-Students from National Cathedral... ...Potomac... ...and Whitman meet today on "It's Academic."

♪♪ 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."

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

From National Cathedral School in Washington, D.C., Nalini, Aurelia, Stephanie, welcome to "It's Academic."

-Hi.

-Hi!

-From Potomac in McLean, Rachel, Alex, Noah, really great to have you guys.

-Hi, Hillary.

-Hi, Hillary.

-And from Whitman High School in Bethesda, Kabir, Annie, Jaden, happy you are here on "It's Academic."

-Hi.

-Hi, Hillary.

-Hi, Hillary.

-Now that we've done the introductions, let's jump in to this opening round, where questions are worth 20 points, nothing off for a wrong answer.

That's the good news.

Team one is National Cathedral.

Nalini, Aurelia, Stephanie, here we go, guys.

"Bet I Deserve."

You'll deserve 20 points if you find hidden in this phrase what ocean phenomenon that is affected by the moon's gravitational pull.

-Tides.

-Tides.

-Tide is right.

Railroads.

The countryside.

Mythical animals.

A painter who specializes in pastoral scenes would most often depict which of these?

-The second one.

-Yeah, second.

-To the second one.

-It's countryside, yes.

"Albiorix."

"Ymir."

Google these words, and you'll learn that they are the names of two moons orbiting what planet sixth from the sun?

-Confer, Jupiter?

No, conferring.

Saturn.

-Saturn's your final answer?

-Saturn.

-And Saturn, it is, yeah.

-Saturn.

-Attila the Hun.

Ramses II.

Mao Zedong.

Democracy was not a meaningful concept to any of these three powerful rulers.

Please arrange them in chronological order.

-I would say Zedong, I think, is the last one.

And then... -I think it goes two, one, three.

-Yeah.

-Answer?

Your answer is?

-Two, one, three.

-Yeah, your answer is correct.

"Architect of Middle Earth."

This is the subtitle of a biography of what English author who wrote about hobbits and lived in Middle Earth?

-Conferring, Tolkien.

-Conferring, Tolkien.

Final answer -- Tolkien.

-Tolkien is right, and National Cathedral School, you've got 200 points.

Now it's time for the team from the Potomac School in McLean, Virginia.

Rachel, Alex, and Noah, here's your first question.

"Fabric Experts."

You can be an expert if you find in this phrase what word that names a Texas university and an important food crop.

-Conferring, the rice.

-Conferring, the rice.

-Yeah, rice.

-Yeah, rice.

-Rice is right.

Complain.

Spend it.

Add to it.

If someone plans to augment his salary, he intends to take which of these actions?

-Conferring.

-Add to it?

Yeah, add to it.

-Add to it is right.

Englishcourtier.gov.

Had the Internet been around in the 16th century, this might have been the website of what Elizabethan courtier and explorer whose name was given to the capital of North Carolina?

-Conferring, Raleigh?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, Raleigh.

-It's Raleigh.

Astroturf, Windows XP, Cadillac car.

These products did not come on the market in this order.

Can you arrange them in correct chronological order?

-Conferring.

Cadillac, Astroturf, Windows?

-Yeah, that sounds right.

-Yep.

-In fact, that is right.

"A sharp spear needs no polish."

This quote comes from H. Rider Haggard's novel about adventurers searching for the legendary mines of what wise biblical king?

-Conferring.

Solomon?

-Yep.

Solomon.

-Solomon is right.

Potomac School, you've got 200 points.

On we go to Team Three, Whitman High School from Bethesda.

Kabir, Annie, Jaden, here is your first question.

"Did I Abet Escape?"

See if you can find within this phrase the name of what serious ailment that can be controlled through the use of insulin.

Answer?

Can you hear me?

-Diabetes.

-Diabetes.

-Yeah.

It's diabetes.

Verbose.

Pugnacious.

Sedate.

A person who is always ready for a fight could best be described by which of these adjectives?

-Conferring.

Pugnacious?

-Pugnacious?

-Yeah, pugnacious.

-Okay.

Final answer -- pugnacious.

-You've got it.

That's right.

Headsup.com.

This might have been the Internet address of what many-headed monster that sprouted two new heads whenever one was cut off?

It was killed by Hercules.

-Conferring.

Hydra?

-Hydra.

-Hydra.

-Okay.

Hydra.

Final answer.

-Yeah.

Apache helicopter.

Predator drone.

Piper Cub.

All of these have played a part in aviation history.

Please arrange them in chronological order according to the dates they first made their appearances.

-Conferring.

Piper Cub... -Three... -...Apache helicopter, and Predator drone.

-...one, two.

-Yep.

-Okay.

Final answer -- Piper Cub, Apache helicopter, Predator drone.

-Correctamundo.

"Heaven for climate.

Hell for society."

This definition of a pleasant afterlife comes from what American writer whose character Huckleberry Finn feared he might go to hell for helping an escaped slave?

-Conferring.

Twain?

Okay.

Twain -- final answer.

-You are right.

And that means you've got 200 points, Whitman.

And that's the end of the opening round.

The Picture Perfect Round is 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.

♪♪ -Now for the Picture Perfect Round.

In this round, questions are worth 20 points up or down.

Ten points off if you pass.

Team one, National Cathedral School, here's the first picture.

This is one of the palaces of what 18th-century Russian empress who was born in Germany?

-Conferring.

Catherine.

-Answer?

-Final answer -- Catherine.

-Yes, it's Catherine.

-What is the value of this binary number in base 10?

-Pass.

-Five it is.

This is what American who built the Clermont, the first commercially successful steamboat?

-Conferring.

Fermont?

-Sure.

-Yeah.

-Final answer -- Fermont.

-No.

Close.

It was Fulton.

Nice job, National Cathedral.

You've got 190 points.

Potomac School, you are up for the Picture Perfect Round.

Here is the first clue.

This famous early 20th-century headline appeared in what year, which also saw the big stock market crash?

-Conferring.

1929?

-Yeah.

-Final answer -- 1929.

-1929 is correct.

What is the product of the roots of this expression?

-Conferring... -Um... -Negative 8?

-I need an answer.

-Yeah.

-In three, two, one.

-Negative eight.

-Negative eight.

Ah, good.

This golden drinking horn was fashioned 2,500 years ago in what ancient country where Darius or Xerxes might have drunk to your health?

-Conferring.

Persia?

-Yeah.

Persian.

-Final answer -- Persia.

-Persia it is.

260 points, Potomac School.

Team Three, you are up for the Picture Perfect Round.

Let's do this, Whitman.

You definitely want to stay away from what small South American fish whose razor-sharp teeth can make the Amazon River a dangerous place to swim?

-Conferring.

Piranha?

-Piranha?

-Piranha.

-Piranha.

-Piranha is right.

Choice -- Is this the equation of a parabola, a hyperbola, or an ellipse?

-Conferring... -I believe it's a hyperbola 'cause it's one over -- one over "X."

-Hyperbola.

Okay.

Yeah.

-Yeah.

-Hyperbola -- final answer.

-Yes.

During the Spanish-American War, these nurses sailed to what same island country where the Rough Riders charged up San Juan Hill?

-Conferring.

Cuba?

-Yeah.

-Final answer -- Cuba.

-You got it, Whitman.

Cuba is the right answer.

And that gives you a score of 260 points.

Picture perfect Round is finished, and the Packet Round is next.

♪♪ -Hello.

I'm David Rubenstein.

Did you know that scientists, while trying to find a cure for baldness, once injected jellyfish genes into mouse-hair follicles?

The mouse did grow hair, but, unfortunately, it was fluorescent green.

It's still got a way to go, said the team leader.

You think?

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

♪♪ -It is halftime here on "It's Academic," which means the Packet Round.

As you know, in this round, correct answers are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

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

Team one, National Cathedral School, you are up.

And before we begin this round, we would like to learn more about you and meet the coaches who worked so hard getting you here on "It's Academic."

Nalini, you are the captain.

Please tell us about yourself.

-I really like to write.

I ring tower bells at the National Cathedral.

And I keep bees.

-So, ooh, you keep bees.

Now you're talking my language.

I've always wanted to do that.

Nice to have you, Nalini.

Aurelia, hello.

What are you up to in and out of school?

-I love sports.

I play soccer, basketball, and I also row for my school.

-You row.

Rowing's cool.

Which sport do you like the best?

Is there one?

-Probably rowing.

Rowing is my main sport.

I do it spring and summer.

-Well, it's really nice to have you, Aurelia.

And finally -- Stephanie.

Hello.

Tell us about yourself.

-Yeah, I'm a junior at National Cathedral School, and I'm so excited to be on "It's Academic" for the first time.

Outside of school, I love to play the violin and dance, as well.

-Awesome.

Well, it's great to have you here on "It's Academic," Stephanie, for the first time.

Okay, Nalini, please introduce us to the folks who are here with you.

We have our coach, the Reverend Eva Cavaleri, who is the senior chaplain at NCS, and Amelia, who is our junior and is our alternate this year.

-Hey, guys.

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

And now that we've made all these introductions, I can ask you some questions in this Packet Round.

Here we go, National Cathedral.

Nalini, Aurelia, Stephanie, first question.

On February 2nd, what small animal traditionally leaves its burrow to predict the weather by seeing or not seeing its shadow?

-Conferring, groundhog.

-Conferring, groundhog.

-Final answer -- groundhog.

-Yes.

A lot of scientific research has gone into the development of what common vegetable, whose failure caused a 19th-century famine in Ireland?

-Conferring, potato.

-Conferring, potato.

-Potato -- final answer.

-Potato is right.

Here's your science question.

Sulfuric acid.

Benzene.

Sodium hydroxide.

Which of these has the highest alkalinity?

-Conferring.

Sodium hydroxide.

-Yeah.

-Is that your answer?

Sodium hydroxide is right.

According to myth, Zeus' thunderbolts were crafted by what group of one-eyed giants whose most famous member was Polyphemus?

-Conferring.

Cyclops?

-Conferring, Cyclops.

-Final answer -- Cyclops.

-Yes.

The Kipling of the Klondike is the way some fans refer to what American author, whose adventurous works include "The Call of the Wild"?

Answer... in three, two, one.

Jack London.

Here's your math question.

What is the next number in this sequence?

-32.

Conferring, 32.

-Yes.

Final answer -- 32.

-Yes, it's 32.

What 18th-century Englishman took time off from his 22 years in Parliament to serve as governor of Georgia, the state he had founded in 1733?

Answer... in three, two, one.

It is James Oglethorpe.

National Cathedral, nice job on that round.

You've got a score of 290 points.

Let's meet Team Two from the Potomac School in McLean, Virginia.

Rachel is the captain there.

Rachel, it's really good to see you again.

What have you been up to?

-I really like running cross-country and track and going on long bike rides.

-Where do you like to ride?

-I really like riding on the Mount Vernon Trail.

-Oh, that's pretty.

Yeah.

I'm right there with you.

Rachel, thanks.

It's good to have you again.

Hello, Alex.

Tell us a little about yourself.

-In my free time, I like to read, play tennis, and cook.

-And cook.

Nice.

What's your favorite dish to cook?

Do you have one?

-Everything.

-Oh, that's nice!

Well, it's good to have you, Alex.

Hello, Noah.

What should we know about you?

-Yeah, so I play the piano.

I run cross-country and track, and I do debate.

-And debate.

Do you want to be an attorney?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, I ask all the debate questions.

And the answer is inevitably yes.

All right, Noah, a great to have you today.

And, Rachel, who's along with you to help cheer you on?

-Today we have our amazing coach, Mr. Tkach.

-Mr. Tkach, great to have you here.

And now, of course, we've done all the introductions, we've learned all about you, we can do the Packet Round.

Here's your first question.

Potomac.

George Washington's favorite horse was named for what Massachusetts town historically linked to Concord?

-Conferring.

Lexington?

-I agree.

-Okay.

Final answer -- Lexington.

-Yep.

That's it.

The modern Greek alphabet has how many letters, two fewer than the English alphabet?

-Conferring.

24?

-Conferring.

24?

-24.

-24.

-24 is right.

Here's your science question.

Oxygen 17.

Carbon monoxide.

Ozone.

The distinct odor, often noticeable after thunderstorms, is due to the presence of which of these, a more active form of oxygen?

-Conferring.

Ozone?

-Conferring.

Ozone.

-Ozone.

-Ozone.

And it smells so sweet.

The Hindu god Vishnu often dwelt on Mount Meru, the Hindu equivalent of what mountain where the Greek God supposedly lived?

-Conferring.

Olympus?

-Yeah.

Olympus.

-Yeah, it's Olympus.

What Russian author fought in the Crimean War, started a school for peasants, and still found time to write "War and Peace"?

-Conferring.

Tolsky?

-Conferring.

Tolstoy.

-Yeah, Tolstoy.

Tolstoy.

-Yeah, Tolstoy.

-Tolstoy it is.

Here's your math question.

Solve for "X."

-Conferring.

20?

-Yeah.

20.

-Yeah.

-20 is right.

Almost a century and a half after we fought the Barbary pirates, American forces returned to Africa to battle what German general nicknamed the Desert Fox?

-Conferring.

Rommel?

-Yeah.

I think it's Rommel.

-Yeah, the answer is Rommel.

Well done, Potomac School.

Now, we did have a problem with the science question graphic.

So to be fair, we're going to ask you a different science question.

Here we go.

The ancient Egyptians claimed their gods had bones made of silver.

Is its symbol AG, AU, or AR?

-Conferring.

AG?

-Conferring.

AG?

-Yeah.

Final answer -- AG.

-The final answer is AG.

You've got a 25-point bonus and a score of 425 points.

Way to go, Potomac School.

All right, let's meet Team Three from Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland.

Hello, Kabir.

Tell us about yourself.

-I'm a senior.

And in addition to Quiz Bowl, I love chess and rowing.

-Beautiful.

Well, it's good to have you here, Kabir.

Annie, tell us about yourself.

-I'm also a senior at Whitman.

And in my free time, I love to read, and I'm an EMT.

-That's beautiful.

Nice to have you, Annie.

And last but not least, hello, Jaden.

Tell us what you like to do in and out of school.

-I'm also a senior at Walt Whitman High school, and outside of school, I enjoy running.

I'm looking forward to the spring track season.

And I also enjoy practicing piano.

-Great to have you, Jaden.

And now that we've done the introductions with you guys, we would like to meet the coaches.

Kabir, who are they?

-So, joining us today is our wonderful coach, Miss Fus.

-Hey, very good to see you, Miss Fus.

Thanks for showing up for your guys.

And now, of course, we can begin the Packet Round.

Whitman, here is your first question.

Archeologists celebrate December 9th as Winckelmann Day to honor the man who first publicized the ruins at what ancient city destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius?

-Conferring.

Pompeii.

-Pompeii.

-Pompeii, yeah.

-Final answer -- Pompeii.

-Yeah, it's Pompeii.

The University of California Press has sold over 100,000 copies of a book that teaches you how to read what pictorial writing used in ancient Egypt?

-Conferring.

Hieroglyphics?

-Hieroglyphics.

-Hieroglyphics, yeah.

-Final answer -- hieroglyphics.

-Yes, it is.

Here's your science question.

Time.

Velocity.

Capacitance.

Which of these quantities is not connected in any way with determining the acceleration of a falling object?

-Concerning.

Capacitance?

-Capacitance.

-Yes.

-Final answer -- capacitance.

-You've got it.

According to Greek mythology, the thread of life was manipulated by three deities known by what collective name?

-Conferring.

-The Fates.

-The Fates?

-Yeah.

-Okay.

Final answer -- the Fates.

-Yes.

Seeing a group of boys get into a fistfight during a classroom debate led William Golding to write what novel about boys who descend into savagery after being stranded on an island?

-Conferring.

"Lord of the Flies"?

-"Lord of the Flies."

-Yes.

"Lord of the Flies."

-Final answer -- "Lord of the Flies."

-Yes, it is.

Here's your math question.

Evaluate this expression, giving your answer as an integer.

-Conferring -- two?

-Two.

Yeah, it's two.

-Two.

-Final answer -- two.

-Yes, it is.

In a series of letters to the King of Spain, what conquistador gave a glowing account over his victory over the Aztecs in Mexico?

-Conferring.

-Cortéz.

-Cortéz.

Yeah, okay.

-Cortéz.

-Final answer -- Cortéz.

-Hernándo Cortéz it is.

Whitman, well done.

You have a 25-point bonus.

Whoo!

And 425 points.

Let's see if lightning strikes next.

We've got the Lightning Round.

We have reached the Lightning Round.

Things are about to get very exciting.

Everyone has 45 seconds to answer up to 10 questions.

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

Team one, National Cathedral, are you ready?

Yes!

Here we go.

All answers are words or names ending in the letter "L." That's "L" as in "level."

In three, two, one.

This is the fourth month of the year.

-April.

-Yes.

This is what the "B" stands for in "NBA."

-Basketball.

-Yes.

The novel "Moby Dick" begins "Call me" this... -Ishmael.

-Yes.

This is the capital of Afghanistan.

-Kabul.

-Yes.

Martin Luther King wrote a famous letter from this Birmingham penal institution.

-Pass.

-Jail.

Bituminous and anthracite are types of this hard black fuel.

-Coal.

-Yes.

This is the two-word name of the first king of Italy.

-Pass.

-Victor Emmanuel.

Taurus is the zodiac sign of this animal.

-Bull.

-Yes.

He was the first African-American on the Supreme Court.

[ Buzzer sounds ] And that's the buzzer.

The answer, of course, Marshall.

National Cathedral, Nalini, Aurelia, and Stephanie, 410 points.

Next up for the Lightning Round -- Potomac School.

Guys, all your answers must end with the letter "Y," as in "yay!"

In three, two, one.

This is the capital city of New York State.

-Albany.

-Yes.

He said, "Give me liberty or give me death."

-Henry.

-Yes.

This English physician first described blood circulation.

-Pass.

-Harvey.

Our solar system is part of this large galaxy.

-Milky Way.

-Yes.

He was our 35th president.

-Um...Kennedy.

-Yes.

This type of camel had just one hump.

-Downdry.

-Dromedary.

Alexander Hamilton was the first secretary of this cabinet department.

-Treasury.

-Yes.

This is the least valuable U.S. coin.

-Penny.

-Yes.

He wrote "Brave New World."

[ Buzzer sounds ] Buzzer!

And, yes, you know the answer is Huxley.

Tell you what, Potomac, you did a great job.

Rachel, Alex, Noah, 525 points.

And now it's time for Team Three from Whitman High School in Bethesda.

Guys, all your answers must end in the letter "L," as in "local."

In three, two, one.

This is what the "F" stands for in the government's "FBI."

-Federal.

-Yes.

We sing about amber waves of grain in this patriotic song.

-"America the Beautiful."

-Yes.

This British primatologist has spent her life studying chimpanzees.

-Goodall.

-Yes.

Kangaroos and koalas belong to this class of mammal.

-Marsupial.

-Yes.

This is the shape of the U.S. President's office.

-Oval.

-Yes.

The 24th Amendment abolished this type of tax.

-Poll.

-Yes.

This bony structure and crossbones once appeared on pirate flags.

-Skull.

-Yes.

The Gambia is almost entirely surrounded by this other African country.

-Senegal.

-Yeah!

-This gem is produced -- [ Buzzer sounds ] And there's the buzzer.

That last question -- This gem is produced by an oyster.

The answer is pearl.

But you did not need it, Whitman.

You've got a score of 585 points.

And that is the game.

The official scores are next.

-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 Sydney Morgenstern.

I'm a senior at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, Maryland, and I've been volunteering with Open Door Sports since its inception, when I was in seventh grade.

ODS is a nonprofit organization that offers free sports programs for kids from low-income households and kids with disabilities so that all can play.

ODS has taught me countless lessons, lifelong skills, and it's given me amazing friendships.

And likewise, it's been amazing to see all the players grow, learn the value in teamwork, and also form amazing bonds.

Volunteer work in general is so rewarding, and I think that everyone should volunteer with ODS and other organizations.

-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.

♪♪ -The scores are now official.

First, congratulations go to National Cathedral School in D.C. Nalini, Aurelia, and Stephanie -- 410 points.

Congratulations to the Potomac School from McLean, Virginia.

Rachel, Alex, and Noah, 525 points.

And coming back for the playoffs, Bethesda's Whitman High School.

Kabir, Annie, and Jaden, 585 points.

Way to go, guys.

Let's hear it for our incredible teams and you, our incredible viewers.

So happy you could join us today and match wits with our very 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 join us next time when Chantilly, Wakefield, and Seneca Valley High Schools compete right here on "It's Academic."

I'm Hillary Howard.

See you then.

Bye, guys.

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