-Students from Osbourn... Sidwell Friends... and Rockville meet today on "It's Academic."

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ Love the enthusiasm.

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.

-"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.

♪♪ -Well, hello, everybody.

We are so glad you're with us today to watch these teams compete on "It's Academic."

Guys, as you know, we're beginning with a Fast Start.

In this round, questions are worth 10 points up or down.

You folks at home will see something on your screens that these students do not.

First team to buzz in gets to answer.

Here we go.

The End.

We begin this match with questions that have something to do with the end of something.

The "Ode to Joy" ends this composer's ninth -- Rockville?

-Beethoven.

-Yes, Beethoven.

Napoleon Bonaparte ended his days -- -Rockville?

-Waterloo.

-No.

St. Helena.

Yes, Rockville.

-Treaty of Paris.

Paris is right.

Yep?

Rockville?

-Omega.

-Omega is it.

Prohibition was ended by this number -- Rockville?

-21st.

-[ Laughing ] Yes.

This sad bugle song is played at the end of -- Rockville?

-"Taps."

-"Taps" it is.

He wrote, "The Restaurant at the End of the" -- Yep?

Rockville?

-Adams.

-Adams is right.

Douglas Adams.

Rockville?

-King.

-King is right.

And that is the end of our very, very fast start.

Let's recap those scores.

Osbourn, 100 points.

Sidwell Friends, 100 points.

Rockville, 160 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] And now we get to meet the teams before we dive into Mix & Match.

We begin with Osbourn, from Manassas, Virginia.

Hey, Ben, how are you doing?

-Hi.

My name is Ben.

I'm a senior at Osbourn, and I enjoy playing chess for the Osbourn varsity.

-Oh, so how long have you been playing chess?

-I've been playing chess since, like, ten.

And then ever since then, I've been like a very avid Gotham chess fan.

-Wow.

What's your favorite open?

-Probably the Open Sicilian.

-All right, well, it's great to have you.

Hello, Victor.

-Hello.

I'm a senior at Osbourn High School.

And I play drums in a hard-core band.

-In a hard-core band.

Is it loud?

-Yes, very.

-It's very loud.

Is that cathartic for you?

-I think so, yeah.

It's a lot of fun.

-All right.

Good.

And tell me about your little mascot there.

-This is the Osbourn Eagle.

He's very cute and very supportive.

-And strong!

-Yes.

-And strong.

-Masculine.

-All right.

Patrick, hello.

-Hi.

-What are you doing?

-Mostly baseball.

-Uh-huh.

-And some chess.

-All right.

And what position do you play in baseball?

-I'm a pitcher.

-You're a pitcher.

Oh, wow.

And does your arm hold up?

-Sometimes.

-Sometimes.

All right, guys, here we go.

I suppose before I begin, I should tell you what the rules are for this round.

Right?

Questions are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

Cancel Little Debts.

Hidden here is the term for what small structural unit found in plants and animals that usually has a nucleus, cytoplasm, and an enclosing membrane?

Yep?

-Cell.

-Yep, that's right.

And you don't even have to buzz.

A Skier.

This skier will bring you 20 points if you rearrange the letters to get what title for German rulers from 1871 till 1918?

-Kaiser.

-Kaiser.

-Kaiser, it is.

Here we've filled in every other letter in the name of what mountain range separating France and Spain?

-Pyrenees.

-Pyrenees is correct.

Geronimo, Uncas, Sitting Bull.

Of these three Native Americans, which one is a fictional character from "The Last of the Mohicans" by James Fenimore Cooper?

-Geronimo!

-No!

Uncas.

"Distilled from the stars and the rainbow."

The Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote this about what sweet, sticky substance, the favorite food of Winnie-the-Pooh?

-Honey.

-Yeah, honey.

Nice, Osbourn, 180 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] To Sidwell Friends from Washington, D.C. Hey, Louie, what should we know about you?

-My name is Louie Merriam, and I'm a sophomore.

I run cross-country, and I play violin.

-Violin in orchestra, of course.

What pieces do you tend to like?

-Well, actually, I do jazz violin.

-Ah!

-I mean, I've played classical violin, as well, so, I mean, it's a wide variety of music forms.

-Wonderful and very cool.

Jazz violin is very cool.

Well, it's good to have you.

Hello, Daniel.

-Hi.

I'm Daniel Schwartz.

I'm a senior, and I like to play football.

-How long have you been playing football?

-Since seventh grade.

-Wow.

What position?

Outside linebacker.

-All right, well, it's good to have you.

And hello, Charlie.

-Hi.

My name is Charlie.

I'm a senior, and I play soccer.

-You play soccer?

All sports dudes, huh?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

All right, here we go.

Pulp Rot on Trees.

Hidden in this unpleasant phrase is the name of what positively charged subatomic particle?

-Proton.

-Proton is right.

Many See Dirt.

Instead of dirt, please rearrange the letters in this phrase to name what kind of rock sometimes linked with igneous and metamorphic?

-Sedentary?

Sedentary rock?

-Sedimentary rock.

-Yeah.

There you go.

Thanks for cleaning that up a little bit.

Every other letter is missing here in the name of what small Baltic country whose capital is Vilnius?

-Lithuania.

-Correct.

Kimono, poncho, sarong.

Of these three types of clothing from other cultures, which one comes from South America?

-Poncho.

-That's it.

"Are the alligators real?"

Perhaps more accustomed to Disney World, a tourist asked this question of a guide at what large national park established in southern Florida in 1934?

-Everglades.

-The Everglades is right.

I love the unison there.

It's very nice.

Sidwell friends, 200 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] And to the Rockville Rams from Rockville, Maryland.

Hey, Jameson, what should we know about you?

-My name is Jameson.

I'm a senior at Rockville High School, and I like aviation and history.

-Aviation.

Are you learning to fly?

-No.

-No.

[ Laughs ] -I just enjoy it.

-Uh-huh.

do you do, like, designs and stuff like that?

-No.

I usually go to the local airports and take photos of the planes... -Oh, cool.

-...taking off and landing.

-Oh, that's really cool.

We live right near National Airport, so we see a lot of them.

Hello, Alan.

What should we know about you?

-I play tennis, and I'm also the president of school's chess club.

-Oh, wow -- another chess person.

What's your favorite open?

-My favorite opening?

That would probably be the Bishop's Opening.

-The Bishop's Opening?

Very nice.

Good to have you.

And, finally, hello, Daniel.

-Hi.

I'm Daniel.

I'm a senior at Rockville High, and I would say my favorite subject is astronomy.

-Oh, wonderful.

So, do you stay out at night watching the stars often?

-Occasionally.

But you know how it is near D.C.

It's pretty hard to see stuff because of the light pollution.

-Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I've always wanted to -- well, I've camped in the Grand Canyon a couple of times, but the moon was so bright, it kind of dilutes the starlight, but it's still pretty nice, I'll tell you.

All right, guys, here we go.

A Fair Is Held.

You can get 20 points if you find in this sentence the name of what part of the eye that surrounds the pupil.

-Iris.

-Yeah, that's it.

Pure Haste.

Don't be hasty.

Just rearrange these letters to name what Middle East river that merges with the Tigris in southern Iraq.

-Euphrates.

-Correct.

All the vowels are missing here from the last name of what Spanish explorer who made his way across Panama to the Pacific in 1513.

-Balboa.

-Yeah.

Very good.

Radon, carbon monoxide, sodium bicarbonate.

Which of these is a highly poisonous gas found in automobile exhaust?

-Carbon monoxide.

-That's it.

"I bring fresh showers for the thirsting flowers."

In this line of poetry by Shelley, the "I" is not a person but rather what natural phenomenon whose forms include cirrus and cumulus?

-Clouds.

-Yeah, it's clouds.

Nice job, Rockville -- 260 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] That's it for Mix & Match.

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.

♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -Well, you know, we like sharing pictures here on "It's Academic," and that's why we are about to embark on the Picture Perfect round.

But first we're going to recap the scores.

Osbourn, 180 points.

Sidwell Friends, 200 points, Rockville, 260 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] Now, you guys probably know in this round questions are worth 20 points up and 20 points down.

And once again the first team to buzz in gets to answer.

This statue is a memorial to the passengers who perished aboard what ocean liner that sank after -- Rockville?

Answer?

-Titanic.

-Titanic it is.

These craters are evidence of past meteor strikes on what planet, whose two moons -- Osbourn?

-Mars?

-Yeah.

You're right.

Whose two moons are Demos and Phobos.

Every October, tourists flock to the international hot-air-balloon fiesta in what largest New Mexico City?

Yes.

Rockville?

Answer -- 3, 2, 1.

-Albuquerque.

-Yes.

When multiplied out, what is the coefficient of the "X" term?

Yep?

Sidwell?

-One?

-No, It's 20.

Crafted 2,000 years ago, this goat is made of what metallic alloy that identifies a prehistoric -- Yes, Rockville?

-Bronze.

-Bronze is right.

Prehistoric age following the Stone Age.

Next we see a family tree from -- yes, Osbourn?

-Um, uh... -Answer?

3, 2, 1?

Well, the answer is Sam.

And the question was, Next we see a family tree from the "Lord of the Rings."

Missing is the name of what hobbit who travels with Frodo to Mordor?

You're looking at what mineral that is the chief commercial source of aluminum?

Yep, Rockville?

-Bauxite.

-Correct.

The title of this Kandinsky painting identifies what long "V"-initialed Russian river that empties -- Rockville?

-The Volga.

-The Volga is it.

And that does it for the Picture Perfect round.

[ Cheers and applause ] Let's take a look at the scores.

Osbourn Eagles, 180.

Sidwell Friends Quakers, 180 and the Rockville Rams, 360 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] We are about to begin the Packet round.

But first, as you know, we like to meet the folks who prepare these kids for competition.

We begin with Osbourn High School.

So, Victor, tell us who's here with you.

-Today with us, we have our school board chair, Ms. Seaberg, our coach and beloved librarian, Ms. Cook, and our alternate, Sofia Wojcik, and our friends and classmates.

-Wonderful.

That's really good.

And I've got -- Sofia, can you show them your sign?

Yeah, they love me!

Thank you for that.

And it's very good to see you guys.

Over to Sidwell Friends.

Daniel, who's here with you?

-With us is our coach and history teacher, Ms. Jordan, and our alternate, Luc Beck.

-Great.

So happy to have you guys here.

And finally over to Rockville.

Who's with you, Alan?

-So, today we have Dr. Goodrich and Mike, both our coaches, and our alumni, who previously competed on "It's Academic," here to cheer us on.

-Yeah!

Great to have you guys here.

Wonderful.

Whoo!

We love having alumni.

And thank you, coaches.

Okay, let's jump into questions, huh?

In this round, as you know, questions are worth 20 points.

It's really good, though.

If you get it wrong, there's nothing off for a wrong answer.

We begin with Osbourn, and, Sidwell, you get to choose which packet they'll answer questions from.

-Packet number three.

-Packet number three.

All right.

Among the aerospace achievements of the 1980s was Voyager 1's evidence of dozens more rings circling what planet, whose orbit is sixth from the sun?

-Saturn?

-Yeah, that's it.

In 1926, Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to swim across what body of water separating England from France?

-The English Channel.

-That is right.

Forget regular barbecue.

You can dine on snake, possum, and groundhog at the annual Roadkill Cookoff in what Appalachian state, whose capital is Charleston?

-West Virginia?

-It is West Virginia.

Here's your science question.

Kuiper belt, Stellar loop, Davis band -- which of these terms refers to a ring of small, icy bodies orbiting the sun beyond Pluto?

-The Kuiper belt.

-You're right.

Poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning taught herself Greek in order to translate an ancient tragedy about what titan who had given fire to mankind?

-Prometheus.

-Prometheus is right.

If you wanted to journey into the past, you might consult what English author, who wrote science fiction stories like "The Time Machine"?

-H.G.

Wells.

-Yeah.

Here's your math question.

What is the perimeter of a square that has an area of 900 square feet?

-20?

-A hundred... -120, 120.

-120 feet is correct.

Nice catch.

The last paragraph of John Knowles' novel "A Separate Peace" refers to what supposedly impregnable French defensive line that proved useless in World War II?

-The Maginot.

-I believe you just got yourself a 25-point bonus, Osbourn.

[ Cheers and applause ] Congratulations.

Now we head over to Sidwell Friends.

Rockville, packet 1 or 2?

-Two.

-Two.

All right, Sidwell, here we go.

With bones so thin you can see its brain through its skull, the blackfin icefish is found in the waters around what coldest continent?

-Antarctica.

-That is right.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, an artistic and cultural flowering took place during a historic period given what name, meaning rebirth?

-The Renaissance.

-Yeah.

-Four years before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese aircraft sank the U.S. ship Panay in the waters of what river, the longest in China?

-Yangtze River.

-Yeah, you got it again.

Here's your science question.

Sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, sodium benzoate.

Given that a binary compound contains only two chemical elements, which of these compounds is binary?

-Sodium chloride.

-Yep.

-In addition to its wines, France is noted for what royal dynasty that gave its name to a stronger alcoholic beverage?

-Bourbon.

-Bourbon, it is.

In the title of a science- fiction work by Ray Bradbury, 451, the temperature at which books burn, is named with what temperature scale?

-Fahrenheit.

-That is right -- "451 Fahrenheit."

Here's your math question.

Which of these angles has the largest supplement?

-130?

130?

-130?

-You're right.

If prizefighters staged a revolt, the uprising might have what same name as the 1900 Chinese rebellion, led by the Society of Righteous Harmonious Fists?

-Boxer Rebellion.

-Wow!

We have another 25-point bonus.

[ Cheers and applause ] Beautiful, guys.

Well-done.

And 340 points.

Oh, no -- 365.

All right, packet number one for Rockville.

Gentlemen, a few years ago, a collector paid $50,000 for a gold medal from the 1904 Olympics held in what U.S. city that did not yet have its Gateway Arch?

-St. Louis.

-That's it.

Historians studying the Nixon presidency can now hear once-secret tapes associated with what scandal that brought down the Nixon administration?

-Watergate.

-Yeah.

Owen Brown was the last surviving participant in the 1859 raid, led by his father, John Brown, on the federal arsenal in what West Virginia town?

-Harpers Ferry.

-Yeah.

Here's your science question.

Boron energy variation, billion electron volts, baryon emission velocity.

The capacity of large-particle accelerators is measured in BEV, letters that stand for which of these?

-Billion electron volts.

-Yep.

That's it.

If someone tried to plug a hole in the Grand Coulee Dam, he'd be holding back the waters of what river separating Oregon from Washington State?

-Columbia?

-Columbia, it is.

A combination of adventure story and original sin was one description of what William Golding novel about a group of boys stranded on an island?

-"Lord of the Flies."

-Yeah, "Lord of the Flies."

That book scared me.

Here's your math question.

If a parallelogram has an area of 45 and a base of 9, what's its altitude?

-Five.

-Yes.

-In 1889, what former slave who had fought for abolition in his North Star newspaper was named our consul general in Haiti?

-Frederick Douglass.

-We've got another 25-point bonus.

545 points for Rockville.

What an amazing round, huh?

Stay with us, because the Grab Bag is next.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Hello.

I'm David Rubenstein.

Did you know that construction of the C&O Canal here in Washington was begun on the 4th of July in 1828?

President John Quincy Adams dug the first shovelful of dirt.

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

♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -Well, before we dive into this Grab Bag round, I just want to say a couple of things.

Number one, these teams are fabulous, every single one of them.

And my audience here is fabulous.

I love the enthusiasm.

All right.

Questions are worth 20 points up or down.

First team to buzz in gets to answer, and we're off.

It's been over 50 years since the publication of what Rachel Carson work that -- -"Silent Spring."

-Rockville.

"Silent Spring" it is.

were murdered in -- Rockville?

-Huguenots?

-Yes.

In the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre.

According to one legend, Adam mourned his expulsion from Eden by standing on one foot for 200 years in what island nation whose capital is Colombo?

Yep.

Rockville?

-Sri Lanka?

-Yes, it is.

On your screens... An annual music -- Yes, Sidwell?

-Mozart.

-Mozart, yeah.

Festival takes place in Salzburg, celebrating the operas of... You would be more than 240 feet above sea level if you were sailing on what easternmost of the Great Lakes?

Yep.

Rockville?

Answer 3, 2, 1.

-Erie.

-Nope.

Ontario.

Choice -- is the freezing point of sugar in water higher, lower, or the same as pure water?

Anybody?

The answer is...?

-Yep, Sidwell?

-Lower.

-Lower -- nice.

A light bulb provides light, but your brain's olfactory bulb provides you with what -- Yes, Osbourn?

-Sound.

-No, smell.

On your screens.

"Some of my plays Peter out and some pan out."

This comment comes from what British writer, the author of -- Yes, Rockville?

-J.M.

Barrie.

-Yep, "Peter Pan."

The orchestra has to include an automobile horn when it plays an "American in Paris" by what composer?

Nobody?

Really?

George Gershwin.

Fort Duquesne, a major objective in the last of the French and Indian Wars is now what second- Rockville?

-Pittsburgh.

-Pittsburgh, yes.

How many degrees are there in an angle, which is one half its complementary?

Ding-ding-ding-ding.

Yes?

-60.

-No, 30.

On your screens...

This man never made it to the white House, though in 1856, he was what first presidential candidate?

Rockville?

-Frémont.

-Yep.

During our Civil War, the South tried unsuccessfully to get what long-reigning British queen to support the Confederates?

Rockville?

-Victoria.

-Yeah.

What constellation is informally referred to as the lady in the chair?

Rockville?

-Cassiopeia.

-Yeah.

Good job, Daniel.

Nicknamed "Typhoon Tip," the Pacific Ocean area with the lowest barometric pressure is about 300 miles from what "G"-initialed island that's a U.S. territory?

-Guam?

-Sidwell?

Guam is right.

[ Buzzer ] And that does it.

That is the end of the game.

Stick around.

We will be right back with the scores.

[ Cheers and applause ] -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.

I'm Haughton.

I'm a sophomore at Georgetown Day School, and last year I founded Quiz Bowl for All, which is an organization dedicated to making Quiz Bowl more affordable for lower-income schools and individuals.

Since then, I've gone into schools to talk about Quiz Bowl, advertise the tournaments I have directed, and worked with some of the major companies involved in Quiz Bowl to introduce discounts for qualifying teams.

Quiz Bowl is a game similar to "It's Academic," with longer questions that really reward deep knowledge in the subjects discussed.

Personally, Quiz Bowl has not only taught me a ton and fostered in me a lifelong love of learning but also helped me meet people who have become some of my closest friends, both within my school and the D.C. area, and even across the country.

Helping more people get involved in this has been extremely rewarding and something I am very much looking forward to continuing in the future.

-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.

[ Cheers and applause ] -This was an absolutely fabulous game with very, very talented, smart teams, each of them winning a 25-point bonus.

Congratulations, all of you guys.

So, we begin with Osbourn High School from Manassas, Virginia.

Ben, Victor and Patrick, 345 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] From Sidwell Friends in the District, we have Louie, Daniel, and Charlie, 405 points.

Nice job.

[ Cheers and applause ] And coming back for the playoffs, Rockville High School.

Man, you guys blew it up.

Jameson, Alan, and Daniel, 685 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] We are so happy that all of you were with us today.

Can't wait to see you next time.

Remember, everybody... -It's academic!

-I'm Hillary Howard.

See you.

Bye.

-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.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪