-Students from McLean, Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Blake meet today on "It's Academic".

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

-Hello, everybody.

I'm Hillary Howard.

Welcome to "It's Academic", 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 glad you're with us today.

This is a very competitive semifinal match, and these teams are so good.

We're going to jump right in with the Fast Start.

All questions are worth ten points up or down.

The first team to buzz in gets to answer.

For our viewers at home, the students do not see what you do on your screens.

Okay.

"Please Don't Cry".

You'll be all smiles if you answer these questions that all relate to tears and crying.

Please identify the following.

Insincere tears are associated with this alligator -- Jefferson.

-Crocodile.

-Yeah.

-Blake.

-Kenya.

-Kenya is the answer.

This mythical queen of Thebes wept inconsolably when her -- McLean.

-Cassiopeia.

-No, Niobe.

Blake.

Answer?

Three, two, one.

Lacrimal glands.

-Dickens.

-Dickens is Right.

The book "Cry, the Beloved Country" is set in this country -- -South Africa.

-Yeah.

This present day state was the terminus of the Trail of Tears -- Jefferson.

-Oklahoma.

-Oklahoma is correct.

A popular satirical news website is named for this tear-inducing -- Blake.

-"The Onion".

-"The Onion" is right.

And that is our Fast Start match.

So let's recap these scores.

McLean -- 110 points.

Jefferson -- 120 points.

Blake -- 100 points.

[ Applause ] And now we're going to follow the Fast Start with Mix & Match.

Before we actually get into this round where teams will have an opportunity to answer five questions and questions are worth 20 points apiece, we're going to meet the teams, and we begin with McLean High School from McLean, Virginia.

Hello, Ethan.

What should we know about you?

-Hi.

I'm an 18-year-old senior at McLean High School, and I'd like to thank our coaches, Mr. Brocketti and Mrs. Benedict, as well as our principal, Dr. Reilly, for coming.

-Wonderful.

Hiya, Noah.

-Hello, Hillary.

I'm also an 18-year-old senior, and I'd like to thank our alternate, Andrew, for being here.

-Alright.

And finally, Carter.

-Hi, I'm Carter, and I'd like to thank all our parents for coming out to support us today.

-Alright, here we go.

"Most Amphibians Swim".

Study the sentence and you'll find within it the name given to what 1765 British act that infuriated American colonists?

-Stamp.

-Yes.

Penultimate.

Loquacious.

Pugnacious.

Of these three words, which one means next to last?

-Penultimate.

-Yeah.

Please fill in the blanks here with what same word to complete the titles of books by Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Philbrick?

-Heart.

-Yes.

Redundancy.

Mixed Metaphor.

Split Infinitive.

If you described Romulus and Remus as two twins, you would be making which of these grammatical mistakes?

-Redundancy.

-Yeah, you got it again.

"Some baseball is the fate of all of us."

This comment was made by what American poet who scored a hit with poems like "Mending Wall" and "Birches"?

-Frost.

-Robert Frost is correct.

Nicely done, McLean.

210 points.

[ Applause ] And now to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology from Fairfax County.

Hi, Timothy.

Let us know something about yourself.

-Hi, I'm Tim, and I'm a senior from Thomas Jefferson High School.

-Alright.

Hi, Elliot.

-Hi.

I'm Elliot.

I'm very passionate about democracy, and I'd like to encourage us all to vote vigorously, vote hard, and vote to make a difference.

-Alright.

And Andrew.

Hi.

-Hi.

My name is Andrew Shih.

I'm a 17-year-old senior from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, and I'd like to thank our principal, Dr. Ann Bonitatibus, our coach, Miss Fu, our alternate, Brian Lai, and everyone who came here to see all the teams today.

-Alright.

That's great.

Now for your first question.

"A Potomac Rondo".

Hidden in this Washington oriented phrase is the hidden name of what French president?

-Macron.

-Yes.

False.

Coherent.

Forceful.

If someone were using spurious arguments, which of these words would best describe the reasoning?

-False.

-Yes.

What same mathematical term would you add here to get phrases referring to the Rocky Mountain ridge that separates waters flowing east from those flowing west?

-Divide.

-Yeah.

Disputed Territory.

Payment to Indians.

Confederate Ships.

If you were studying the 19th century Alabama claims, you'd be concentrating on which of these issues?

-Confederate ships.

-You're right.

"Who wants to see a play about an unhappy traveling salesman?"

This was the comment of a producer passing up on an offer to stage "Death of a Salesman" by what American playwright?

-Arthur Miller.

Yeah.

Nicely done.

Thomas Jefferson -- 220 points.

[ Applause ] And now for team three from Blake High School in Montgomery County.

Good to see you guys.

Luke, tell us about yourself.

-Hi.

I'm a 14-year-old -- I'm a 15-year-old freshman.

I'd like to wish a bon voyage to our principal, Mr. Bob Sinclair, who got a new job at NPS.

-Well, very good.

Thank you very much for being here.

And tell me about the Bengal in front of you.

-That is Benny.

He's our mascot.

-Benny.

Can I just -- Sometimes I can't hear well.

Well, did you just speak a different language?

-That is Benny the Bengal.

He is our mascot.

-Oh, okay.

So sorry.

Don't mind me.

Nathan, how are you doing?

-Hi.

Good.

I'm a 16-year-old sophomore, and I would like to thank all of our teachers for helping to prepare us for today, especially our social studies teachers, Miss Loveland, Mrs. Rowe, and Mrs. Wagner.

And I'd also like to give a shout out to our alternate, Nikhil Paranjape.

-Beautiful.

Thank you.

And hi, Fred.

-Hi.

I'm a 16-year-old sophomore, and I'd like to thank Mr. David Rubenstein for sponsoring this program.

-Alright, here we go.

"We Grow Higher".

Your point total will grow higher if you find here the name of what American political party that elected William Henry Harrison to the presidency?

-Whig.

-Yeah.

Retroactive.

Harsh.

Full of loopholes.

If Congress passed a series of draconian laws, you could best describe those laws in which of these ways?

-Harsh?

-Yeah.

This train will take you directly to what other word if you fill in the blanks to create a term meaning a stanza of four lines?

-Quatrain.

-Quatrain is correct.

Zhuge Liang.

Hirohito.

Sun Yat-sen.

Which of these men was the ancient Chinese general said to have invented the semi-automatic crossbow, the wheelbarrow, and the dumpling?

-The first one.

-Yes.

Zhuge Liang.

"What kind of person has a favorite eraser?"

I don't know, but our question is what author of "The Lord of the Flies" made this remark?

Answer.

In three... -Golding.

-Yeah.

Golding.

Nicely done, Blake.

210 points.

And that is it for Mix & Match.

Picture Perfect is coming up, so please stay with us.

-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.

[ Applause ] -Time for Picture Perfect.

But before we begin that round, let's meet the coaches.

We begin with McLean High School.

Noah, who's with you?

-Our principal, Dr. Reilly, and our coaches, Mr. Brocketti and Mrs. Benedict.

-Really good to see you guys.

Thanks so much for being here.

Over to Thomas Jefferson.

Who's behind you, Elliot?

-We're joined by Coach Fu, who herself was a contestant a long time ago.

-And what school were you a contestant from?

-Eleanor Roosevelt.

-Eleanor Roosevelt.

Awesome.

Well, as always, it's very good to see you.

And finally from Blake, Nathan, the gentleman behind you.

-This is our coach, Mr. Caulfield.

He used to be an English teacher at our school, and now he frequently substitutes.

-Mr. Caulfield, great to see you.

Thanks so much, all of you, for being here and supporting your students.

[ Applause ] And now before we begin Picture Perfect, we're going to recap the scores.

McLean -- 210 points.

Jefferson -- 220 points.

Blake -- 210 points.

[ Applause ] And now we can begin the Picture Perfect round.

First team that buzzes in gets to answer.

Questions are worth 20 points up or down, so be careful.

And here's your first picture.

Koalas have a boring diet consisting of the leaves -- McLean -Eucalyptus.

-Eucalyptus is right.

Boring.

"Genius is more often found in a cracked pot than a whole one."

This observation was made by what author, whose many books include "Charlotte's Web"?

McLean.

-White.

-Yeah.

Florence Nightingale's clear signature is indicative of her clear goals when she nursed the wounded in -- Blake.

-Crimean War.

-Crimean War is correct.

Simplify this expression -- McLean.

-29.

-29.

Nicely done.

This is what man who memorized British textile technology and brought it to the US in -- Jefferson.

-Slater?

-Slater is correct.

Double bond.

Triple bond.

Quadruple bond.

Since sugar is an aldehyde or ketone -- McLean.

-Double bond?

-Double bond.

-Double bond is correct.

You guys are good.

These trees form part of the landscape of what Central African country where Libreville is -- Blake.

-Gabon.

-Gabon is correct.

And that is it for the Picture Perfect round.

Nicely done.

And now, of course, this is halftime, which means the Packet Round is next.

Questions, as you know, are worth 20 points apiece.

Nothing off for a wrong answer, so don't sweat it.

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

Yes.

Elliot, thanks for joining me.

Now, let's do this.

We start with McLean.

Jefferson, you get to choose which packet it is.

1, 2, or 3.

-1.

-1.

McLean.

To keep Manhattan's Park Avenue attractive, each year, gardeners plant 66,000 bulbs of what flowers, long prized in Holland?

-Tulips.

-Tulips.

-Yes.

South Carolina had seceded from the union several months before the Civil War began with an attack on what Carolina fort?

-Fort Sumter.

-Yep.

You got it again.

The United States Navy is impressive, but in the early 19th century, the impressment of American sailors helped trigger what war?

-War of 1812.

-War of 1812 is right.

Here's your science question.

Killabyte.

Jansky.

Lenticel.

Which of these is a unit of radiation received from outer space and used in radio astronomy?

-Jansky?

-Jansky is right.

The term "typhoon of steel" is sometimes used to refer to the bloody 87 day battle that took place during World War II on what O-initialed Pacific Island?

-Okinawa?

-Correct.

"Armageddon in Retrospect" was a posthumous best seller for what author who did live to see the success of his book, "Slaughterhouse-Five"?

-Vonnegut.

-Vonnegut.

-Vonnegut.

Here's your math question.

Solve for a.

-Negative-2.

A equals negative-2.

-A does equal negative-2.

And here is your guest questioner, former governor and current US Senator Angus King.

-The state of Maine, which I represent, has a land area slightly larger than that of what Middle Eastern country whose capital is Amman?

-Jordan.

-Very well done, McLean.

450 points.

And a 25 point bonus.

Way to go.

[ Applause ] Jefferson.

You're up.

Blake, which packet?

2 or 3?

-Number 2, please.

-Number 2.

-First question.

According to the title, just what is in the chamber of the second book in the "Harry Potter" series?

-Secrets.

-Secrets.

-"Chamber of Secrets".

One art museum that attracts many visitors each year is what Paris Institution where you can see the "Mona Lisa"?

-The Louvre.

-Yeah.

Mission Valley is said to be the first place in California where settlers planted what sort of trees sacred to the Greek goddess Athena?

-Olives?

-Olives.

Yes.

Here's your science question.

Sulfide ion.

Bromide ion.

Nitrate ion.

If a brown ring forms after a ferrous sulfate solution and concentrated sulfuric acid are added to a solution of an unknown salt, the unknown solution contained which of these?

-Bromide ion.

-No.

Nitrate.

Nitrate ion.

The boat in the painting "Washington Crossing the Delaware" was copied from a boat the artist had seen on what German river, home to the mythical Lorelei?

-Lorraine?

-Yeah.

The Russian playwright Chekhov used his wife, Olga, as a model for the character Masha in what drama about the characters Olga, Masha, and Irina?

-"The Three Sisters".

-Yeah, you've got that one.

Here's your math question.

If one factor of this trinomial is X plus 5, what is the other factor?

-X minus 10.

-X minus 10 is right.

Here's your guest questioner, Judy Woodruff, senior correspondent and former anchor of the "PBS NewsHour".

-At PBS, we bring you information from all over the world, ranging alphabetically from Afghanistan to what country, whose capital is Harare?

-Zimbabwe.

-Zimbabwe is right.

Jefferson, great job.

You've got 360 points.

[ Applause ] And now Packet 3 for you guys at Blake.

Scientists on a remote island have found the bones of a prehistoric female hominid so small she has been nicknamed for what J.R.R.

Tolkien creatures?

-Hobbit?

-Yeah.

The Borzoi is a breed of Russian hound bred to hunt what sort of wild animal encountered by Peter in a musical fable by Prokofiev?

-Wolf.

-Yes.

Bacon's Rebellion took place in Virginia, but what other rebellion, also starting with the letter B, sizzled in China from 1898 to 1900?

-Boxer.

-Yes.

Here's your science question.

Albedo.

Aphelion.

Aphasia.

Which of these terms refers to the fraction of the incident light reflected by a planet or moon?

-The first one.

-Yes.

Albedo.

Bernardo O'Higgins and Jose de San Martin were important in the fight to win independence for what South American country with a long Pacific coastline?

-Chile.

-Yeah.

Several modern lawyers have written novels, but what 18th century Scottish attorney made a literary contribution with his biography of Samuel Johnson?

-Boswell?

-Yes.

Here's your math question.

Taking positive roots, evaluate this expression, giving your answer as an integer.

-18.

-18 is right.

Now for your guest questioner, "Washington Post" columnist John Kelly.

-Back in 1771, there was a flourishing weekly newspaper in Zagreb, now the capital of what modern country?

-Croatia?

-Croatia is right.

Blake, nicely done.

390 points, and a 25 point bonus.

Way to do it.

[ Applause ] That's it for the Packet round.

Grab Bag is next.

But first, here's something interesting to consider.

-Hello, I'm David Rubenstein.

Did you know that Genghis Khan supposedly became angry when told that flying carpets were faster than horses?

He had all flying carpets destroyed, except for one, which was buried with him.

Don't believe it?

Well, nobody's seen a flying carpet since the great Khan died.

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

[ Applause ] -Before we get into the Grab Bag, let's recap those scores.

McLean -- 475 points.

Jefferson -- 380 points.

Blake -- 435 points.

[ Applause ] And now, students, it is time for the Grab Bag round, where absolutely anything can happen.

Questions are worth 20 points up or down.

The first team to buzz in gets to answer.

Shall we do this?

Yeah.

Alright.

Here we go.

You might say "Many happy returns" when you give someone a gift of what flat curved throwing weapon developed by -- Jefferson -Boomerang.

-Yeah.

According to legend, it wasn't an elephant, but a lion that never forgot what slave who had removed a thorn from the lion's -- Jefferson.

Answer?

-Aesop.

-No.

Androcles.

Choice.

Electromagnetic wa-- Choice.

-Light.

-Go ahead.

What was that.

-Light.

-No.

Microwaves is the answer we're looking for.

On your screens for 20 points.

This sixth century mosaic -- McLean.

-Theodora?

No.

Justinian.

Parrots are mentioned in the teachings of what ancient religion founded by -- McLean.

-Confucianism.

Confucius.

-Buddhism.

Had they sent out birth announcements in 1587, Mr. and Mrs. Dare would have hailed the birth of -- -Virginia Dare.

-Virginia Dare.

You got that one.

Since 1911, a sculpture of a cow made of butter has been one of the features at the annual state fair in what -- McLean.

-Iowa.

Iowa is right.

On your screens for 20 points.

This artwork was inspired by a scene in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream", in which what king of the fairies -- Jefferson.

-Oberon.

-Oberon is right.

Although the Red Sea parted for Moses, the North Sea was less cooperative when what Scandinavian -- Blake.

Answer.

-Kinnock?

-Yes.

The slogan "March or Die" is associated with what French military force established -- Blake.

-Foreign Legion.

-Yes.

A Nevada mountain range is named for what German explorer and scientist, whose name was also given to a major ocean current off South -- Yes.

Jefferson.

-Humboldt.

-Humboldt it is.

Nice.

On your screen for 20 points.

"Trust in dreams, for in them is the hidden gate to eternity."

These are the words of Kahlil Gibran, the Lebanese -- -"The Prophet".

-"The Prophet" is correct.

Although the speed of sound varies at different altitudes, the speeds are still designated with -- -Yes.

McLean.

-Mach.

-Mach.

Yeah.

An engine named the Whirlwind powered what airplane piloted by Charles Lindbergh -- Blake.

-Spirit of Saint Louis.

-Correct.

Again.

"The Relentless Revolutionary" is the subtitle of a biography of what composer, who broke the rules writing his -- Jefferson.

Answer.

In three, two, one.

-Bach!

-Beethoven.

You got to a B.

And that is the end of the game.

We'll be back in just a minute with the official scores, but first, here's a word from one of our students about the beauty of getting involved in your community.

-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, my name is Sachini Adikari.

I'm a current senior at Montgomery Blair High School, and the most meaningful organization to me is Project DCC.

Project Downcounty Consortium is an organization that works to make sure all students in Montgomery County, Maryland, are represented.

We help students with scholarships, college applications, and ensure that all students have a voice in the county Student Government Association.

I hope all students are able to find an organization that is as meaningful as Project DCC is to me.

-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 ] -The scores are now official.

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

Timothy, Elliot, and Andrew -- 400 points.

[ Applause ] From Silver Spring, Blake High School.

Luke, Nathan, Fred -- 495 points.

[ Applause ] And also with 495 points -- because of a score discrepancy, we had the wrong score -- McLean High School.

Ethan, Noah, and Carter -- 495 points, as I already said.

[ Applause ] That means we've got a tie breaker, folks.

I'm going to read one question.

The first person to buzz in and get it correct is the winner.

Here we go.

McLean and Blake, you can explore 20,000 acres in what Michigan Forest named for the legendary founder of the -- Blake.

Answer.

Three, two, one.

The answer is Hiawatha.

That means McLean, you've got it.

[ Applause ] -This was a fabulous game for all students involved.

We were so happy you could be with us to match your wits with these impressive students.

-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.

-Please be with us next time when McLean will compete with Sandy Spring friends in Montgomery Blair in this year's championship match right here on "It's Academic".

I'm Hillary Howard.

See you then.

Bye, everybody.

Come on down.

Congratulate your students.

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