-Students from Osbourn Park, Meridian, and Robinson meet today on "It's Academic."

[ Applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ Hello, everybody!

I'm Hillary Howard.

Welcome to "It's Academic," the world's longest-running TV quiz show, produced by Altman Productions, in association with David M. Rubenstein Productions and WETA.

-Support for "It's Academic" has been provided by the following... ♪♪ -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.

♪♪ [ Applause ] -Thanks for being with us for another great show on "It's Academic."

We begin with a Fast Start, as we always do.

Teams, questions are worth 10 points up or down.

First team to buzz in gets to answer.

Contestants don't see what you do on the screens at home.

Here we go.

All answers here will be palindromes, words that are spelled the same backwards and forwards, as in "pop."

-Eve.

-Yes, Osbourn Park.

Yes, Meridian.

-Anna.

-Correct.

The answer is -- Yes, Meridian.

-Tet?

-Yeah, you've got it.

Yep, Robinson.

-Otto.

-Otto it is.

Yes, Robinson.

-Kayak.

-Correct.

Yes, Osbourn.

-SOS.

-Correct.

Yep, Robinson.

-Did.

-Did, yes.

Yep, Meridian.

-Deed.

-Deed is right.

And that does it for our Fast Start.

Let's recap those scores.

Osbourn Park 120, Meridian 130, and Robinson Rams 130 points.

[ Applause ] Now it's time to meet the teams, so let's begin with Osbourn Park, home of the Yellow Jackets.

Jack, tell us about yourself.

-I am the -- I run cross-country, I am the officer of Nuclear Research Club, and I'm the secretary in Christian Faith Club.

-Wow!

Nuclear Research Club.

Tell us about that.

-Basically, we have somebody do research on a nuclear-related topic, and then we -- and then they present in front of a group of students, and we discuss it.

-Wow, that's really cool.

You are much smarter than I am, Jack.

[ Laughs ] Jocelyn I should say you guys are from Manassas, Virginia.

What are you up to?

-Yeah.

I'm Jocelyn Ellis.

I'm a junior at Osbourn Park High School.

I play on Osbourn Park's varsity softball team and our varsity field hockey team.

-You're busy.

-A little bit.

-[ Laughs ] Good to see you.

Hello, Nathan.

-Hi, I'm Nathan.

I'm a senior at Osbourn Park.

I'm also a member of the Prince William County School of Practical Nursing, where I'm getting my LPN.

I also do rowing for both the county and Prince William Rowing and Osbourn Park itself on our varsity team.

-And what made you choose nursing?

-I like helping other people, and I think it gives direct impact to communities.

-Beautiful.

All right, guys.

In this round, questions are worth 20 points.

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

Here's your first one.

"A boy led them."

Hidden in this sentence is the last name of what 17th century British physicist who developed an important gas law?

-Boyle.

-Boyle it is.

Boisterous, prudent, mendacious.

Which of these words can best describe someone who is very careful and discreet?

[ Indistinct whispering ] Answer?

Uh, mendacious?

-No, it's prudent.

Cube errs.

You won't make any errors if you rearrange the letters in this phrase to name what mythical three-headed dog who guarded the gates of Hades.

-Cerberus?

-Yeah.

Santa Maria, Santa Lucia, Santa Monica.

Look at this list and see if you can find the name of Christopher Columbus's flagship.

-Santa Maria.

-Yes.

"There is nothing so bad it couldn't be worse."

This proverb comes from what country where Dublin is the capital?

-Ireland.

-Ireland is right.

Nicely done, Osbourn Park -- 200 points.

[ Applause ] Let's meet team two, the Meridian Mustangs, from Falls Church, Virginia.

Hello, Anna.

-Hello.

My name is Anna Goldenberg.

Aside from Scholastic Bowl, I also am the managing editor of the newspaper, and I play clarinet.

I'm also on our school's Model U.N. team.

-Nice.

Which do you like best?

[ Laughter ] -That's a hard question.

I would say probably...

I mean, it's hard to say.

I love journalism.

It's probably my favorite thing, but I also really love clarinet because I've been playing it since like I was, I think, 8 or 9.

So it's just hard.

-Yeah, yeah, yeah, Well, journalism is a noble profession, so that's great.

Hello, Lorien.

-Hello.

Hi, I'm Lorien Jackson.

I am the chemistry captain on the Science Olympiad team, currently an I.B.

student at Meridian.

And, honestly, the only thing I have to say is, that I play a lot of "Dungeons & Dragons."

[ Laughter ] -That's great.

You know, my kid always wanted me to play "Dunge--" He's like, "Mom, you'd love it," but I still haven't.

-I mean, most people do.

-Yeah.

All right.

Well, it's nice to have you, Lorien.

Hello, Greyson.

-Hello.

My name is Greyson Carney.

I'm a junior at Meridian High School.

Besides from Science Olympiad, I run cross-country and track, and I am also a team captain on the Science Olympiad team.

And I'm a part of our school's environmental club.

-Nice.

What science do you prefer?

-Definitely in biology, yeah.

-All right.

Here are your questions, guys.

Oh, I should notice the Mustang you have on your desk.

What's his name?

-Oh, this is Argo.

-Argo!

Hi, Argo.

Here we go.

Party Sonata.

You will enjoy harmony if you find hidden in this phrase the last name of what popular astrophysicist, the author of "Just Visiting this Planet."

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Tyson?

-Yes, it is.

Invidious, stagnant, imperious.

Something that is very sluggish or inactive can best be described by which of these adjectives?

-Stagnant.

-Yeah.

Teen pun.

Rearrange the letters here and you can name what Roman sea god, the equivalent of the Greek Poseidon.

-Neptune.

-Yes.

Sea serpents, sea horses, sea dogs.

Which of these nicknames was given to the 16th century English privateers, like Sir Francis Drake, who raided Spanish towns and ships in the Americas?

-Sea dogs.

-Sea dogs is right.

"If the world flooded, it wouldn't matter to a duck."

This proverb comes from what country were Ankara is capital.

[ Indistinct whispering ] Answer?

-Uh, Nigeria?

-No, it's Turkey.

Still, good job, Meridian -- 210 points.

[ Applause ] And now to Robinson's Secondary High School, the Robinson Rams, from Fairfax, Virginia.

How you doing, guys?

-We're doing pretty good.

-Good.

Noah, tell us a little about yourself.

-Well, I'm Noah.

I'm a junior at Robinson Secondary School.

I love to run.

I also do cross-country and track.

I'm part of Quiz Bowl and the Computer Science Club at our school.

-All right.

Good to have you.

And who's the little ram over there?

-So, this is Ramulus.

-[ Laughs ] Ramulus.

I like that.

So, why don't you take it away, Jacob.

-Hello.

I'm Jacob.

I am a senior at James W. Robinson Secondary.

And in my free time, I like to play euphonium in both concert and marching band, as well as participate in Certamen.

-In what?

-Certamen.

So, it's similar to Quiz Bowl, but all the questions relate to Latin, either history, culture, grammar, mythology.

-Very cool.

That's nice.

I like that.

Hello, Julian.

-Uh, hello.

I'm a senior at James W. Robinson Secondary School.

In my free time, I like to draw and play piano.

-What do you draw?

-Mostly animals.

-Ah.

Favorite?

-Um, cats.

-Cats.

Okay.

Here we go, guys.

Your ad on TV.

Hidden here is the name of what inert element, a highly radioactive gas.

-Radon.

-Yeah.

Clandestine, supplemental, intolerant.

If you held a secret meeting with someone, that meeting could best be described by which of these adjectives?

-The first one.

-Yes.

Clandestine.

Aim to run.

You may aim for 20 points if you rearrange the letters in this phrase to identify what mythical monster that was shut up in the labyrinth.

-Minotaur.

-Yeah.

George McClellan, Lesley McNair, Douglas MacArthur.

Everyone knows what a Big Mac is, but which of these men was a Union Army general nicknamed "Little Mac"?

-McClellan.

-Yes.

"He who is deaf, dumb, and blind will live 100 years in peace."

This is a proverb from what largest Italian island, whose capital city is Palermo?

-Sicily.

-Sicily is right.

Nice, Robinson -- 230 points.

[ Applause ] That does it for the Mix and Match round.

We have Picture Perfect, 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.

-And now a question for you.

The answer?

Koala bears.

We don't know if a defendant has ever gotten off by claiming a koala was to blame, but I guess the possibility exists, at least in Australia.

Back to the game.

♪♪ [ Applause ] Welcome back.

It is time for the Picture Perfect round.

In this round, guys, as you probably know, questions are worth 20 points up or down.

Here we go.

The Shoshone River is named for the Native American tribe of what woman who helped guide the Lewis and Clark?

Meridian.

-Sacajawea.

-Yes.

The glasswing butterfly, which migrates up to 12 miles a day, can be found as far south as Santiago, the capital of...?

Robinson.

-Chile.

-Chile is right.

Robert Goddard, who put his stamp on rocket science, was a friend of the father of what astronaut who became the second man -- Osborn Park.

-Buzz Aldrin?

-Yes.

What is the average of these three expressions?

Any-- Yep.

-X + 2.

-X + 2 is right, Robinson.

The art of mosaic was associated in ancient times with what group of nine Greek goddesses?

Yeah, Meridian.

-Muses.

-Yes.

"If children do not understand the Constitution, they can't understand how our government functions."

These are the words of what man who interprets the Constitution as our current Chief Justice of the Supreme -- -Yes, Robinson.

-Roberts.

-Roberts is right.

This is a microscopic study of what vitamin that's often referred to as ascorbic acid.

-Vitamin C. -Yep, Robinson, you're right.

These flowers grow near the childhood home of what African-American woman who wrote, "Their eyes were watching God."

Meridian.

-Zora Neale Hurston.

-You are correct.

And that does it for the Picture Perfect round.

Let's recap these scores.

Osbourn Park 220.

Meridian 270.

Robinson 310.

[ Applause ] So, we've already established that these students are pretty smart, but they do get help being on "It's Academic" from the coaches and different faculty who support them.

Let's find out who they are.

We begin with Osbourn Park.

Jocelyn, tell us about your team.

-Yeah.

So, our coach is Mr. Barber, and then we would like to thank our two alternates here today, Maya and Kate.

-Great.

Very good to see you.

Okay.

To the Meridian Mustangs.

Lorien.

-Hi.

Yeah.

We'd like to introduce our coach, Mr. Pepper, who has the best hair.

Just the best.

And I'd also like to thank all of our supporters and people who drove us out here.

-All right.

Good to see you, Mr. Pepper.

And, Robinson.

Jacob, who's with you?

-Yeah.

So, I'd like to thank our coaches, Mr. Campana and Miss Glotfelty, as well as our alternate Patrick and our Director of Student Services, Mr. Jimmo.

We'd also like to thank our wonderful principal, Miss Tracey Phillips, and thank her for her support of our program.

-All right.

Good.

Nice big team.

Good to see you guys.

And now, of course, that we've done all of those introductions, we can begin the Packet round.

This is how it works.

Osbourn Park gets to answer questions first.

Meridian gets to choose which packet they will answer questions from.

Meridian, what's it going to be?

-One.

-One.

Questions are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

If you get all of the questions right, there's a 25-point bonus.

A misguided history student once wrote that Joan of Arc was the wife of what biblical patriarch who built an ark to save animals from the flood?

-Noah.

-Noah is right.

In an effort to take credit for everything, the Soviet Union once claimed that Russia was the homeland of what legendary Greek hero with a vulnerable heel.

-Achilles.

-Yes.

In 1902, pioneer car manufacturer Ransom Olds decided the grass was greener on the other side of the road and began producing gasoline-powered lawn mowers in what Michigan state capital.

-Lansing.

-Yeah.

Here's your science question.

Lavoisier, Dalton.

Avogadro.

Which of these names do we associate with the numbers 6.023 times 10 to the 23rd?

-Avogadro.

-Yes.

Thornton Wilder won his first Pulitzer Prize for "The Bridge of San Luis Rey," a novel set in what South American country, home to the Inca civilization?

-Peru.

-Peru it is.

"Holden Caulfield wouldn't like that," replied J.D.

Salinger when his publisher asked him to change the title of what book in which Holden Caulfield is the main character?

-"The Catcher in the Rye."

-Yeah.

Here's your math question.

Evaluate this expression, if x equals 9, taking all roots to be positive.

-20.

-Yes.

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

-Romania.

-A 25-point bonus for Osbourn Park!

Well done!

[ Applause ] Meridian, you're up.

Robinson, you get to choose packet number two or packet number three.

-We will choose three.

-Three.

It was a 19th century Italian, Carlo Collodi, who wrote the story of what mischievous puppet whose nose grew whenever he told a lie.

-Pinocchio.

-Yeah.

Just north of the White House is a park named for what French marquis who aided Americans in the Revolutionary War.

-Lafayette.

-Yeah.

Mark Twain's daughters said that their favorite book by their father was the novel titled "The Prince..." and what destitute person?

-The pauper.

-Yes.

Here's your science question.

Harvey, Leeuwenhoek, Jenner.

Which of these scientists is credited with the development of the smallpox vaccine?

Answer?

-Harvey.

-No, it's Jenner.

In 1912, Ohio voters turned down a proposal to grant suffrage to what group of citizens who later got the vote through the 19th amendment.

-Women.

-Go, women.

The line, "Brevity is the soul of wit" occurs in what longest Shakespeare play, a tragedy about an unhappy Danish prince.

-"Hamlet."

-Yeah.

Here's your math question.

Solve for x.

Answer?

-Zero.

-Yes.

In the mountains, the temperature can reach zero in what South American country, located at latitude zero degrees and whose capital is Quito.

-Ecuador.

-Nicely done.

Meridian Mustangs, 410 points.

[ Applause ] And with that, we have packet number two for Robinson.

Before it empties into the Gulf of Mexico, what river forms the border between Texas and Mexico?

-Rio Grande?

-Rio Grande.

-Rio Grande.

-Yeah.

Aeschylus was a runaway success as a playwright, but his friends also noted his bravery at what ancient Greek battle for which a 26-mile footrace is named.

-Marathon.

-Yes.

The title of a Wallace Stevens poem refers to looking at a blackbird in how many ways, a number equaling the square root of 169.

-13.

-13.

-Yes.

Here's your science question.

Michelson, Charles, Linnaeus.

Which of these scientists is noted for his experiments measuring the speed of light?

-I have no idea.

Charles.

-No.

Michelson.

During the Civil War, soldiers were aided by the U.S. Sanitary Commission, the forerunner of what organization founded in 1881 by Clara Barton.

-Red Cross.

-Yes.

-The fictional Edmond Dantes escapes imprisonment and becomes the count of what island, named in the title of an Alexandre Dumas novel.

-Monte Cristo.

-Yeah.

Here's your math question.

Solve for X.

-48.

-48.

-Yeah.

In 2011, 98.9% of the population voted for independence in what now independent African country where Juba is capital.

-Um, South Sudan.

-You are right.

Nice job.

Robinson Rams, 450 points.

[ Applause ] Don't go away.

We have the Grab Bag round next.

♪♪ -Hello.

I'm David Rubenstein.

Did you know that the phrase "In God We Trust" did not become the official U.S. national motto until 1956?

It replaced the Latin motto E Pluribus unum, meaning "Out of many one."

I'm David Rubenstein reminding you to 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."

♪♪ [ Applause ] Welcome back.

It is time for the Grab Bag round.

Now, this is a really close game.

Let's look at these scores.

405 for Osbourn Park, Meridian 410, and Robinson 450.

[ Applause ] So anything can happen in the Grab Bag.

Questions are worth 20 points up or down.

Once again, the first team to buzz in gets to answer.

Here we go.

For many years, English courts would not conduct business on what date that appears on the calendar only once every four -- Osbourn Park.

-February 29th.

-Yes.

Because Mount Everest gets all the headlines, there was little news coverage in 1954 when Italian climbers made it to the top of what second-highest -- -K2.

-Yep, that's right, Robinson.

Baseball fans were thrilled recently when a record 50 home runs and stolen -- Yeah.

Robinson.

-Ohtani.

-Correct.

-On your screens.

Here you have a 1748 portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Andrews by what English artist?

-Gainsborough.

-Very well done, Robinson.

Poet John Milton tried to help what great Italian scientist who had been forced by the Inquisition to recant his claim that the Earth moves around -- Yes, Osbourn Park.

-Galileo.

-Yeah.

An insect called the zyzzyva is the last animal listed in the dictionary, but the first is what burrowing African -- Yes, Meridian.

-Aardvark.

-Correct.

Choice.

How many electrons are there in the outer shell of potassium?

One -- Meridian.

-Two.

-One.

On your screens for 20 points.

Thorn.

Unscramble this thorny anagram by rearranging the letters to name what man who was Britain's prime minister during the American Revolution?

Robinson.

-North.

-Yeah.

Most Americans approved of what 1853 purchase whereby the United States bought 30,000 square miles of land.

Osbourn Park.

-Alaska?

[ Buzzer ] -No, the Gadsden Purchase.

And that is the end of the game.

Yay!

[ Applause ] The scores are being tabulated by the judges.

We'll let you know the official scores next.

Stick around.

-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.

-Hello.

My name is Noah Collins.

I'm a junior at Robinson Secondary School, and in terms of community service, I help out with a lot of organizations that help alleviate starvation throughout the world, such as Feed My Starving Children, which helps create packaged meals that helps countries in crisis and helps the local population eat.

A little more locally, I help out with my church's hypothermia and food pantry.

This helps homeless people have a home and places to eat.

Also, participate in scouting.

That's another way I help out.

And I like community service because I know somewhere I'm affecting someone positively.

And why you should do it is because it helps our community become a greater and more safer place and a more beautiful place to live in.

-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.

We begin with the Meridian Mustangs from Falls Church, Virginia, Anna, Lorien and Greyson, 410 points.

[ Applause ] From Manassas, Virginia, Osbourn Park, home of the Yellow Jackets, Jack, Jocelyn, and Nathan, 425 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] And coming back for the playoffs, Robinson Rams, from Fairfax, Virginia, Noah, Jacob, Julian, 530 points!

Nicely done.

[ Cheers and applause ] We are so happy that you were here with us.

Can't wait to see you next week.

And remember, "It's Academic"!

Bye, everybody.

[ Applause ] -Support for "It's Academic" has been provided by the following.

♪♪ -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.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪