-Hillary: From the Casey Studio at WETA, students from Thomas Jefferson... ...Lake Braddock... ...and Fairfax meet today on... "It's Academic"!

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Applause ] Hello, everybody, and welcome to "It's Academic" in its 66th season, which is so amazing in this beautiful new studio here at WETA.

Yay!

[ Applause ] "It's Academic," is produced by Altman Productions and WETA.

-Announcer: 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.

♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -Hello, everybody.

So we begin this show as we always do with a Fast Start.

Questions are worth 10 points up or down.

First team to buzz in gets to answer.

And for those of you guys at home, the students don't see the words you do on your screen.

Here we go.

Cheers for CH -- All answers begin with the letter CH as in "charge."

This Mexican state shares its name with -- Thomas Jefferson?

-Chihuahua.

-Hillary: Chihuahua is right.

TJ?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Charles.

-Hillary: Yeah, yes.

That's it.

The Trail of Tears involved the forced relocation -- -Cherokee.

-Hillary: TJ, yeah.

This mythical whirlpool was located near the monster -- -Lake Braddock.

-Charybdis.

-Hillary: That's it.

This lizard changes color to match its -- -Fairfax?

-Chameleon.

-Hillary: Chameleon's right.

-Lake Braddock?

-Chopin.

-Hillary: Correct.

TJ?

-Chimpanzees.

-Hillary: That's right.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez wrote "Love in the Time of..." -- -TJ?

-Cholera.

-Hillary: Cholera is it.

These squirrel-like rodents carry food in cheek -- -Chipmunks.

-Hillary: Yeah.

That's right.

In chess, this means either the king is threatened or -- -Lake Braddock.

-Check.

-Hillary: That is right.

Nice job, everybody.

Let's take a look at these scores.

[ Applause ] Thomas Jefferson, home of the Colonials, 160 points.

Lake Braddock, home of the Bruins, 130.

And Fairfax, home of the Lions, 110 points.

♪♪ [ Applause ] Before we embark on the Mix & Match round, let's meet these teams.

We begin with Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology.

Hi, Matthew.

-Hi.

I'm Matthew.

I'm a senior at TJ, and I like to watch baseball.

-Hillary: Alright.

I like to watch baseball, too.

-Hi, Nathan.

-Hi.

I'm Nathan.

I'm also a senior and I've done taekwondo for 12 years.

-Hillary: Okay.

Eshaan, Hello.

-Hello.

I'm Eshaan, and one interesting fact about me is I recently visited Cape Horn.

-Hillary: Wow.

What was that like?

-It was, like, very windy.

-[Laughs] Very windy.

Okay, here we go, guys.

Questions are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

An Emu Learns -- Within this phrase, you should find the name of what equine animal known for its stubbornness?

-Mule.

-Hillary: Yes.

Silly, Illegal, Possible -- If you had a plan that was feasible, that plan could best be described by which of these adjectives?

[ Buzzer chimes ] Oh, just for the Colonials.

-Possible.

-Hillary: Yeah.

That's right.

Used Cars -- Rearrange these letters and you'll name what Medieval religious expeditions in which thousands of people set out to capture Jerusalem?

-Crusades.

-Hillary: That's right.

North Dakota, Wyoming, Iowa -- Four states have capitals named for U.S.

presidents.

But which of these states named its capital for the German leader, Otto von Bismarck?

-North Dakota.

-Hillary: That's correct.

This was the mistaken comment of what American who invented the record player as well as the incandescent light bulb?

-Edison.

-Hillary: Edison is it.

Nice job.

Thomas Jefferson, 240 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Applause ] Over to Lake Braddock from Burke, Virginia.

Hiya, Asher.

-Hi.

My name is Asher.

I'm a senior at Lake Braddock, and last year I walked the last leg of the Camino de Santiago in Spain.

-Hillary: Wow.

Was it tough?

-Yeah.

Pretty tough.

-Hillary: Wow.

Amazing.

Hi, Ben.

-Hi.

My name is Ben.

I'm a senior at Lake Braddock, and I like to play the cello.

-Hillary: Alright.

And, Jacob.

-Hi, I'm Jacob.

I'm a senior from Lake Braddock, and I like to play tennis.

-Hillary: Alright, guys, here we go.

A Subtle Advantage -- You'll have an advantage if you find the hidden name of what heavy metallic element whose symbol is PB.

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Lead.

-Hillary: Yeah.

Set fires, Steal merchandise, Wash his hands -- A person suffering from pyromania has an uncontrollable urge to do which of these things?

-Set fires.

-Hillary: That is it.

Harry Prefers -- We'd prefer you rearrange the letters in this phrase to name what town that was the target of John Brown's 1859 raid.

-Harpers Ferry.

-Hillary: It was Harpers Ferry, yeah.

Cyrus, Ramses, Tiberius -- Which of these men was the 6th century BC Ruler of Persia?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Cyrus.

-Hillary: Yes.

These were the words of what scientist who refined his theory of relativity into the focus of E equals mc squared.

-Albert Einstein.

-Hillary: That is right.

Lake Braddock, 230 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Applause ] Now to Fairfax High School, home of the Lions.

Lila, hello.

-Hi.

I'm Lila.

I'm a sophomore, and one fun fact about me is that I'm a coxswain on the crew team.

-Hillary: Oh, fabulous.

Nice.

-Hi, Sauren.

-Hi.

I'm Sauren Kwatra.

I'm a sophomore at Fairfax, and currently I'm working on my Eagle rank in Scouts.

-Hillary: Nice.

And Adam.

-Hi, I'm Adam, I'm a senior and I like fishing.

-Hillary: Oh.

What do you like to catch?

-I like catching bass.

-[ Chuckles ] Okay, here we go, guys.

Make Basin Airtight -- Study this phrase and you can find the name of what mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Answer?

-Go ahead and say it.

-Sinai.

-Hillary: Yeah.

That's right.

The Sinai.

Passively, Surreptitiously, Vehemently -- If you are doing something in a sneaky, secret manner, you are acting in which of these ways?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Two.

-Hillary: Two is right, surreptitiously.

Nine Toad Units -- Rearrange the letters in this phrase to identify what international peace organization based in New York and headed by Secretary General.

-United Nations.

-Hillary: That is right.

Mexico City, Mumbai, Minsk -- Which one of these three cities is located near the volcano Popocatépetl?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Mexico City.

-Hillary: That's right.

Saint Matthew advises men to be both "wise as serpents" and harmless as what birds of peace?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Doves.

-Hillary: Doves it is.

Nice job, Fairfax.

210 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Applause ] That does it for Mix & Match.

Picture Perfect coming at you next.

In 1961, nine high school students walked into a TV studio in Washington, D.C.

to film the very first episode of "It's Academic."

-Good evening, and welcome to "It's Academic."

The weekly program... -Hillary: Little did they know that over the course of the next six decades, thousands of high school students would follow them onto the set and into broadcast history.

-Susan: 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.

-Hillary: Today, "It's Academic," and is the world's longest-running TV quiz show.

Thank you students, schools, viewers, and fans.

And remember... "It's Academic"!

♪♪ [ Applause ] Hi, it is time to look at pictures.

It's the Picture Perfect round where questions are worth 20 points up or down.

The first person to buzz in gets to answer, guys.

Seen here departing from Venice is what medieval adventurer who spent many -- Thomas Jefferson?

-Marco Polo.

-Hillary: That's right.

"This we'll defend."

This is the official motto of which branch of the armed forces that has the greatest number of active duty -- TJ?

-Army.

-Hillary: Yeah.

This map was used by Sir Walter Raleigh when he sent settlers to North Carolina to develop the -- TJ?

-Roanoke.

-Hillary: Roanoke Island.

Very good.

Find the value -- TJ?

-Zero.

-Hillary: Zero.

Yeah.

This Rousseau painting, first shown in 1894, has what title, referring to the type of conflict General Sherman defined as hell?

TJ?

-War.

-Yes, it is.

Here we see what kind of leaves that are said to have provided clothing for Adam and Eve?

Yeah, Fairfax?

-Fig.

-Hillary: Answer?

Yeah.

That's right.

Louis Pasteur not only found a rabies vaccine, but also a vaccine to protect sheep and cattle from what other usually fatal disease?

Yep, TJ?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Cowpox.

-Hillary: No, it was anthrax.

An old legend that snakes wore eyeglasses may have been inspired by markings on the Indian variety of what -- Fairfax?

-Cobra.

-Cobra, it is.

Nice job!

That does it for Picture Perfect.

Let's recap those scores.

[ Applause ] Thomas Jefferson, 340.

Lake Braddock, 230.

Fairfax, 250.

♪♪ So, you know these students really get a lot of help from their teachers and administrators who help prepare them for "It's Academics."

So let's meet them.

We begin with Thomas Jefferson in Fairfax County.

Who is with you, Nathan?

-This is Ms.

Conte, our Director of Student Activities, and our coach, Mrs.

Fu.

And I'd also like to thank all the parents and family members that came out to support us today.

-Hillary: Yeah, we would, too.

Thank you.

It's great to see you.

[ Applause ] Now, Lake Braddock High School, also from Fairfax County.

Ben, you've got a whole crew back there.

-Yeah, we have our Director of After School Activities, Ms.

Pritchett.

We have our alternate player, Leah.

Uh, we have our coach, Mr.

Holtzman, and we have our principal, Ms.

Kearns, and I'd also like to thank all our wonderful parents in the audience.

-Hillary: Beautiful.

Great to have you guys, too.

[ Applause ] And all three schools are from Fairfax County today.

From Fairfax High School.

Sauren, who's with you?

-So right here we have Dr.

Aye, our Principal.

Behind me is Mr.

Agrawal, one of our coaches.

And we have Ms.

Loomis, our other coach.

We'd also like to thank Director of Student Activities, Ms.

Melnick, for being with us here today and all of our wonderful parents as well.

-Hillary: Wonderful.

Yeah, nobody could do it unless all of you were a part of it.

Thank you so much.

[ Applause ] ♪♪ And now we get to dive into the Packet round, everybody.

You know how it works.

TJ, You answer questions first.

Lake Braddock, you get to choose which packet they answer questions from.

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Packet 1.

-Hillary: Packet 1.

-I know sometimes it seems like such a tough question.

Like, I don't know.

Which one should I pick?

Okay, TJ.

And if you get all of the questions right, there is a... -25-point bonus.

-Yes!

Here we go.

According to one survey, the most common phobia is a fear of what type of arachnid that frightened Miss Muffet?

-Spiders.

-Hillary: Yeah.

There are several online sites that will teach you how to read what pictorial language used in ancient Egypt?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Hieroglyphics.

-Hillary: That's right.

According to scientists, the Caspian isn't a sea, but what type of body of water, such as our Pontchartrain and Champlain?

-Lake.

-Hillary: Yeah.

Here's your science question.

Reflects light, Refracts light, Absorbs light -- The sun may be seen at dawn when it's below the horizon because the atmosphere does which of these?

-Refracts light.

-Hillary: Correct.

Love affairs don't usually end as badly as Aeneas' desertion of Dido, which supposedly led to the Punic Wars between Rome and what African city-state?

-Nathan: Carthage.

-Carthage is it.

In a story called "The Paladin," the hero is a secret agent sharing what two-word name with the little boy who's the only human in Winnie the Pooh?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Christopher Robin.

-Hillary: That's it.

Here's your math question.

Find a solution for X.

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Nathan: Three.

-Hillary: Yeah.

The 1803 Supreme Court ruling establishing judicial review resulted from a lawsuit brought against Secretary of State Madison by what plaintiff?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Marbury.

-Yeah.

Nicely done.

25-point bonus for Thomas Jefferson.

[ Applause ] Nice job.

Okay, Lake Braddock, your turn.

Fairfax packet 2 or 3?

[ Indistinct whispering ] [ Laughter ] -Yeah?

-3.

-Hillary: 3!

Oh.

Very good.

Okay, guys.

Specially chosen for you.

Although world leaders sometimes meet in stormy sessions, four American presidents meet peacefully and perpetually on what South Dakota mountain?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Mount Rushmore.

-Hillary: Yeah.

In 1943, German battlecruisers were sent to Norway in an operation code named for what Chief Roman goddess?

The equivalent of the Greek Hera.

[ Indistinct whispering ] Answer?

-It is...?

-Hestia.

-Hillary: Nah, Juno.

In writing for StarDate magazine, Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson chose as his pen name The name of what magician at King Arthur's court?

[ Indistinct whispering ] Answer?

-Merlin.

-Hillary: Yeah.

That's right.

Here's your science question.

Eustachian Tube, Allotropic Line, Peristaltic Track -- Which of these refers to the narrow structure connecting the middle ear with the nasopharynx?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Eustachian tube.

-Hillary: That's it.

-A mural showing the resurrection of the corn god was the tasty creation of what pre-Aztec Indians from the Yucatan Peninsula?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Mayans.

-Hillary: Mayans is right.

What Mark Twain title character talked so convincingly that his friends begged to be allowed to help him whitewash his aunt's fence?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Tom Sawyer.

-Hillary: Tom Sawyer is right.

Here is your math question.

What is a 4% sales tax on a purchase of $150?

-$6.

-Hillary: You got it.

In 1759, it was plain that the British would take Quebec after they beat the French on what Canadian plains with a biblical name?

Want to guess?

[ Indistinct whispering ] The answer is Abraham.

The plains of Abraham.

Nice, Lake Braddock, 350 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Applause ] And now, finally, packet number 2 for Fairfax.

Guys, Poet John Donne asked his readers to go and catch what falling celestial body of which Polaris is an example?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Stars.

-Hillary: Yeah.

It was a simple one.

In designing human space suits with the effects of gravity in mind, NASA scientists studied the cardiovascular structure in the legs of what tallest mammals?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Giraffe.

-Hillary: That's it.

Faith in young people was demonstrated when Benedict IX was proclaimed pope in 1032 at what age?

Two thirds the minimum voting age for U.S citizens.

[ Indistinct whispering ] -12.

-It's 12.

Here's your science question.

Fluoroscope, Stroboscope, Radiosonde -- A person finding a weather balloon lying in an open field may find which of these instruments attached to it?

[ Indistinct whispering ] [ Indistinct whispering ] Answer?

-Stroboscope.

-Hillary: Nah.

It's radiosonde.

Europe's only wild monkeys can be seen scampering over "the rock."

A nickname for what huge monolith at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea?

Answer is...?

Gibraltar, the Rock of Gibraltar.

Unfortunately, both Mr.

Montague and his beloved Miss Capulet die in what Shakespeare tragedy about young love?

-Romeo and Juliet.

-Hillary: Yes.

Here's your math question.

Evaluate this expression if x = 5.

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Answer?

-18.

-Hillary: That's it.

Many of the world's best runners learned to pick up speed in the high altitude training camps in what African country where Nairobi is the capital?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Sauren: Kenya.

-Hillary: Ah!

Yeah.

Nice.

Fairfax, 370 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Applause ] Packet round is behind us.

The Grab Bag is ahead.

It'll be pretty exciting in just a moment.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ "It's Academic" has been on the air for nearly 70 years.

Over the decades, we've showcased thousands of 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 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.

♪♪ Alright, you guys ready for the Grab Bag?

Alright, let's do it.

You know in this round, questions are worth 20 points up or down.

First team to buzz in gets to answer.

Here we go.

An ability to learn from their mistakes has been discovered in at least one variety of what small aquatic creatures that include the Portuguese man -- TJ?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Jellyfish.

-Jellyfish is right.

That's amazing.

The play Our American Cousin is famous because it was performed at Ford's Theatre the night of -- Thomas Jefferson?

-Lincoln's assassination.

-That's correct.

Veterans day, November 11th, was also the birthday of what American novelist who portrayed the horror of war in "Slaughterhouse-Five"?

Yep, TJ?

Answer?

-Vonnegut.

-Hillary: That's correct.

This is a detail of a 19th century painting titled "Passion Flowers and..." what kind of birds, the smallest -- -Fairfax.

-Hummingbird.

-Hillary: Yeah.

That's right.

During the French and Indian wars, what future state was known as the Eastern District of Massachusetts?

-Fairfax?

-Sauren: Maine.

-Hillary: That's correct.

Choice.

In Newtonian mechanics, which of these is not a vector quantity?

Force, mass, or velocity?

-Lake Braddock?

-Mass.

-Hillary: That's right.

One of the most famous rides in literature describes the frantic flight of what terrified school teacher -- TJ?

[ Indistinct whispering ] Answer?

-3, 2, 1... -Trunchbull.

-Hillary: Ichabod Crane.

On your screens for 20 points.

This comment was made by George Shultz, who served as Secretary of State for what 40th president?

TJ?

-Clinton?

-Hillary: No.

Ronald Reagan.

Although he was born in Italy, Amerigo Vespucci sailed under what other country's flag when he explored the coast of Brazil?

-Yep.

Fairfax?

-Portugal.

-Hillary: Correct.

How long is the diagonal of a rectangle, 15 inches by eight inches?

-TJ?

-17.

-Hillary: Yes.

That's it.

What vast C-initialed underground burial passageways in ancient Rome -- -Yeah.

Lake Braddock?

-Jacob: Catacombs.

-Catacombs it is.

On your screens.

This Vuillard painting is set in what same Spanish city whose barber titles an opera?

-Lake Braddock?

-Jacob: Seville.

-Seville is correct.

It's appropriate that the letters U-S-A are found at the end of the name of what American composer who wrote "The Stars and Stripes" for -- -Braddock?

-Francis Scott Key.

-Hillary: No.

John Philip Sousa.

Afraid that England was being threatened by witches, what First Stuart king tried to warn the public -- -Fairfax.

-James the first.

-Hillary: James the first is right.

In the U.S.

Capitol there is a statue of what frontier hero who led settlers along the wilderness -- -Yes.

Braddock?

-Sacajawea.

-Hillary: No.

Daniel Boone, into Kentucky.

An auction raised more than $414,000 for an IOU note written by what leader of the Green Mountain Boys and the -- TJ?

-Ethan Allen.

-Hillary: Ethan Allen's right.

The first woman governor in the United States shared what same last name with the woman popularly considered to be our first flag maker?

[ Buzzer ] Yeah, TJ?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Ross.

-Hillary: Yep.

Betsy Ross is right.

Nicely done.

And that does it.

That's the end of the game.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] Stay with us.

We're going to share those scores in just a moment.

[ Applause ] ♪♪ Hey, everybody.

I'm Hillary Howard, host of "It's Academic."

And I've got a question for you.

The answer is... WETA+!

That's right.

WETA+ is a free and easy to use streaming service created specifically for DC area viewers like you.

With WETA+ you can watch local shows like "It's Academic" or PBS hits like "Masterpiece," wherever and wherever you want on your TV or on the go.

WETA+ is free and available to download on all major streaming devices and smart TVs.

For more information, go to... ♪♪ [ Applause ] The scores are now official.

We begin with Lake Braddock, home of the Bruins, Asher, Ben, Jacob, 370 points.

Yay!

[ Cheers and applause ] From Fairfax High School, home of the Lilands -- Lilands -- The Lions.

[ Laughter ] Lila, Sauren, and Adam, 450 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] And taking the goods today, it's Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology.

Matthew, Nathan, Eshaan, 605 points.

Way to go, guys.

And... [ Cheers and applause ] And they got that 25-point bonus.

Awesome.

That does it for us.

We are so happy you were here at "It's Academic."

In fact, remember everybody, it is... All: "It's Academic"!

-Hillary: Bye.

See you next time.

-Announcer: 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.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪