-Students from... ...meet today on "It's Academic."

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

-Hello, everybody.

I'm Hillary Howard.

And welcome to "It's Academic."

The championship match 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.

-We are so happy you are here with us today for this big championship match.

And you've seen them before.

These are all of the students who have won their playoff matches, their semifinal matches.

So they are good.

We're gonna jump right in with the Fast Start.

As you know, all questions in this round are worth 10 points up or down.

The first to buzz in gets to answer.

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

Good luck, everybody.

Don't be scared.

Competing in a championship game can be scary, but there are lots of other things people are afraid of.

Please identify the things that frighten people who have these phobias.

Sandy Spring.

-Snakes.

-Yes.

Blair.

-Glass?

-Glass it is.

Sandy Spring.

Answer?

-Flight?

-No.

Trains.

Sandy Spring.

-Garlic.

-Yeah.

Sandy Spring.

Answer?

-Snowflakes?

-Yes.

Blair.

-Fire?

-Yeah.

Sandy Spring.

-Mirrors?

-Yes.

Sandy Spring.

-Yellow?

-Yellow it is.

And that is it for the Fast Start.

Let's recap those scores.

[ Cheers and applause ] -And now that we've done that, we can do Mix and Match.

And of course we get to meet the teams.

But I'll tell you the rules.

In this round, each team has an opportunity to answer five questions.

Questions are worth 20 points apiece, as you know.

Nothing off for a wrong answer, which is great.

William, how are you today?

-Hello.

I'm good.

How are you?

-I'm very well.

Tell us a little about yourself.

-Well, I'm a senior at Montgomery Blair.

And I would like to thank our proud principal, Mrs. Renay Johnson, who's in attendance today -- thank you, Mrs. Johnson -- and the rest of our administration for their continued support of our club.

-Awesome.

Hiya, Henry.

-Hiya.

How are you doing?

-Good to see you again.

-Mm-hmm.

I would like to thank our coach, Mr. Rada, as well as Ms. Schaefer -- and Mr. Schaefer and Mr. Partan.

Mr. Partan's here today, as well.

-Alright.

Jacen, tell people about yourself.

-Hi.

I'm a junior at Montgomery Blair, and I'd like to just thank the rest of the Blair "It's Academic" and Quiz Bowl team.

-Alright, guys.

Here's that first question.

Hidden in this impressive phrase is the name of what largest island in French Polynesia?

Its capital is Papeete.

-Tahiti?

-Tahiti is right.

Someone who is very impulsive and unpredictable can best be described by which of these adjectives?

-Capricious?

-Yes.

-Nice.

If you were buying some doughnuts, which of these prices would give you the best value?

-15 for a dozen?

-Correct.

Which of these fields was important in Greek mythology as the happy world where heroes dwelled after death?

-Elysian Fields.

-Yes.

This warning comes from what Southeast Asian country, whose major cities include Yangon and Mandalay?

-Yangon is Myanmar.

-Yeah.

Myanmar?

-You are right.

Well done, Montgomery Blair.

220 points.

[ Applause ] Now the team from Sandy Spring Friends in Sandy Spring, Maryland.

Rachel, good to see you again.

-Good to see you, too.

I'm Rachel, and I'm an 18-year-old senior at Sandy Spring Friends School.

And I would like to thank our amazing team that we practice with, especially our alternates, Diego and Cameron.

-Alrighty.

Hiya, Clara.

-Hi.

Good to be back.

My name is Clara.

I'm a 17-year-old senior at Sandy Spring.

And I would like to thank our amazing Sandy Spring community for helping us get where we are, especially our fantastic coach, Eduardo Polon, and our past captains, Sophia and Moira, and especially most of all my amazing teammates, Calvin and Rachel.

-Speaking of, hi, Calvin.

-Hi.

-My name is Calvin.

I am an 18-year-old senior at Sandy Spring.

And I just want to thank you, Hillary, and everyone here at "It's Academic" for making this all possible for us today.

-Couldn't do it without you.

Here's the first question.

Study this flowery phrase and see if you can find the hidden name of what African country whose capital is Niamey?

-Niger?

-Yes.

If you were preparing to allocate your money, you would be getting ready to do which of these?

-Apportion it?

-Correct again.

If you were buying some ice cream, which of these would be the best value?

-$6 a gallon?

-Yes.

Take your time and tell us which of these terms refers to one-trillionth of a billionth of a second.

-Zeptosecond?

-Yeah.

You got it.

This proverb is linked to several African countries, including what nation where Maputo is capital?

-Mozambique.

Mozambique?

-You are right.

Nicely done, Sandy Spring Friends.

240 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] And now team three, from McLean, Virginia, McLean High School.

Carter, tell us what you've been up to.

-Hi.

I'm Carter.

I'm a 17-year-old junior, and I'd like to thank Andrew, our alternate, for coming today.

-Alright.

Yay, Andrew.

-Hi, Noah.

-Hello.

I'm Noah.

I'm an 18-year-old senior, and I'd like to thank all of our parents for coming here and supporting us.

-Wonderful.

And Ethan.

-Hi.

I'm Ethan.

I'm an 18-year-old senior at McLean.

And I'd like to thank Dr. Reilly, our principal, as well as our coaches, Mr. Brocketti and Ms. Benedict, for coming.

-Okay.

here we go.

You can build up your score by finding in this phrase the name of what small Baltic country whose capital is Riga?

-Latvia.

-Yeah.

Since fame often proves to be ephemeral, you could refer to fame by which of these three adjectives?

-Fleeting.

-Yes.

If you were going on vacation and wanted to rent a car, which of these prices would give you the best value?

-$300.

-Okay.

$300 a week?

-Yep.

Although Dutch is the official language in Aruba, which of these is the local dialect widely spoken on that Caribbean island?

-Papiamento.

-Yeah.

This proverb comes from what Central African country where Yaoundé is capital?

-Cameroon.

-Cameroon is right.

Nice job, McLean.

200 points.

And that is the end of Mix and Match.

Picture Perfect is coming up next.

[ 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... ♪♪ [ Applause ] -Time for the Picture Perfect round.

But first, let's meet the coaches and administrators that get these students ready for competition.

We start with Montgomery Blair.

-Henry, who are the people behind you?

-This is my coach -- our coach, Mr. Rada.

He's a freshman English teacher in the Communication Art program at Montgomery Blair.

And this is our proud principal, Mrs. Renay Johnson.

-Really good to see you guys, as always.

Thank you for being here.

You know, we see these coaches all year long and administrators, so we get to know them, and it's good to see them always.

At Sandy Spring Friends, who's with you, Clara?

-Well, first of all, we've got Oscar, our mascot.

But more importantly, behind me, we have our coach, Eduardo Polon.

He also serves as a Spanish teacher and the the chair of our Global Languages department.

And we're just super grateful for all the time and effort he's put into our school and our program, and he's just done so much for us.

So thank you, Eduardo.

-[ Laughs ] Beautiful to see you again, of course.

And from McLean High School, Noah, who's with you?

-Here with us today is our principal, Dr. Reilly, and our coaches, Mr. Brocketti and Mrs. Benedict.

-Awesome to see you guys again.

Thanks so much for being here, supporting your teams, all of them fabulous, by the way.

[ Applause ] Yay!

Now we're going to jump into this Picture Perfect round.

In the Picture Perfect round, questions are worth 20 points up or down.

First team to buzz in gets to answer.

Here we go.

Daniel Webster was an alumnus of -- [ Chuckles ] McLean.

-Dartmouth.

-Dartmouth is correct.

This observation came from what 20th-Century French oceanographer, the co-developer of the aqualung?

Sandy Spring.

Answer?

-Cartier?

-No.

Jacques Cousteau.

This is the flag of what small -- McLean.

-Kuwait.

-Kuwait is right.

Given the function F -- Blair.

-Zero.

-Zero.

-Zero.

-Zero.

Yes.

You can enjoy this scenery if you visit Zion National Park located -- -Sandy Spring.

-Utah?

-Yeah.

Which of these terms describes the force on a body multiplied -- Blair.

-Work.

-Work.

-Work?

-No.

It's impulse.

Mount Rushmore looked like this before what -- Sandy Spring.

-Borglum?

-Borglum is right.

And that is the end of the round.

Let's recap these scores.

[ Applause ] It's time for the Packet Round.

This is half-time.

You know how this works.

Montgomery Blair is going to answer questions first.

Sandy Spring Friends, you get to choose whether they answer questions from packet number 1, 2, or 3.

-Number 2?

We'll send them 2.

-2.

Alright, Blair.

Here are your Packet Round questions.

In a symphony orchestra, what is the only standard percussion instrument whose name begins with the letter "X"?

-Xylophone.

-Xylophone.

-Xylophone.

A 16th-century mathematician named Robert Recorde invented what mathematical symbol, a pair of short, horizontal parallel lines, meaning "the same as"?

-Equal sign?

-Equal sign.

-Yeah.

In 1886, a team of physicists created the first atom of antimatter in what small alpine country where Zurich is the largest city?

-Switzerland.

-Switzerland.

-Switzerland is correct.

Here is your science question.

Which of these terms refers to an exceptionally bright meteor?

-Bolide.

-Bolide.

-Yes.

Have you ever seen one?

Very cool.

Back in colonial times, what was the -ism that required tradesmen to ship goods only to the mother country?

-Mercantilism.

-Yeah.

Faction -- a mixture of history and fiction is the way Alex Haley described what 1977 book in which he traced his family history back to Africa?

-Haley?

I have no idea.

-Homo sapiens.

-"Roots."

His famous book, "Roots."

Here's your math question.

Evaluate this expression.

-144?

-You are right.

And now your guest questioner David M. Rubenstein, philanthropist.

-"The best way not to feel hopeless is to get up and do something."

These are the words of what American who did quite a lot as our 44th president.

-The 44th president is Obama.

-Yes, it was, Montgomery Blair.

360 points.

-Nice job, guys.

[ Applause ] And now Sandy Spring Friends, you get to play.

McLean will they be answering questions from 1 or 3?

-Three.

-Three.

Alright.

And we're off.

The Greek god Eros didn't play tennis, but he was the God of what emotion that, in tennis, indicates a score of zero.

-Love?

-Yeah.

What letter of the alphabet identifies the German submarines used in both world wars?

-U?

-Yes.

When their respective football teams clash, Navy's goat mascot might square off against what stubborn animal symbolizing the Army?

-Donkey?

-Donkey, mule... Mule?

-Yes.

Here's your science question.

Which of these terms refers to a very large volcanic crater formed by the collapse of a volcanic cone?

-It's caldera.

-Caldera?

-Yeah.

A wooden spoon attached to the front of their caps was part of the uniform of what elite J-initialed troops of the Ottoman Empire?

-Janissaries?

-Janissaries it is.

What 20th-century African-American author, who became a preacher at the age of 14, turned spirituals for such book titles as "Go Tell It On the Mountain," and "The Fire Next Time"?

-Thomas Mann?

Uh, Mann?

-Nope.

James Baldwin.

Here's your math question.

Please complete the square.

-25?

-25 it is.

And now here once again is David M. Rubenstein.

-The last president to keep a cow at the White House was what 27th chief executive who later became a Supreme Court chief justice?

-Taft?

-Taft.

He kept a cow at the White House.

[ Laughs ] I love that.

McLean, you're up with packet number one.

Ireland, with its beautiful green meadows, has been nicknamed for what precious green jewel?

-Emerald.

-Yeah.

For centuries, rulers in Korea sat on a throne named for what mythical bird that dies and then arises from its own ashes.

-Phoenix.

-Phoenix, yes.

According to some studies, the U.S. location most likely to be hit by a hurricane is Cape Hatteras in what East Coast state?

-North Carolina?

-Yep, it's North Carolina.

Here's your science question.

Which of these terms refers to the process where dust and gas particles accumulate to eventually form stars and planets?

-Accretion?

-Yep.

In 1493, Pope Alexander VI drew what line, separating Spanish and Portuguese claims in the New World?

-What line?

-Treaty of Tordesillas.

-Line of demarcation.

A World War I story called "Birds on the Western Front" was the last thing ever written by H.H.

Munro, who was better known by what Asian-sounding pen name?

-Saki.

-Yeah.

Here's your math question.

Simplify this expression taking positive roots.

-A squared.

-Yes, he said quickly.

And here is David M. Rubenstein with your guest questioner.

-What 42nd president briefly considered becoming a professional saxophone player before going into politics?

-Clinton.

-It was Bill Clinton.

Fabulous job, McClean.

Let's give everybody a round of applause.

[ Applause ] We have got to Grab Bag round next, but first, here is something very interesting to think about.

♪♪ -Hello.

I'm David Rubenstein.

Did you know that the term "Get fired" comes from the medieval practice of burning down the homes of unpopular neighbors?

In another explanation, it comes from the practice of John Patterson, the head of the National Cash Register Company, who got rid of employees by setting fire to their desks.

Either way, it was bad news.

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

♪♪ [ Applause ] -It's time for the Grab Bag round.

But before we dive into what undoubtedly is going to be a very exciting round, let's recap the scores.

Yay, teams.

[ Applause ] It's obviously a very close game, which means anything can happen.

In this Grab Bag round, teams, questions are worth 20 points up or down, and, of course, you'll have several visual questions.

And we're off.

Several years ago, students at the University of Michigan created a 1,500-pound version of -- [ Buzzer ] Sandy Spring.

Answer.

-Wolverine.

-No.

Rubik's Cube.

El Greco painted only one true landscape -- McLean.

-"Toledo."

-Yeah.

The Servicemen's Readjustment Act was the official name of the 19-- McLean.

-G.I.

Bill.

-G.I.

Bill.

Very good.

On your screens for 30 points.

Yes, Blair.

-Hudson River Valley School?

-Very good.

It is a Thomas Cole painting -- nice -- but the answer we're going for is "Oxbow."

It's now believed that a fall from a tree 3.2 million years ago killed what famous female -- Blair.

-Famous female?

-Answer in three, two -- -Sappho?

-Lucy.

What famous female hominid, discovered in 1974.

If a chemist takes 10 gallons of 50% alcohol by volume and adds 10 gallons of pure alcohol -- Blair?

-75.

-75?

-Yeah.

A Wisconsin town is named for what mythical horn of plenty that overflows with food?

Blair?

-Cornucopia?

-Yes.

On your screens for 20 points.

This observation comes from what American author of "The Secret Life --" McLean.

Answer.

-Thurber.

Thurber.

-Yeah, Thurber.

James Thurber.

"Secret Life of Walter Mitty."

Had you been in Vienna in 1791, you might have heard the first performance of the Mozart opera, whose title refers to what magic musical -- McLean?

-Flute.

-Yeah.

Choice.

When dissolved in water, do nonmetallic oxides generally form acids, bases, or anhydrides?

Sandy Spring.

Answer in 3, 2, 1.

-Bases?

-No, acids.

In 1917, Herbert Swope became the first newspaperman to win what coveted journalism -- Sandy Springs -Pulitzer Prize?

-Yes, it is.

Here on your screens for 20 points.

Millions of animals roam what massive -- Montgomery Blair.

-Serengeti.

-Serengeti?

-Serengeti is right.

"One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" -- Sandy Spring.

-Dostoyevsky?

-No.

Solzhenitsyn.

Mary Eugenia Jenkins was the maiden name of what Maryland woman hanged in 1865?

Sandy Spring?

Answer in -- -Williams?

-No.

Mary Surratt.

How many kilograms are there in 5,000,000 grams?

Sandy Spring.

Answer in 3, 2, 1.

-500?

-No, 5,000.

After serving in the French army during the Franco-Prussian War, what sculptor created statues with -- Sandy Spring.

-Rodin?

-Yeah, you got that one.

The Royal Dynasty presiding in the Netherlands for the past 400 -- Yes, Blair.

-The House of Orange?

Yes.

Choice.

The cause of both tuberculosis and anthrax was discovered by what German bacteria -- McLean.

Answer.

-Koch.

-Yes, you've got it.

What author of "On the Come Up" joined five other writers to create the book "Blackout" about -- And that is the end of the game.

-Yes!

We did it!

-Yeah, guys!

[ Applause ] We'll be back with the scores in just a minute.

But first, let's hear from one of our students about how to get involved in your community and what it gives back to you.

-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 Sydney Silva.

I go to Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, and I volunteer at a memory care where we talk and play games with people in the memory unit.

So this is a really meaningful experience to me because we get to hear from people and what they've learned throughout their life that's really stuck with them.

One piece of advice that's meant a lot to me is, "When you wake up in the morning, if you can't find something to laugh about, then go back to bed."

And I think hearing all these experiences from people who had a really different lifestyle than you is really beneficial.

And I think that you really make their day by going and hanging out with them.

So it's definitely an experience that I would recommend.

-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 ] -And some extra applause for these extraordinary students.

And we have been so honored to have each and every one of you participate on "It's Academic" this year.

Thank you so much for that.

[ Applause ] And now I want to introduce the alternates standing behind the teams.

Let's give a round of applause to the alternates.

Whoo!

[ Cheers and applause ] Lots of applause today, but that's a very good thing.

Now let's do these scores.

From Sandy Spring, Maryland, Sandy Spring Friends, Rachel, Clara, Calvin, 340 points and $2,500 for their school.

Way to go, guys.

[ Cheers and applause ] From Silver Spring, Maryland, Montgomery Blair, William, Henry, Jacen -- 400 points, a lovely runner-up trophy, and $2,500 for your school.

[ Applause ] Now to our champions, McLean High School from McLean, Virginia.

Carter, Noah, Ethan, great job today.

$5,000 for your school and this lovely trophy.

Knocked it out of the park.

Congratulations.

[ Applause ] These are our incredible teams, and you're our pretty incredible viewers.

Really happy you could join us today and match wits with these impressive students all season long.

We will see you next September.

-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.

-Alright, everybody, thanks again for joining us.

Have a great summer.

I'm Hillary Howard.

See you next year!

Bye!

[ Applause ] Congratulations.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪