-Students from McLean, Bullis, and Jackson-Reid meet today on "It's Academic."

♪♪ ♪♪ Hello, everybody.

I'm Hilary Howard.#* Welcome to "It's Academic," the world's longest-running TV quiz show, produced by Altman Productions in association with David 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 are so happy you're with us today as we jump into the Fast Start, where questions are worth 10 points up or down.

First team to buzz in gets to answer.

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

Let's do this, guys.

All answers in this round will begin with the letter Y.

That's "Y" as in "yeah."

-Yale.

-Yale is right.

-Young.

-Young is correct.

-Yeats.

-Yeats.

-Yeats, it is.

-"Yankee Doodle."

-Yeah.

-Yellen?

-Yes.

-Yttrium?

-Correct.

Yes, McLean?

-Yemen.

-Yemen it is.

Bullis, answer?

3, 2, 1...

It is yak.

-Yucatan?

-Yucatan is right.

-Yes, McLean?

-Yaounde?

-Yeah, that is it.

A very fast start for the Fast Start round.

Let's recap those scores.

McLean, 170 points.

Bullis, 110 points, and Jackson-Reid, 100 points.

It's time for the Mix and Match round.

But of course, we like to meet these students first.

And we begin with McLean High School from McLean, Virginia.

Hello, Clara.

What are you up to?

-Um, hi.

My name is Clara.

I'm a 17-year-old senior.

I like writing and I like learning new languages.

-So it is May, and the year is winding down.

If you could do anything this summer, what would it be?

-I would love to go on a Sierra Club backpacking trip.

-Ooh, that sounds really good.

To where?

-Somewhere in the west, probably California, if I had a choice.

-Sounds nice.

Andrew, tell us about yourself.

-Hi, I'm Andrew, I'm a 17-year-old senior at McLean, and recently, I've been playing a lot of jazz piano.

-Lovely.

And if you could go any place this summer, what would it be?

-I would have to go with the north of Italy, in the mountains up there.

-Oh, lovely.

And Carter, how about you?

-Hi, I'm Carter, I'm a 17-year-old senior at McLean, and recently, I've been playing a lot of jazz trumpet.

-Very good.

As you know, because we established this in your first game, big jazz fans in my household.

Where would you like to go this summer, if you could go anywhere?

-Um, I would like to go to Anchorage because my cousin lives there, and I think it would be much nicer to go in the summer.

-Oh, yeah.

Pop over to Denali, right?

-Yeah.

-Catch a couple of grizzlies from afar.

Brown bear in Alaska.

Sorry.

I should say that you guys are the returning champions, so let's do this.

20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

Study this phrase and see if you can find the name of what fibrous tissue that connects muscle and bone.

-Tendon?

-Yeah.

Which of these words describes a question asked by someone who doesn't really expect an answer?

-Rhetorical?

-Yes.

By filling in the blanks, you can name what African country whose capital is Khartoum.

-Sudan.

-Yeah.

These three devices were invented in different centuries.

Please arrange them in chronological order.

-Barometer's probably...

Barometer, telephone, transistor.

-You got it.

-Yes.

When President Franklin Roosevelt made this statement, he was referring to what military operation that began on June 6th, 1944?

-D-Day?

-Yeah, it was D-Day.

Well done, McLean.

270 points.

And now let's meet the team from the Bullis School of Potomac, Maryland.

Hey, Max.

Good to see you again.

-Good to see you again as well.

-Yeah.

What's going on?

-My name is Max.

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

I love to make Neapolitan pizzas.

-Oh.

Very nice.

Favorite Neapolitan pizza?

-Just like, a plain margherita.

-Oh.

Alright, a purist.

-Yeah.

-So where would you like to go this summer, if you could go anywhere?

-Hokkaido, Japan.

-Lovely.

Why?

-I like the hills.

I like the mountains, and I think Japan is a very cool place.

-Everybody that I know who goes there, love loves it.

Hello, Henry.

What you been up to?

-I do soccer or golf, and that's what I've been up to.

I've been learning a lot about international relations, current events.

It's really interesting.

-So if you want to travel this summer, it would probably be something international.

-Yeah, definitely.

Where, I'm not sure really, anywhere where I can experience new things.

-Beautiful.

And hello, Ellie.

-Hi.

-So, tell us about yourself.

-I've just been playing a lot of varsity soccer and hanging out with my friends.

-That's nice.

And this summer, if you could be any place, where would it be?

-I went to Scotland with my family a few years ago.

I'd love to go back.

It was super fun.

-Yeah.

It's beautiful, huh?

Alright, guys, here are your questions.

Hidden in this phrase is the name of what large bodily organ that produces bile and stores glucose.

-Liver.

-Yeah.

That's it.

A person who is genial can best be described by which of these adjectives?

-Friendly or generous?

-I would go...Friendly.

-Friendly.

-Friendly, yeah.

Good choice.

We've given you every other letter in the name of what small Balkans country those capital is Tirana.

-Oh, Albania.

-Yeah, you've got it.

These three individuals made history in different centuries.

Please arrange them in chronological order.

-[ Murmuring ] -Cheops, Tamerlane, and Mussolini.

-Correct.

This observation was made over 2,000 years ago by what Greek philosopher who was a student of Socrates and a teacher of Aristotle?

-Plato.

-Plato it is.

Nicely done, Bullis.

210 points.

-And now on we go to team number three, the green team, Jackson-Reid in Washington, D.C. Hello, Elizabeth.

-Hello.

How are you?

-I'm very well, thanks.

What's up with you?

-Nothing much.

Nothing much.

-Just this show.

Tell us what you're up to.

-Um, I've just been doing theater.

-Lovely.

And if you could go any place this summer, where would it be?

-Oh, well, I have to go with the classic answer, Disney World.

-Really?

Have you been there before?

-Yes.

Five times.

-Ooh.

Favorite ride?

-Oh, I have to go with Splash Mountain.

But I'm very excited to see Tiana's Bayou Adventure when it comes.

-Well, I hope you get back there this summer.

-Thank you.

-Hello, Eddy.

-Hi.

How are you?

-Good.

-I'm Eddy, I'm an 18-year-old senior at Jackson-Reid, and I've been playing a lot of tennis and violin lately, with my team and also with my youth orchestra.

-Alright, the big question.

Where?

-Yeah.

So I'm applying for this program funded by the State Department called #*#* where you go and study a critical language abroad.

So my top choice would be to go to India and study Hindi, but we'll see if that actually happens.

-Fabulous.

Good luck.

I hope it happens.

Hello, Josh, what's going on with you?

-Hi.

I'm doing good.

So currently, I'm interested in, like, computer science, and I'm actively working on a game for a competition this summer.

-Really?

How far along are you?

-We're pretty deep in.

We've got the basic idea down and we're getting started.

-Beautiful.

Now, tell me where you want to go this summer.

-Ironically, this summer, I'm going to the competition for that game in Orlando.

-Oh, nice.

Well, then you can go to Disney World with Elizabeth.

Okay.

Here you go, guys.

Hidden in this choice of cities is what major artery of the human body?

-Aorta.

-Yeah.

A person who is taciturn is not likely to do which of these?

-I think it's oversleep, but... -I mean, yeah.

Let's go with that.

-Oversleep?

-No, talk a lot.

If you fill in the gaps here, you can name what Asian city state located at the tip of the Malay Peninsula?

-Singapore.

-Yeah.

These three conflicts are listed alphabetically.

Please arrange them chronologically.

-It's Punic Wars, War of the Roses, French & Indian War.

Punic Wars, War of the Roses, French & Indian War.

-You got it.

This sunny philosophy of life is attributed to what 13th century Mongol ruler, the grandfather of Kublai Khan?

-Genghis Khan.

-Genghis Khan is right.

Nicely done, Jackson-Reid.

180 points.

That's it for the Mix and Match.

We have the Picture Perfect round 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.

♪♪ -Hey, it's time for the Picture Perfect round.

I think everybody knows how this works by this point.

Questions are worth 20 points up or down.

Obviously, first team to buzz in gets to answer.

Here's the first picture.

Dating from the fifth century BC, this wall carving represents what Greek goddess, the equivalent of the Roman Minerva.

Yes, Jackson-Reid.

-Athena.

-You slammed that thing.

Yeah.

The kind of tide that occurs after the first and third quarters of the lunar month, during which the high tides are lower and the low tides higher than usual, is known as which of these?

Yes, Bullis?

-Differential tide.

-No.

Neap tide.

Playwright Anton Chekhov was the grandson of What kind of slave-like Russian peasants?

Yes, McLean?

-Serf.

-Serf is correct.

Evaluate this trigonometric expression.

Yes, McLane?

-1/2?

-1/2 is it.

This is a view of what Belgian city where the treaty was signed, ending the War of -- McLane?

-Ghent?

-Ghent is right.

Ending the War of 1812.

Food for thought is provided in this comment from what author of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the --" McLane?

-Adams?

Yeah.

This is a portrait of what 18th century Swedish botanist who originated the modern system of classifying plants and animals?

Jackson-Reid?

-Mendel.

-Pardon me?

-Mendel.

-No.

Linnaeus.

This is part of the jawbone of what small, carnivorous fish featured in horror movies.

And Bullis?

-Piranha?

Piranha is right.

That is it for the Picture Perfect round.

So let's recap those scores, huh?

McLean, 350 points.

Bullis, 210 points, and Jackson-Reid, 180 points.

-So these guys are pretty good.

Let's talk about the coaches and administrators who support them to be on "It's Academic."

We begin, of course, with McLean.

Andrew, who's with you?

-So today we have#* Mr. Briquette and Miss Benedict, our coaches.

We have our principal, Dr. Riley, and we have our alternate, Edward Burroughs.

And of course, we have all the parents who have come to support us today.

-Beautiful.

Bullis, tell us who's with you, Henry.

-We have our coach, #*Mr. Hansen.

He teaches AP US history and world history at Bullis.

He makes it a lot of fun to learn in his classes.

And also, just doing "It's Academic" is a lot of fun to do stuff with at practices and everything.

Yeah.

-Alright.

That's great.

We're very happy to have him here.

And Jackson-Reid.

Eddy, tell us who's with you.

-Yeah, with us today, we have our amazing coach, #*Mr. Singer, who teaches math and also AP economics at our school.

We'd like to thank him for everything he's done for us and to get us up to this point today.

-Alright.

And now we can dive into the Packet round.

You guys know how this works.

20 points for correct answers.

Nothing at all for a wrong answer.

If you get every question right, there is a -- -25 point bonus.

-Yeah!

Alright, here we go.

We've got these three lovely packets, 1, 2, and 3.

Bullis, which packet will McLane answer questions from?

-The question from Packet 3.

-Packet 3.

Heavy bones that help them dive deep under water are characteristic of what flightless birds that live in Antarctica?

-Penguins?

-Penguins is right.

"A gauntlet of ice which winter threw down" was a poetic description for what kind of slow-moving river of ice?

-Glacier.

-Yeah.

Pierced ears won't improve your vision, but placing needles in earlobes is a treatment for eye ailments according to what Ancient Chinese practice?

-Acupuncture.

-Acupuncture?

-Yeah.

Here's your science question.

Which of these three terms is used to describe an ion that is negatively charged?

-Anion.

-Yeah.

It was the 1821 victory at the Battle of Carabobo that secured the independence of what South American country whose capital is Caracas?

-Venezuela.

-Venezuela?

-Venezuela it is.

A character named Marlow is the narrator of both "Lord Jim" and "Heart of Darkness" by what Polish-born British writer?

-Conrad.

-You are right.

Here's your math question.

Evaluate this expression, giving your answer as an integer.

-4.

-4 is right.

A book titled "Blue Latitudes" traces the voyages of what 18th century English sea captain who explored the coasts of Australia and New Zealand?

-Cook.

-Cook is right.

It's a great book too, by the way.

And McLean just scored themselves a 25-points bonus.

Way to go, guys.

495 points.

Over to Bullis now.

We are going to see which questions they will answer from which packet, Jackson-Reid?

-I think 2.

-2.

Which one of the seven deadly sins has the same name as that given to a group of lions?

-Pride.

-Pride, yeah, The jet stream is an atmospheric phenomenon, but what warm ocean stream passes through the Straits of Florida and flows northeast across the Atlantic?

-Gulf Stream.

-Gulf Stream is right.

Leonardo da Vinci would be all smiles if he could witness the popularity of La Gioconda, the portrait of a smiling woman known by what other name?

-Mona Lisa.

-Mona Lisa.

Yep.

Here's your science question.

When the diameter of a wire is reduced by half, the resistance will do which of these?

-Double.

-Double.

-No, increase four times.

Data from the Cassini spacecraft indicated that Saturn's moon Titan is dotted with lakes of what liquid whose formula is CH4?

-Uh... -Answer?

-Ether.

-No.

Methane.

Among the literary recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom is what author of To Kill a Mockingbird ?

-Harper Lee.

-Harper Lee.

-Yeah, you got it.

Here's your math question.

Solve this equation for x.

-[ Murmuring ] -Answer?

-5.

-Yeah.

5.

Described as having a voice of thunder, what 19th century Massachusetts senator argued the Dartmouth College case before the Supreme Court?

Answer is... Daniel Webster.

Alrighty, Bullis, 310 points.

And now Packet 1 for Jackson-Reid.

You could walk for over 1,400 miles and still not come to the end of what massive structure built in China over many centuries.

-Great Wall of China.

-Yeah, the Great Wall.

When Mount Vesuvius erupted again in 1944, the US military lost 88 aircraft parked on a nearby airfield named for what town destroyed by Vesuvius, along with Herculaneum, in 79 A.D. -Pompeii.

-Pompeii is right.

One major news event of 1957 concerned President Eisenhower's decision to send federal troops to protect students attempting to integrate Central High School in what Arkansas capital city?

-No.

-No, that's, um... -Little rock?

-Yeah.

Little Rock.

-Yeah.

I'm glad you got there.

It is Little Rock.

Here's your science question.

Which of these compounds will readily conduct an electric current when mixed in water?

-Sodium is highly reactive.

-Sodium hydroxide?

-Answer please.

-Sodium hydroxide.

-Yes.

Newspapers gushed with praise for Edwin Drake when he drilled the first successful oil well in what Middle Atlantic Keystone state?

-Keystone State?

Pennsylvania?

-Answer, please.

3, 2, 1... -Pennsylvania.

-Pennsylvania is right.

A collection titled Barrack-Room Ballads ranks with the best work of what English author who also wrote The Jungle Book.

-Rudyard Kipling.

-That is correct.

Here's your math question.

Solve for x.

-110.

-110 is it.

Iraqi archaeologists are examining ancient ruins in the hope of finding the tomb of what Babylonian king famous as a lawgiver.

-Oh, um.

Oh, shoot.

-3, 2, 1... Hammurabi.

That's it.

Jackson-Reid, 320 points.

Grab Bag round is coming up next, so please, stay where you are.

-Hello, I'm David Rubenstein.

Did you know Italian inventor Marconi passed up an offer of free passage on the Titanic ?

Three years later, he just missed being on the Lusitania .

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

-Now, a question for our audience.

What 20th century millionaire and aviation pioneer filled his plane with ping pong balls so it would float if it crashed in the Pacific?

The answer is Howard Hughes.

Definitely creative thinking.

We don't know if he brought along paddles to get back to shore.

Now back to the game.

♪♪ Grab Bag time.

Questions are worth 20 points up or down.

Here we go.

Her owners had no regrets in 1915 when a horse named Regret became the first filly to win what prestigious race?

McLane?

-Kentucky Derby?

-Yep.

A nuclear waste repository more than 2,000 feet deep began operations in 1991 near what New Mexico caverns that are a national park?

McLane?

-Carlsbad.

Yeah.

1920s saw an African-American cultural renaissance centered around -- -Bullis.

-Harlem.

-Yeah, you've got it.

-On your monitors.

This blue butterfly is named for what legendary Greek king who felt blue when his beautiful wife, Helen was carried off to -- McLane?

-Paris.

-No, Menelaus.

And So It Goes is the title of a biography by what American author who went on to popular acclaim with works like Slaughterhouse -- Bullis?

-Kurt Vonnegut?

-Yeah.

In mathematics, pi radians is equal to how many degrees?

-McLane -180.

-Yeah.

Napoleon commissioned the building of a submarine by what man who would later design the Clermont steamship?

McLean.

-Brunel?

-Nope.

It's Fulton.

On your screens.

With these words, the execution of what man, now regarded as the father of modern chemistry, was ordered by the leaders of the French -- McLane?

-Lavoisier?

-Correct.

During World War II, 29 Native Americans were recruited to develop a code in -- Jackson-Reid.

-Cherokee.

-No, Navajo.

Choice, when an atom of uranium loses three electrons, it becomes an ion with a charge of?

Yes, Jackson-Reid?

-Positive 3.

Yeah, you've got it, Jackson-Reid.

Nice.

And that's the end of the game.

Stick around.

The judges are looking at those scores, and we'll be right back to share them.

-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 Sumed, and I'm a senior at Poolesville High School.

At Poolesville, I help run our math team and specifically our annual Poolesville Math Tournament.

Our Poolesville Math tournament is a competition where students from our math team create math problems and help outreach to middle schools, not just across the county, but across the wider state of Maryland to get students interested in both math and specifically competition math.

As math is a super important subject for me, I hope that through competitions like these, I can help foster an interest in math in younger students.

-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.

-And now a question for you.

The answer is Virgil.

Back then, burial sites were exempt from taxes.

By holding a lavish funeral and burying the fly on his estate, Virgil saved thousands in property taxes.

Don't try this with the IRS.

Back to "It's Academic."

The scores are now official.

We begin with Jackson-Reid High School.

Elizabeth, Eddy, Josh, 320 points.

And from Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland, Max, Henry, Ellie, 350 points.

Coming back for the semifinals, our returning champions here on "It's Academic," McLane High School.

Clara, Andrew, Carter, 575 points.

Nice job, guys.

Don't go away, because we will be back in just a 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.

-That does it for another playoff match here on "It's Academic."

I'm Hillary Howard.

So happy you were with us.

Bye, everybody.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪