-Students from Oakton High School... ...Holton-Arms... ...and Poolesville meet today on "It' s Academic."

♪♪ Hello, everybody.

I'm Hillary Howard, and 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.

We begin with Oakton High School from Vienna, Virginia.

[Indistinct] Hey, guys.

Good to have you here with us today.

-Hello.

-Hi.

From Holton-Arms School, in Bethesda, Sophia, Caroline, Claire, great to have you on "It's Academic."

-Hi.

-Hi.

-Hello.

-And from Poolesville High School in Poolesville, Maryland.

[Indistinct], Kevin, and Vera, great to have you with us today.

Hi.

-Hello.

-Hey.

Well, now, of course, we're going to begin this opening round.

And in the opening round, questions are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

Oakton, you're up.

Good luck, [Indistinct].

Here's your first question.

"Clean a cat last."

Hidden in this clean phrase is the name of what mythical Titan condemned to hold up the heavens on his shoulders?

-Atlas.

-Yeah, Atlas.

-Yes.

Atlas.

-"Atlas" it is.

"Our national flower, lines of seats."

These phrases should clue you in to a pair of words that are spelled differently, but pronounced in what same way.

Answer, please.

In three...two... -Telephone?

-No.

It's "rose."

"Rose" the flower and "rows" in a stadium.

If you add the right letters here, you will form.

what new word, Identifying the 16th century religious revolution sparked by Martin Luther.

-The Reformation?

-Yes.

-Yeah, Reformation.

-"Hot coffee, hard cash."

These are the names of real towns in what southern state, whose capital city has the more familiar name of Jackson?

-Florida.

[ Indistinct talking ] -Glad you got there.

"It's Mississippi."

"Humanity has won its battle.

Liberty now has a country."

These words about America were written by what French noblemen who had come to our aid during the Revolutionary War?

-Conferring -- Lafayette?

-I believe so.

-Lafayette.

-Yeah.

It's Lafayette.

Nice job, Oakton High School.

180 points.

Holton-Arms, you are up.

Sophia, Caroline, Claire, Here we go.

"The spell is broken."

You can cast your own spell if you find in this sentence the name of what New York island, Once a center for arriving immigrants.

-Conferring -- Ellis?

-Yep.

-Yeah.

-Answer -- Ellis.

-Yes.

"Ball that's not fair.

Chicken or duck?"

These definitions fit what two words that sound alike, but have different spellings.

-Conferring -- foul.

-Foul.

-Answer -- foul.

-"Foul" is correct.

"Blank cross blank falls.'

To identify a British military decoration and a major African waterfall, filling both blanks with the name of what 19th century British queen?

-Conferring -- Victoria?

-Yep.

-Yep.

-Answer -- Victoria.

-It is "Victoria."

"Egg yolk," "fried egg."

Both of these terms are used to refer to a yellow jellyfish found in the Yellow Sea, which borders what Politically divided Asian peninsula.

-Conferring.

-Korean.

-Yeah.

-Korean -Yes.

Yes, Yes.

"Never, for the sake of peace and quiet, deny your convictions."

These were the words of Dog Hammarskjold, an early Secretary General.

of what international peacekeeping organization?

-Conferring.

-The United Nations.

-Answer -- the United Nations -"The United Nations."

is right.

Holton-Arms, nice job.

200 points.

Poolesville, you're up.

[Indistinct], Kevin, Vera, here's your first question.

"An emu learns."

Find within this phrase what four-footed stubborn animal that is the mascot at West Point.

-Conferring -- mule.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-Mule.

-Yes.

"Part of a circle," "Noah's ship."

Here are clues to what two words that sound alike but have different spellings.

-Conferring -- arc?

-Yeah.

-Arc.

-"Arc" it is.

Put some letters around this "put," and you'll name what Russian monk who had extraordinary influence over the last czar and tsarina.

-Conferring -- Rasputin.

-Conferring -- Rasputin.

-Yeah.

-Rasputin.

-Yes.

"Elephant Butte," "Hungry Horse."

These animal-oriented names have been given to what?

man-made structures, such as the Grand Coulee and the Aswan?

-Conferring -- dam.

-Oh, that makes sense.

-Yes.

Yeah.

-Dam.

-Yes, it does make sense, because it is right.

"She makes love work."

This is a quote about what nun who won the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize for her work with the sick and poor of India.

-Conferring -- Mother Teresa.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-Mother Teresa.

-Yeah, "Mother Teresa" is right.

Great job, Poolesville.

200 points.

And that's the opening round.

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.

♪♪ Now it's time to play the Picture Perfect round.

In this round, answers are worth 20 points.

Up or down 10 points if you pass.

Oakton, you're up.

Here's the first picture.

This painting shows George Washington and his troops on their way to what site, where they spent a cold winter in 1777 and '78.

-Conferring -- Valley Forge.

-Valley Forge.

-Yeah.

-Valley Forge.

-"Valley Forge" is right.

"A great teacher, but unfortunately, it kills all its pupils."

Composer Hector Berlioz was referring here to what concept that scientists refer to as the fourth dimension.

-Conferring -- time.

-Time.

-Time.

-"Time."

yes.

This stamp honors President Andrew Johnson, who offered amnesty to Confederates willing to support what Constitutional amendment that abolished slavery.

[ Indistinct talking ] -I'm sorry, answer.

-14.

-Yeah, 14.

-15?

-Yea, 13.

13.

It's the 13th.

-Tell me you answer.

-13.

-13.

-Really glad you got there because it is right.

240 points, Oakton.

Holton-Arms, it's your chance to play, so let's do this, guys.

Here's your first picture.

This Currier and Ives print shows of fishermen cutting through the ice to find what freshwater fish that comes in rainbow and brook varieties?

-Conferring -- trout.

-Trout.

Yep.

-Mm-hmm.

-Answer -- trout.

-It's "trout."

"The town that hatched the Thirty Years War."

An English writer once used this phrase to refer to what city that is now the capital of the Czech Republic.

-Conferring -- Prague.

-Prague.

-Yeah.

-Answer -- Prague.

-"Prague" is correct.

My cousin once gave me a shirt that said, "Prague -- Czech it out."

I thought that was very clever.

Here, you see the gate of what Roman Emperor, whose name is also given to a wall in Britain.

-Conferring.

-Hadrian.

-Answer -- Hadrian.

-"Hadrian" is right.

And Holton, that means you have a score of 260 points.

Next up in the Picture Perfect round, Poolesville High School.

Here's your first picture.

An ostrich cannot only run at 40 miles an hour, but a kick from one of its powerful legs can kill what kind of large, wild feline, known as "the king of the beasts"?

-Conferring -- lion.

-Conferring -- lion.

-Yeah.

-"Lion" it is.

Can you imagine these guys taking down a lion?

"Americans have a lively faith in the perfectibility of man."

This was the observation of Alexis de Tocqueville after visiting the U.S. during the administration of what seventh president?

-Seven is...Van Buren?

Or is it -- No, 'cause it's -- Is it Quincy Adams?

-I need an answer.

-Quince -- John Quincy Adams.

-Yeah, Andrew Jackson.

Civil War general William T. Sherman had what middle name honoring a Native American chief?

-Conferring.

Tecumseh.

-Conferring.

Tecumseh?

-[Both] Yeah.

-Tecumseh.

Directed.

-Yep!

It was Tecumseh.

Well done, Poolesville.

You're at 220 points.

That's it for the Picture Perfect round.

In just a minute, we'll learn more about these amazing students, when we dive into the...

But first, here's something pretty interesting.

-Hello, I'm David Rubenstein.

Did you know that the story of Cinderella and her glass slipper originated in China, where tiny feet have traditionally been considered a sign of beauty?

The Chinese story differs from the Western version in many ways, but love still wins in the end, as it should.

I'm David Rubenstein, reminding you to... -So, we've reached halftime, which, of course, means the... 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, 25-point bonus.

Team 1, you are up.

But before we dive in, we'd like to know more about you.

So, Oakton High School.

Rishi, you're the captain.

We'll start with you.

Tell us about yourself.

-I'm a senior at Oakton.

I've been doing Scholastic Bowl for four years and I've been on the team since my freshman year and trivia is one of my passions.

And I love "Jeopardy!"

and quiz shows like that, so.

-You think you'll be on "Jeopardy!"

next?

-Hopefully.

-[ Laughs ] Alright, well, it's great to have you back here, Rishi.

Naafe, tell us about yourself.

-I'm a senior at Oakton and this is my first year on Scholastic Bowl because I was drafted by Dr. Fernandez after spending quite a lot of time in her room without being a part of her class.

-Uh-huh.

But that was good, right?

Now, you're here.

-Now, I'm here.

-Yeah.

Alright.

Well, great to have you as part of the team, Naafe.

Adrian, what should we know about you?

I am a sophomore at Oakton High School.

This is my second year on the team and I feel that this is a really fun like club to be in and there's a lot of good people here.

-Yeah, well, you're good people and we're glad to have you as a part of this today, so, thanks for being here.

So, now that we've finished the introductions, let's dive into the questions, Oakton.

Iron in their diets forms in orange-colored enamel on the teeth of what large, dam-building rodents who gnaw down trees?

-Conferring.

Beavers?

-Conferring.

Beavers?

-Beavers.

-Yeah.

Beavers.

-Answer -- beavers.

-Yes.

Both the United States and what South American nation have names beginning with the letter "U"?

-[Both] Conferring -- Uruguay?

-Uruguay.

Answer -- Uruguay.

-Correct.

Here's your science question.

Which of these does not carry on photosynthesis?

-[Both] Conferring.

Mushrooms?

-Yeah.

Answer -- mushrooms?

-Yeah!

"Four Wings and a Prayer" is the title of Sue Halpern's book about the monarch variety of what Lepidopteris insect?

-[Both] Conferring.

Butterfly?

-Yeah, butterfly.

-Yeah.

Answer -- butterfly.

-Yeah.

"Alice in Wonderland" is full of magical creatures, including what cat that performs a disappearing act, leaving behind only its smile?

-[Both] Conferring.

The Cheshire Cat?

-[Both] Yeah.

-Answer -- the Cheshire Cat?

-Yeah!

Here's your math question.

Evaluate this expression, giving your answer as a positive integer.

-Conferring.

1?

-[Indistinct] -Yeah, I think so.

-Yeah.

-Answer -- 1.

-Yes.

Henri Christophe created the titles Duke of Marmalade and Duchess of Lemonade when he ruled what French-speaking Caribbean nation whose capital it Port-au-Prince?

-Conferring.

Haiti.

-Conferring.

-I think that's right.

-I think so.

-Yeah.

-Answer -- Haiti?

-The answer is Haiti and, with that answer, [ Siren wailing ] you have gotten a 25-point bonus, Oakton, and a score of 405 points.

Whoo!

Time to meet the team from Holton-Arms School.

Sophia, we're going to start with you, since you're the captain.

Tell us your age, your year, and what we should know about you.

-I'm Sophia.

I'm a 16-year-old junior and, when I'm not practicing for "It's Academic," of course, I'm captaining my school softball team.

-[ Laughs ] Fabulous.

Well, it's great to have you here, Sophia.

Caroline, what should we know about you?

-Hi, I'm Caroline.

I am also a 16-year-old junior and I did rhythmic gymnastics for eight years, but now, I spend my time in the dance studio with my school's dance ensemble.

-Nice.

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

And last, but not least, hello, Claire.

What are you up to?

-Hi, I'm Claire.

I'm a 16-year-old sophomore and one of my favorite hobbies is fencing.

-Oh, nice.

I've always wanted to fence.

I just think that's so cool.

You have to think and be aggressive.

-It's very fun.

You should start.

-[ Laughs ] I might.

I might.

One day, I will.

I'll let you know if I finally embark on that.

And now, we can embark on this Packet Round, shall we?

Here's your first question.

The 17th-century writer Thomas Brown denounced as vainglory what huge geometric structures built as tombs for ancient Egyptian pharaohs?

-Conferring.

Pyramids?

-Yep.

-That's the answer.

-Answer -- pyramids?

-Yeah!

Because of the many microchip-based businesses there, an area of California is popularly called What Valley, referring to the element with the symbol Si?

-Conferring.

Silicon?

-Yep.

-Silicon.

-Silicon it is.

-Answer -- silicon?

-Here is your science question.

Which of these terms refers to tiny, often microscopic, forms of plant and animal life that live in the oceans and are an important food source for many aquatic creatures?

-Conferring.

First choice?

-I think so.

-Mm-hmm.

-Answer -- first choice?

-Plankton is correct.

In July 1943, more than 180,000 Allied troops invaded what largest Italian island and occupied the capital city, Palermo?

-Conferring.

-I think that's Sicily.

-Sicily?

-Yeah, that's right.

-You thought right.

It's Sicily.

-Answer -- Sicily?

-Yeah.

Multiple book titles by Frank Herbert include what word referring to a single hill of sand?

-Conferring.

Dune?

-Yep.

-It's Dune.

-Answer -- Dune?

-Here's your math question.

Evaluate this expression, giving your answer as a positive integer.

-Conferring.

-50?

-50.

-Sure.

Answer -- 50?

-Yes, it is.

When the mythical Phaeton drove the sun's chariot too close to the Earth, he created a desert in what North African country where Tripoli is capital?

-Conferring.

-That's Libya.

-Libya.

-[Indistinct] -Answer -- Libya?

-Yeah.

And you know what that means, Holton-Arms?

[ Siren wailing ] You got a 25-point bonus.

Beautiful!

And a score of 425 points.

Let's meet the team from Poolesville High School.

Hey, Merridy, what are you up to, these days?

-Hi.

I'm Merridy.

I'm 17 and I'm a senior at Poolesville and, in my free time, I'm a volunteer archivist.

-Beautiful!

And where are you an archivist?

-So, it's actually a thing with the Library of Congress where you digitally transcribe documents, so that they can be searched for and accessible when a computer can't read the text.

-That is so cool.

Kevin, tell us your age, your year, and what you like to do.

-Hello, I'm Kevin.

I'm 18.

I'm a senior.

Outside of Quiz Bowl, I'm on our debate and History Bowl teams and, in my free time, I'm working on a fantasy novel.

-Really?!

Do you have a working title?

-Right now, the title is "The Sky Elf."

-Alright.

Well, it's really great to have you.

I look forward to reading it when it's finished, Kevin.

And last, but not least, Vera.

Hello, Vera.

What are you up to?

-Hi, I'm Vera.

I'm 17 and I'm a senior at Poolesville High School.

In my free time, I like researching reptiles.

-You know, my husband makes me change the channel if a snake is on.

Swear.

[ Laughs ] Well, power to ya.

Snakes are fascinating.

Great to have all of you here.

And now, I'm really happy to ask you some questions in this... Merridy, Kevin, Vera, here we go.

According to myth, singing apples that could persuade anyone to do anything were guarded by a three-headed dragon in what largest African desert?

-Conferring.

Sahara?

-[Both] Yeah.

-Must be.

-Sahara.

Directed.

-Yes.

A 23-year-old slave named York accompanied what two men who led the expedition to explore the Louisiana Territory in the early 1800s?

-Conferring.

Lewis and Clark.

-Conferring.

Lewis and Clark?

-Yeah.

-Lewis and Clark -- answer.

-Correct.

Here's your science question.

Which of these terms refers to the lengthening of light wavelengths and is regarded as evidence that the universe is expanding?

-Conferring.

Refractive index?

-Conferring.

-Yeah.

-[Indistinct] I think it's redox reaction.

-What do you think it is?

-Or maybe red shift... -I'm going to go with you, if you think -- -...actually.

-Can you give me one answer, please?

-You know, I guess -- Red shift.

Directed.

-Oh, I'm so glad you said that because it is the right answer.

-[ Laughs ] -If a Frenchman wanted to visit a friend in Barcelona, he'd have to cross what mountain range that separates France and Spain?

-Conferring.

Pyrenees?

-Yes.

-Yeah.

-Pyrenees.

Directed.

-Pyrenees is right.

Not all relatives are kindly and especially not what big relative who is always watching you in George Orwell's novel "1984"?

-[Both] Conferring.

Big Brother.

-Big Brother.

-Yep.

-Big Brother.

Directed.

-Big Brother is right.

Math question.

Solve for y if x equals 3.

-Y equals 10.

Conferring.

-I think it's -10.

-Yeah.

-No, it would be -10.

-Yes.

Yes, you're right.

You're right.

-Oh, no, you're right, it's -- No, no, no, you're right, it's 10.

-No, no.

-No, it's -10, it's -10.

-10.

Directed.

-[ Laughs ] Yes, very good.

It is -10.

[ Laughter ] Here we go.

Transylvania, Count Dracula's traditional home, is now a section of what Eastern European country whose capital is Bucharest?

-Conferring.

Romania.

-Conferring.

Romania?

-Yeah.

-Romania.

Directed.

-Romania is right!

And, you know, I wasn't sure you were going to get there, [ Siren wailing ] but you pulled it out with a 25-point bonus.

Great job, Poolesville.

385 points.

What a round.

Each of these teams winning a 25 point bonus.

It was amazing!

Now, we'll see what they bring to the...

In this round, you've got 45 seconds to answer up to 10 questions.

They're worth 20 points up or down.

No penalty If you pass.

Team 1, you're up!

Oakton, ready to play with lightning?

Here we go, Rishi, Naafe, and Adrian.

All your answers must begin with the letters c-o-r, as in cork.

In 3, 2, 1.

This vegetable is sometimes referred to as maize.

-Corn.

-Yes.

This part of the human eye is frequently transplanted.

-Cornea.

-Yes!

This is the outermost part of the sun's atmosphere.

-Corona.

-Yes!

This island was Napoleon's birthplace.

-Corsica.

-Yes!

And Napoleon himself was known as the little...this.

-Colonel?

-Pass.

-Corporal.

This Ivy League university is located in Ithaca, New York.

-Cornell.

-Yes!

These arteries supply blood to the heart.

-[Both] Coronary?

-Yes.

These tiny sea creatures form tropical reefs.

-Coral.

-Yes!

The Aztecs were defeated by this Spanish conquistador.

-Cortés.

-Yes!

This nickname -- [ Buzzer ] Oh, there's the buzzer, but I'll finish the question.

This nickname is given to residents of Nebraska.

The answer is Cornhuskers.

But, Oakton, you did really well without it.

565 points.

Way to go.

Alright, Team 2, Holton-Arms, you're up for the Lightning Round.

Sophia, Caroline, Claire, here we go.

All your answers must begin with the letters c-o-n, as in con.

In 3, 2, 1.

This is the governing document of the United States.

-Constitution.

-Yes!

These governing articles were in place before the Constitution.

-Confederation.

-Yes!

-It is through this vacuole that some protozoans expel liquid.

-Pass.

-Answer?

Contractile.

This type of covered wagon was named for a town of Pennsylvania -- -Conestoga.

-Yes!

This soaring bird is also called the New World vulture.

-Um... -Condor.

This is the southernmost New England state.

-[Both] Connecticut.

-Yes!

This type of divide separates an areas river systems.

-Continental.

-Yes!

Pythons and boas are this type of snake, that crushes prey.

-[Both] Constrictor.

-Yes!

[ Buzzer ] Oh, there is the buzzer!

Holton-Arms, nice job getting through that round.

You've got 545 points.

Team 3, from Poolesville High School, Ready for the Lightning Round?

Merridy, Kevin, Vera, here we go.

All your answers must begin with the letters c-a-r, as in car.

In 3, 2, 1.

He was our 39th president.

-Carter.

-Yes!

This scientist found many new uses for peanuts.

-Carver.

-Yes!

This is the capital city of Wales.

-Cardiff.

-Yes!

She wrote "Silent Spring."

-Carson.

-Yes!

These caverns are a New Mexico tourist attraction.

-Pass.

-Carlsbad.

This is the capital of Venezuela.

-Caracas.

-Yes!

This is the hard, upper shell of a turtle.

-Pass.

-[Both] Carapace.

This is the MLB team from St. Louis.

-[Both] Cardinals.

-Yes!

This is another name for a reindeer.

-Caribou?

-Yes!

Diamonds are a solid form of this -- [ Buzzer ] Oh, there we go!

Diamonds are a solid form of this element.

The answer is...?

Carbon.

-Carbon.

You know what, Poolesville?

You did such a great job.

525 points.

Well, that was exciting.

We're going to have the official scores 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 Tichina Aticari.

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... -The scores are now official.

We begin with Poolesville High School from Poolesville, Maryland, Merridy, Kevin, Vera -- 525 points!

And congratulations to Holton-Arms from Bethesda, Maryland, Sophia, Caroline, and Claire -- 545 points.

And coming back for the playoffs, Oakton High School from Vienna, Virginia, Rishi, Naafe, and Adrian -- 565 points.

That's it for today.

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

Really 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... ...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... -Please join us next week, when we've got DeMatha, Langley, and Loudoun County High Schools competing right here on "It's Academic."

I'm Hillary Howard.

See you then.

Bye, everybody.

-I'm David Rubenstein, reminding you to... ♪♪