(upbeat music) - Students from Churchill, St. Albans, and Meridian High School meet today on "It's Academic".

(upbeat theme music playing) Hello, everybody, I'm Hillary Howard and welcome to "It's Academic" produced by Altman Productions in association with David M. Rubenstein Productions.

- [Announcer] 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.

- [Announcer 2] The world is full of challenges and at Mitre, we're committed to solving them.

From aviation and health to cyber.

In national security, our people know we are called to do more.

Mitre, solving problems for a safer world.

- And now it's time to meet the teams.

We begin with Churchill High School from Potomac, Maryland.

Kevin, Andy, Alvin.

Hey, guys, welcome to "It's Academic".

- Hello, Hillary.

- Hi.

From St. Albans School in Washington, DC, Rishi, Shreyan, Teddy.

Hey, guys, glad to have you here.

- Nice to see you.

- Thanks, thanks.

And from Meridian High School in Falls Church City, Virginia, Zander, Allene, Riley, welcome to "It's Academic".

- Hey, Hillary, good to see you.

- Good to see you, too.

All right, we are gonna jump into this opening round now and in this round, questions are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

Churchill, you're up first.

Kevin, Andy, Alvin, here we go.

A cut each time.

Check out this phrase and see if you can find hidden in it a word that describes any angle of less than 90 degrees.

- All right, conferring, acute?

- Acute, yeah.

- Acute.

- All right, acute.

Final answer, acute.

- Yeah, you've got it, it's acute.

Nearsighted, noisy, meddlesome.

Which of these adjectives best describes someone who is myopic?

- Oh, nearsighted.

- Nearsighted.

- All right, nearsighted directed, final answer.

- Yeah, and I am so nearsighted it's unbelievable, not that that matters.

Magic to mysore.

You would consult this volume of an old encyclopedia for information on what Russian scientist who created the periodic table of elements?

- Conferring Mendeleev.

- Mendeleev, yeah.

- Yeah, our final answer, Mendeleev.

- You are right.

Cheetah, deer, elk.

In a race, among these three animals, which one should you expect to win because it's the fastest over a short distance?

- Conferring, cheetah.

- Cheetah.

- Yeah, cheetah.

- Final answer, cheetah.

- Yeah!

Literature is the blank of humanity.

To complete this quote from author, Isaac Bashevis Singer, add what ability that is lost by amnesiacs.

- Conferring, memory.

- Memory.

- Memory.

- All right, memory, final answer.

- Well, your memory is pretty good because you got 'em all right, Churchill.

200 points.

All right, to St. Albans School from Washington, DC.

Rishi, Shreyan, Teddy, here we go.

A fine palm leaf.

Hidden in this phrase is the name of what Asian country whose capital is Kathmandu.

- Conferring, it's Nepal, right, guys?

- Nepal, yeah.

- I agree.

- Final answer, Nepal.

- It is Nepal.

Welcoming him, excluding him, helping him.

If a group of people were ostracizing a man, they would be taking which of these actions?

- Conferring, is it excluding?

- Yes, excluding.

- Yep.

- Yeah.

- All right, final answer, excluding him.

- It is excluding.

Lake to Maori.

You'd go to this volume of an old encyclopedia to research what 18th century French scientist called the father of modern chemistry?

- Conferring.

Shreyan, do you know?

- Antoine Lavoisier.

- All right, defer to Shreyan.

Final answer, Antoine Lavoisier.

- Yes, it is, nice.

Death Valley, Carlsbad Caverns, and Badlands, Stalactites and stalagmites are mineral formations you would most likely find at which of these places?

- Conferring, it's Carlsbad Caverns.

- Yeah, Carlsbad.

- I agree.

- Final answer, Carlsbad Caverns.

- Yeah.

Soft and slimy like an.

You can complete this phrase from one writer by naming what eight-tentacle sea creature whose name comes from the Greek word 'eight'?

- Conferring, it's octopus.

- Yeah.

- Definitely.

- Final answer, octopus.

- Octopus, it is and like an octopus, you reached all of those answers very easily.

Was that so corny?

I'm so sorry.

200 points, St. Albans.

And now to team three, Meridian High School from Falls Church City.

Zander, Allene, Riley, here we go.

Looser fashions rock.

Hidden in this phrase is the name of what class of slave-like peasants who lived in feudal Europe?

- Conferring, it's serf.

- Okay, serfs.

- You're right.

Bitterness, surprises, affection.

A relationship that is full of acrimony is full of which of these?

- Conferring, bitterness.

- Right, bitterness.

- Yes, it is bitterness.

Magma to myth.

It's in this volume of an old encyclopedia that you'd find information about what Austrian monk who developed the science of genetics?

- Conferring, Mendel.

- Conferring, Mendel.

- Conferring, Mendel.

- Mendel.

- Mendel is right.

Charlotte, Edwina, Alberta.

Of these three feminine names, which one identifies a province of Canada?

- Conferring, Alberta.

- Alberta, yeah.

- Alberta.

- Correct.

Blank is the glue that holds government together.

To complete this quotation from one government official, add what quality that goes marching on in "The Battle Hymn of the Republic".

- Conferring, bravery.

I'm not sure.

- Possibly, I don't think so.

- [Hillary] Answer?

- Freedom?

- Need to rethink.

Bravery.

- The answer is truth.

♪ Whose truth goes marching on - Oh.

- Yeah, I know you knew that one.

Great job, Meridian, 180 points.

Hey, keep it here on "It's Academic" because that's the end of the opening round and the picture perfect round is coming up 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.

(upbeat theme music playing) - Okay, let's jump into this picture perfect round where answers are worth 20 points up or down.

10 points off if you pass.

Churchill, you're up first.

Here we go.

Though there are an estimated 100 billion shrews in the world, none are native to what second largest island where Papua is located?

- Conferring.

Andy, do you know?

- New Guinea.

- All right, yeah.

Defer to Andy.

- New Guinea.

- Thank you, Andy, it's New Guinea.

Evaluate this expression giving your answer in lowest terms.

- Conferring, this is should be one-fourth, right?

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

- All right, final answer, one-fourth.

- Yeah.

Japan sent its first diplomatic mission to the United States in 1860, seven years after what American commodore had visited Japan?

- Conferring, Perry.

- Yeah, Perry.

- All right, final answer, Perry.

- Nicely done, Churchill, you got 'em all, 260 points.

All right.

St. Albans, you are up.

Here's the first question, Rishi, Shreyan, and Teddy.

This icon represents what sign of the zodiac that's also symbolized by the crab?

- Conferring.

- Cancer.

- Is that cancer?

- Okay.

- I'm pretty sure it's cancer.

- Cancer, final answer.

- Yeah, well done.

What is the least common denominator for these two fractions?

- Conferring, is it four, guys?

- Wouldn't it be 24?

- Yeah, 24.

- Oh, okay.

24, final answer.

- Really glad you got there.

Yes, it is.

Isaac Hull, one of the naval heroes from the War of 1812, commanded what historic US ship in its successful battle with the British ship, Guerriere?

- Conferring.

Teddy, do you know?

- No, no, I'm not sure.

We should probably pass if we don't know, but.

- [Hillary] Answer is?

- Right, pass.

- The answer is the USS Constitution, but nicely done, St. Albans, 230 points.

Hey, Meridian, your turn to play picture perfect.

Zander, Allene, Riley, here we go.

This was one of the palaces of the Ottoman Turks whose empire dissolved at the end of what early 20th century war?

- Conferring, World War I.

- All right, World War I.

- Yeah, that's it.

Log three plus log six.

This expression is equivalent to the log of what number?

- Conferring, 18.

- Sure.

- Think so.

- All right, 18.

- Yeah, nice.

Chief Justice John Marshall established the principle of judicial review when he declared a federal law unconstitutional in the case of what man versus Madison?

- Conferring Marbury.

- Right, Marbury.

- Yes, it is Marbury.

Nicely done, Meridian, you got 'em all.

240 points.

And that is it for the picture perfect round.

In just a minute, we'll learn more about our amazing students and dive into the packet round.

But first, here's something pretty interesting.

- Hello, I'm David Rubenstein.

Did you know that England's King John, while trying to cross a swampy area known as The Wash, lost the royal jewels when his baggage carts tipped over with the incoming tide?

It happened in 1216 and the jewels are still there in the swamp.

Perhaps treasure hunters will find them someday.

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

(upbeat theme music playing) - Well, we're halfway there.

You know that means it's halftime and the packet round.

In this round, as you undoubtedly know, correct answers are worth 20 points.

Nothing off a wrong answer.

And if you get every answer right, there's a 25-point bonus.

Let's meet the team from Churchill, though, before we dive into the questions.

And the first person we will inquire about is Kevin.

Hiya, Kevin.

I love the fact that you've got a map behind you.

Do you like geography?

- Not quite, I think it's just there.

(Hillary laughing) I promise I won't be using it to cheat.

I won't be looking backwards at any time.

- So what do you like to do besides study?

- I'm a violinist.

- Ah.

And your favorite pieces are?

- I kind of like them all, you know?

(chuckling) - Oh, that's wonderful.

It's great to have you with us, Kevin.

Hello, Andy, what should we know about you?

- I also like music, I play the piano.

- Nice, and your favorite pieces?

Is it easier for you to answer?

- No, I also like them all as well.

- (laughing) Okay.

Great to have you here, Andy.

And finally, Alvin, do you also play an instrument?

- I play viola and I play piano.

- Wonderful.

What kind of music do you prefer?

- I like piano music more.

- Wonderful.

Well, it's great to have you guys.

And now, Churchill, I've got some questions for you.

Here's the first one.

Spaghettification is the official term describing what will happen to you if you fall into what kind of phenomenon created by a collapsed star so not even light can escape?

- Conferring, black hole.

- Black hole, yeah, black hole.

- Final answer, black hole.

- Yes, it is.

Pope Urban's sermon of 1095 is still remembered because it began what series of religious wars to recapture Jerusalem?

- Conferring, Crusades.

- Yeah.

- All right, final answer, Crusades.

- Crusades is right.

Science question.

DNA, SOC, RTP.

A knockout mouse is a genetically-engineered mouse in which an existing gene has been inactivated or knocked out and replaced with an artificial piece of which of these?

- Conferring, DNA.

- DNA.

- DNA.

- Final answer, DNA.

- DNA is right.

Alexander Hamilton once worked as a clerk on St. Croix in what group of Caribbean islands which the US purchased from Denmark in 1917?

- Oh, conferring, is this Virgin Islands, right?

- Virgin Islands, yeah, Virgin Islands.

- Final answer, Virgin Islands.

- The beautiful Virgin Islands, yes.

It was only after she had worked 15 years for the US Bureau of Fisheries that what environmentalist wrote such books as "Silent Spring"?

- Conferring, Rachel Carson.

- Yeah, Carson.

- Yeah, Rachel Carson.

- Final answer, Rachel Carson.

- Yeah, Rachel Carson.

Here's your math question.

Given that X plus two is a factor of this expression, what is the other factor?

- It would be, conferring, it's X minus eight, right?

- Yeah, X minus eight.

- All right.

Final answer, X minus eight.

- It is.

Though he himself was Irish, author, Bram Stoker, set his novel "Dracula" partly in what country whose modern capital is Bucharest?

- Conferring, Romania.

- Romania, yeah.

- Yeah.

- All right, final answer, Romania.

- It is Romania.

And you know what that means, Churchill?

(siren sounding) 25 point bonus.

Way to go, guys, you've gotta a score of 425 points.

Now let's get to know the gentleman from St. Albans School in Washington and we begin with the captain, Rishi.

Hello, Rishi, what's going on?

- I'm an editor for the school newspaper and I also sing and that's like a big time commitment that I have.

I'm involved in acapella, which is really cool.

- That's really wonderful.

Where do you guys perform?

- So we perform at the National Cathedral, which is just like a two-minute walk from our school.

- Nice.

Pretty cool to sing in the National Cathedral, I'll tell you what.

Well, it's good to see you, Rishi and hello, Shreyan, how about you?

- I play the violin and I do a lot of stuff at school, but I guess the principal thing people know me for is being the chemistry man.

- So you're in the lab a lot, huh?

Cooking stuff up?

(laughing) - I wouldn't say cooking stuff up, but yeah, I guess that's kind of true.

- A little bit.

It's fun.

Well, it's great to have you.

And Teddy, great to have you with us as well.

Tell us what you're up to.

- I actually sing acapella with Rishi as well as other singing groups at my school.

We're two of the three co-heads of our acapella group.

I also am a big actor, so musicals, plays.

You name it, I'm in it.

I really enjoy that as well as, of course, "It's Academic".

- Well, it's wonderful to have you and here's your first question, St. Albans.

What Biblical tower might have been called the Tower of Confusion when it's builders all began speaking different languages?

- Conferring.

- Babel.

- It's Babel or Baebel.

- Okay, final answer, Babel.

- Yep, Tower of Babel.

Bluetooth wireless technology takes its name from King Harald Bluetooth, a 10th century leader of what V-initialed Norse fighters noted for their raids on England?

- Conferring, vikings.

- Yeah, probably vikings, if I had to guess.

- Final answer, vikings.

- Yeah.

Here's your science question.

Evaporation, surface tension, colloidal float.

The meniscus effect referring to the curved surface of a liquid in a cylinder is caused by which of these?

- Conferring.

- Surface tension, yeah.

- It's surface tension.

- Okay.

Final answer is surface tension.

- Yeah, finally, you've gotta trust Shreyan on this one, it's his jam.

(laughing) Pacific humpback whales have their principle winter home near what chain of islands that extends westward from Alaska over 1,000 miles?

- Conferring.

Is this-- - Aleutian?

- Aleutian Islands, yeah.

- It's the Aleutian Islands.

- It's the Aleutians.

- The Aleutian Islands, yeah.

E.M. Forster got his title, "A Passage to India", from a work by what American poet whose major work is "Leaves of Grass"?

- Conferring this is Walt Whitman.

- Whitman.

- Yeah.

- Yeah, final answer Walt Whitman.

- Whitman, it is.

Here's your math question.

Solve for Z.

- Conferring, is it 75?

- 75 sounds right.

- Okay, final answer is 75.

- 75 is right.

According to one study, the country with the happiest people is what small island country whose capital is Reykjavik?

- Conferring-- - Iceland.

- Iceland.

- Yeah, it's Iceland.

Oh yeah, final answer, Iceland.

- Iceland is right.

You nailed that round, St. Albans.

25 point bonus and a score of 395 points.

And now to the team from Falls Church City, Meridian High School.

Hey Zander, we would like to learn about you first.

What are you up to these days?

- I'm very busy running the Meridian role-play gaming club.

- Oh, fun.

Is it like Dungeons and Dragons and stuff?

- In a sense, yes, although I spend most of my time talking about why I don't like Dungeons and Dragons.

- (laughing) What character do you like most?

- I'm drawn more towards the roguish types.

- Ah, very nice.

Well, it's great to have you roguish types, Zander.

And hello, Allene, tell us about yourself.

- I like to read and I sing in two different choirs.

- Oh, that's lovely.

And what kind of books do you enjoy reading most?

- Recently, I'm reading a lot of the classics pretty much.

- Well, great, and that will undoubtedly help you today.

Great to have you, Allene and hello, Riley.

Tell us about yourself.

- Between playing guitar and collecting funky high top shoes, I spend a lot of time with my dog who is hanging out with me, cheering me on today.

- [Hillary] Oh, let's see him.

Aw, what's his name?

- His name is Leo.

He's about seven years old.

- Hi, Leo.

And how many shoes are in your collection, Riley?

- Too many, probably too many.

- (laughing) Okay.

Well, it's great to have you with us.

So now, of course, I can begin to ask you some questions.

Meridian, here's the first one.

In the early 1870s, a lady named Amelia Edwards became one of the first women to explore what longest African river?

- Conferring the Nile.

- Yeah, the Congo sounds right.

The Congo.

- [Hillary] Which is your answer?

- Sorry, Allene, which one do you say?

- It's the Nile, Zander.

- It's the Nile.

- Sounds right, the Nile.

- Nile is right.

Robert Heinlein borrowed his title, "Stranger in a Strange Land" from a passage in what second book of the Old Testament?

- Allene?

- Conferring, Exodus.

- Exodus.

- Exodus, it is.

Here's your science question.

Sonic boom, Tyndall effect, seismic vibration.

Which of these refers to the shockwave of compressed air caused by aircraft traveling faster than the speed of sound?

- Sonic boom.

- Conferring sonic boom.

- Right, sonic boom.

- Yeah.

During World War I, British general, Stanley Maude, died of cholera soon after he captured what city, now Iraq's capital?

- Conferring, Tehran.

Sound right?

- Sounds right.

- Sure.

- Right.

Tehran.

- Sure.

- It's Baghdad.

Tehran is Iran.

Though he didn't have a computer, what 18th century French author was still able to write over 2,000 works including "Candide"?

- Voltaire.

- Conferring, Voltaire.

- Voltaire.

- Yeah, you got it.

Here's your math question.

Solve for X.

- Conferring, four?

- Sure.

- Four.

- Well done.

This classic movie, "Casablanca", took its title from a city in what North African country where Rabat is capital?

- Conferring, is it Algeria?

- Possibly.

Yes, go with that.

- Algeria.

- And the answer was Morocco.

But you did a really nice job, Meridian, 340 points.

And that is the packet round.

Next, we're turning up the temperature because it'll be the lightning round.

(upbeat music playing) All right, in this lightning round, you've got 45 seconds to answer up to 10 questions.

They're worth 20 points up or down, no penalty if you pass.

Team one, Churchill, you're up.

Let's play with lightning.

Here we go.

Please identify the following places with Native American names in three, two, one.

The longest US river has this name.

- Mississippi.

- Yes, this is the largest-- - Mississippi Direct.

- This is the largest tributary of the Mississippi River.

- Missouri.

- Yes.

New York City's Central Park is in this island borough.

- Manhattan.

- Yes.

The name of this largest southwest state means friends.

- Pass.

- Texas.

This word names a great lake and Canadian province.

- Ontario.

- Yes.

The name of this North Star State means turbid water.

- Minnesota.

- Yes.

The name of this stormy North Carolina cape means people of shallow water.

(buzzer buzzing) And you passed, but the answer is Hatteras.

Nicely done, Churchill, 525 points.

St. Albans, it's your chance to play with lightning.

Rishi, Shreyan, Teddy, here we go.

All answers here are places that have Native American names in three, two, one.

This is our northernmost state.

- Maine.

- Alaska.

- Alaska.

This is the largest Midwest city.

- Chicago.

- Yes.

This Tennessee city was a major Civil War railroad center.

- Pass.

- Chattanooga.

You can visit the Space Needle in this city.

- Seattle.

- Seattle.

- Yes.

This is the US Sooner State.

- Oklahoma.

- Yes.

This Alabama city names Booker T. Washington's Institute.

- Tuskegee.

- Yes.

This is our country's highest mountain.

- Denali.

- Yes.

This is our Bluegrass State.

- Kentucky.

- Yes.

This was the site of a lost colony.

- Roanoke.

- Yes.

Yeah, it's Roanoke.

St. Albans, way to do it.

555 points.

Meridian, you are up.

Zander, Allene, Riley.

All answers here are places that have Native American names in three, two, one.

Boston is the largest city in this state.

- Massachusetts.

- Yes.

- This is the capital city of Kansas.

- Topeka.

- Yes.

Several states have counties named for this Seminole Indian leader.

- Pass.

- Osceola.

These waterfalls are on the New York-Canadian border.

- Niagara.

- Yes.

This Wisconsin city is home to the NBA Bucks.

- Pass.

- Milwaukee.

A critical Revolutionary War battle took place at this upstate New York city.

- Saratoga.

- Yes.

In the American Southwest, this is the largest desert.

- Sierra, Nevada.

- Mojave.

This state has its capital at Columbus.

(buzzer buzzing) - Ohio.

- Yeah, it's Ohio, but after the buzzer.

Meridian, you have 400 points.

And now the judges are going over the scores.

In just a minute, we'll let you know who's coming back for the playoffs.

But first, we'd really like you to consider giving back to your community like some of our very amazing students.

- 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, I'm Sam.

- I'm Tejas.

- And I'm Dylan.

- And we are the co-founders of the Oakton Pantry Club.

The Oakton Pantry is a local food bank that runs out of Oakton High School, where we give donated non-perishable items to students and local community members.

- So the Pantry Club helps out with the pantry and we help raise donations, sort donations, and package food bags that are given out to families each week.

- And we also hold food drives all throughout the school year, so we'll have one for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

And overall, it's just a great way to give back to the community and an opportunity to volunteer.

- 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.

(upbeat music playing) - All right, the scores are now official.

First, a big congratulations to Meridian High School from Falls Church City.

Zander, Allene, and Riley, 400 points.

Second, congratulations to Churchill High School from Potomac.

Kevin, Andy, Alvin, 525 points and making lots of points in that lightning round.

St. Albans School in Washington, Rishi, Shreyan, and Teddy, 555 points.

Amazing job, guys, really well done.

Hey, let's hear it for our teams and to you, our viewers, really happy you joined us today to match wits with these students.

- [Announcer] 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.

- [Announcer 2] 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.

- Please join us next time when Sidwell Friends, South Lakes, and McDonough High schools compete right here on "It's Academic".

I'm Hillary Howard, see you then.

Bye, guys.

(upbeat music playing) - [David] I'm David Rubenstein reminding you to read, learn, get involved, and make a difference.

(music continuing)