 20 points up or down.

Here we go.

In the US, most cases of rabies aren't caused by dogs, but by what small flying mammals?

Rockville.

-Mosquito.

-No.

Bats.

When an assassin made an attempt on his life, Andrew Jackson blamed -- Yes, Churchill.

Answer?

Three, two, one.

-Cane.

-No.

Whig.

We were looking for the Whig Party.

The song titled "Nice, Nice, Very Nice" was not a hit, even though it's very nice lyrics were by what American novelist who wrote "Cat's Cradle"?

Yup, St.

Stephen's.

-Vonnegut.

-Correct.

On your screens.

A playwright as well as a military man, this is what British general who lost the 1777 battle -- -Benedict Arnold.

-No.

John Burgoyne of Saratoga.

Some historians claim World War II actually began in 1931, when the Japanese moved into -- Yes, Churchill.

-Manchuria.

-Yeah, that's it.

All three of you, good.

What is the maximum number of points at which two distinct circles may intersect?

Yep, Churchill.

-Two.

-Two it is.

What long-haired Englishwoman conducted a memorable protest against high taxes by riding naked through Coventry?

Yes, St.

Stephen's.

Answer?

-Geneva.

-No.

Lady Godiva.

On your screens.

"Civilization and profits go hand-in-hand."

These are the words of what 30th US president who -- Rockville.

-Coolidge.

-Coolidge.

-Coolidge it is.

Choice -- the second law of thermodynamics asserts that the spontaneous flow of heat is from a -- Yes, Churchill.

-Hot to cold.

-Hot to cold.

That's right.

Located in New Orleans, there's a sanctuary for retired apes of what same species as those studied by Jane -- Yes, St.

Stephen's.

-Chimpanzee.

-That's it.

A student studying the two gentlemen in the title of a Shakespeare play -- Yes, Churchill.

Answer?

-Verona.

-Verona is right.

Go closer to your microphone.

On your screens.

This is Gaskoin's Cowry, a mollusk native to what Pacific Island nation where Suva is capital?

Rockville.

Answer?

Three, two, one.

-Peperina.

-No.

Fiji Islands.

In international Morse code, a signal of four dashes -- Churchill.

Answer?

-It's not SOS.

-Three, two, one.

-Say it.

-Nine.

We're looking for nine and one dot.

The fourth strongest earthquake in recorded history was the 1964 Good Friday quake that hit what most populous city in Alaska?

Yup, Rockville.

-Anchorage.

-That's it.

President John Adams kept in his library "The Wealth of Nations," a major work by -- St.

Stephen's.

-Adam Smith.

-That's it.

On your screens.

This is what Norwegian man who was the first to reach -- Churchill.

-Amundsen.

-Amundsen is right.

The famous poem beginning "What happens to a dream deferred" was written by what -- Rockville.

-Langston Hughes.

-Langston Hughes.

-That's it.

Matthew Webb could have used webbed feet when he became the first man to swim across what body of water?

Churchill.

-English Channel.

[ Buzzer ] -English Channel is right.

And that does it.

That is the end of the game.

We will have the scores for you in just a moment.

[ Applause ] "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 DC 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 ] The scores are now official.

We begin with Rockville, home of the Rams.

Sanam, Rebecca, Hanna, all first-timers, you did a great job -- 340 points.

[ Applause ] From St.

Stephen's and St.

Agnes in Alexandria, Arleigh, Sabrina, Jackson, 390 points.

Well done, guys.

[ Applause ] And doing a fabulous job offer, oftentimes answering in unison, Churchill, home of the Bulldogs, Andrew, Ulden, and Aaron, 550 points.

[ Applause ] Smile!

Smile!

It's good!

It's good!

Alright, thank you so much for being here, everybody.

I'm Hillary Howard.

Remember, everybody... -"It's Academic"!

-See you next time.

Bye-bye.

[ Applause ] -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.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪