-Students from Quince Orchard... Herndon... and Woodson 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.

George Mason University.

All together different.

-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.

-Hiya, everybody.

We are so glad to see you with us today for another great competition here on "It's Academic," and we are about to begin.

We begin, as always, of course, with the Fast Start.

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

First team to buzz in gets to answer.

Here we go.

All answers have to begin somewhere and these will all begin with "N" as in Nancy.

Quince Orchard.

-Neon.

-Yep.

Neon.

It is.

Yep.

Quince Orchard.

-Northwest.

-Northwest.

-That's right.

"You read about 'Bigger Thomas' in this Richard -- Yes.

-"Native Son."

"Native Son."

-You've got it.

Nice job, Quince Orchard.

Herndon.

Yeah.

-Neutron star.

-No, it's a nova.

"This German philosopher wrote 'Thus Spake --'" Yes.

Woodson.

-Nietzsche.

-Yes.

You're right.

Quince Orchard.

-Norway.

-Norway is right.

-Neanderthals.

-Yep.

Herndon.

Right.

Woodson.

-Nova Scotia.

-No, Newfoundland.

And that does it for our Fast Start.

Let's take a look at the scores.

Quince Orchard 140, Herndon 100 and Woodson 100 points.

[ Applause ] Alright.

We get to meet the teams now.

And we begin with the Quince Orchard Cougars.

They're playing light today.

Just two of you.

But I don't think that's holding you guys back.

Evan, tell us something about yourself.

-I've been doing academic trivia in -- at my school for two years now.

I do all kinds of tournaments in the local area and national level.

I've done this TV show before, once before, and it was fun.

-Yeah.

That's it, it was fun?

I'm glad.

Well, we're very glad that you're back to have more fun, Evan.

Thank you.

Hiya, Drew.

-Um, so this is my third year doing, um, quiz bowl.

It's my third year on "It's Academic," and I am a third-generation "It's Academic."

Both my father and my -- and my uncle -- and my great uncle were on "It's Academic."

I am also an Eagle Scout.

-Wow.

Eagle Scout is fabulous.

And that's what I'm talking about.

This is a multigenerational show.

You guys at home have no idea how many of these students have family members who have been on the show.

We've been on the air for 63 years.

Great to have you, Drew.

I've got some questions for you guys.

This is our Mix and Match round.

In Mix and Match, questions are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

Quince Orchard... "Hidden in this question is the name of what metallic element, a component of brass?"

-No, it's not.

Copper.

-Answer?

-Copper?

-Nope.

It's zinc.

"Which of these adjectives would best describe someone who is clumsy?"

-Affable.

-No.

Ungainly.

"Please fill in the blanks here.

And you can name what colonial patriot who warned the British are coming."

-Paul Revere.

-Paul Revere.

-Yeah.

You got it.

"Can you arrange these three countries in order of population, beginning with the smallest population?"

-Jordan.

Italy.

India.

-Boom!

"Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow used this phrase to describe what celestial objects, such as Sirius and Polaris?"

-That's... -Stars.

Stars?

-Yeah.

Twinkling stars.

Nice, Quince Orchard.

200 points.

[ Applause ] Now we get to meet the team from Herndon High School in Herndon, Virginia.

Hiya, Peter.

Tell us something about yourself.

-Um, I'm kind of like a politics nerd.

Just, like, international, national.

I talk about it with my father, who's in the audience, a lot.

So that's just something fun I like to do.

-And how do you think that enhances your understanding of everything that's happening around us?

-I think it enhances my understanding because, like, I know, like, why people are mad, why people are happy, you know, and that kind of like drives political engagement.

-Yeah.

It's fascinating.

Well, it's great to have you, Peter.

And, William, what are you up to?

-Um, well, I'm busy.

I have theater right after this, but, um, I love being here.

It's great.

This is my first time on the show, but I've been on the team on and off for, like, two years, so I'm really happy to be here.

-What play are you working on?

-I'm doing "Macbeth" for my high school.

-Wonderful.

And what role are you playing?

-I'm doing Siward.

-Nice.

Good to have you.

I hope the show goes well.

And hello, Matthew.

-Howdy.

I'm Matthew, this is my second year here.

I'm a sophomore at Herndon.

I'm part of the robotics team as well.

I am not really captain for the software team, but I'm close to.

-Uh-huh.

-Do a lot of work with that.

And I'm a big mythology nerd.

-Oh, well, that'll help you on the show, of course.

Alright, guys, here are some questions.

I don't know if there are any mythology questions in here, but we'll find out.

"Look carefully at this phrase and see if you can find hidden within it what plant long important to the South's economy."

-Cotton?

-Yeah.

"A person who is very irritable can best be described by which of these words?"

-Petulant.

-Yep.

"The word 'part' makes up part of what other word that names an ancient Greek city-state known for its disciplined warrior ethic?"

-Sparta?

-Yeah.

"These three inventions have all been important to us.

Please arrange them in chronological order."

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Sewing machine, telephone, transistor.

-You've got it.

"This was the enthusiastic reaction of President Teddy Roosevelt to what dramatic rocky gorge in Arizona?"

-The Grand Canyon.

-The Grand Canyon is right.

Herndon 200 points.

Yeah.

And now from Fairfax, Virginia, C.G.

Woodson High School.

Hello, Eleanor.

How you doing?

-Hi.

I'm good.

-Good.

So, what should we know about you?

-When I'm not doing clubs at school, I run a lot on the cross-country and track teams at Woodson.

-Wow.

See, cross-country is always amazing to me because I could do short bursts, but I'm not a distance person.

Like, where are you when you're running?

Is it a meditative state?

-Um, I would say, yeah.

When I run, I -- Well, when I race, I think, but I don't really remember my thoughts because it's kind of just like...I just run.

-[ Laughs ] That's good.

Nice to have you.

Hiya, Stephen.

Good to see you again.

-Good to see you.

This is my fourth year on the team.

Fourth year doing the show.

I'm just glad to be here.

I'm looking forward to the rest of the competition.

-Alright.

Anything else you're doing these days?

-Um, one of my main things I'm doing is my school orchestra.

So I play the bass, and we're preparing for our winter concert now.

-Alright, well, have fun with that.

-Thanks.

-And hello, Miranda.

-Hi.

It's nice to be here.

-Yeah, it's really good to see you.

-Um, I'd say outside of doing sort of academic clubs, I really enjoy getting involved with the local government, seeing what's in my community.

So it's really exciting to hear what PBS is doing alongside that.

-Yeah.

It is.

It's really wonderful, very community oriented.

And what kind of work are you doing with local government?

-Um, we have like a lot of people who speak Spanish, and I've been studying Spanish for about seven years now.

Um, so I really like to help people in my community who are only fluent in that language.

-Beautiful.

Well, guys, I've got some questions.

Here's the first one.

"You'll win 20 points if you can find hidden here the last name of what English scientist associated with the theory of evolution."

-Darwin.

-Darwin?

-Yeah.

"You would most appropriately expect to see an armadillo at which of these places?"

-Zoo.

-Yes.

"Surround the 'air' here with two more letters and you'll name what largest North African city?

The capital of Egypt."

-Cairo.

-Correct.

"Listed here in alphabetical order are three cabinet departments.

Please arrange them in chronological order."

[ Indistinct whispering ] -State.

Labor.

Energy.

-You got it.

"So says the official guide to what New England state whose capital is Concord?"

-Massachusetts.

-Massachusetts?

-No, it is New Hampshire.

Nicely done, though, Woodson, 180 points.

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

We have the Picture Perfect round next, so stay where you are.

-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.

♪♪ -Hey, it's time for the Picture Perfect round, everybody.

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

First team to buzz in gets to answer.

"You wouldn't want to swim in these ice-filled waters not far from what capital of Alaska?"

Orchard.

-Juneau, Juneau!

-Juneau.

-Juneau is right.

"This rare species of goat can be seen near what historic mountain pass, which was an important link in the ancient Silk Road trade and today links Afghanistan and Pakistan?"

Yep.

Quince Orchard.

Answer -- 3, 2, 1.

-Kashmir.

-No.

Khyber Pass.

"Part of French Polynesia, this is what South Pacific island where artist Paul Gauguin made his home?"

Herndon.

-Tahiti.

-Tahiti is it.

"What is the value of this expression?"

Yes, Orchard.

-Nine.

-Yeah.

"Kangaroos are members of what order of --" Quince Orchard.

-Marsupials.

-You are right.

"This 1864 artwork is a tribute to the opera 'Tannhauser' by what German composer who created the 'Ring' cycle?"

Quince Orchard.

-Wagner.

-Yes.

"'How inappropriate to call this planet Earth when clearly it is ocean.'

These were the words of what author whose works include '2001: A Space --'" Yes, Woodson.

-Jules Verne.

-No.

Arthur C. Clarke.

"This Van Gogh painting shows flowers in a vase made of what metallic element whose atomic number is 29?"

Quince Orchard.

Answer -- 3, 2, 1.

-Copper!

-Ooh, you just got that one in.

And that's the end of the Picture Perfect round.

Good job.

So I always tell you that the students don't do it alone.

And now we have an opportunity to meet the very devoted people who helped get them to "It's Academic" and support them throughout the school year.

We begin with Quince Orchard.

Who is answering, Evan or Drew?

-I will.

-Alright, Drew, who's with you?

-Um, so we have our coach, Mr. Shuman, who, um, spends a lot of time planning these events and allowing us to go to them and uses his own time to come up and support us.

So that's really nice.

-Wonderful.

It's really good to see you as always.

And to Herndon.

Hey, William.

-Hi.

Um, I have both my coaches here.

Uh, Dave Lubinski and Jane Spies.

Jane is my mom.

Love you.

Um, and then you have Steven, Brian and Abdul, all three being our alternates.

-You look like your mom.

-Oh, I do?

Oh, what a surprise.

-That's a good thing.

"What a surprise."

Alright.

Great.

And to Woodson.

Stephen, who's with you guys?

-Today with us is Mr. Wright, who's our teacher sponsor.

And he's always been there for the club and helped us practice and stuff like that.

So thanks to him.

-Yeah.

And he's always showing up here.

It's good to see you as well.

Now that we've done all those introductions, of course we can jump into the Packet round.

Yay!

Yay to the coaches.

In this Packet round, Quince Orchard will answer questions first.

Herndon will decide what packet they answer questions from -- 1, 2 or 3.

-3?

-3.

Okay.

3.

Sure.

Here we go.

Questions are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

If you get all the questions right... ♪ There's a 25-point bonus ♪ Whoo.

Guys, Robert Fulton is remembered for his steamboat, but he also developed what weapon that enabled a submarine to sink the Lusitania.

-A missile.

Torpedo.

-Torpedoes?

-Torpedo, yeah.

"Although Vachel Lindsay was no ghost writer, he did write a poem about the ghost of what large, shaggy animal once pictured on American nickels?"

[ Indistinct whispering ] Answer?

-Bear.

-No, buffalo.

-Oh, yeah.

-"If you went from coast to coast, you'd find that what same name is shared by the largest cities in Maine and Oregon?"

-Portland.

Portland.

-Portland is right.

Here's your science question.

"This stench associated with paper mills is due to the oxide of which of these, a yellow crystalline element?"

-Sulfur.

-Yep.

That's it.

"Thousands of languages are in danger of becoming extinct, including that of what N-initialed American Indian tribe, the largest in the southwest?"

-Navajo?

-Right.

"'First Impressions' was the title Jane Austen originally intended to use for what impressive novel she wrote about the Bennet family?"

-"Pride and Prejudice."

-"Pride and Prejudice"?

-That's it.

Here's your math question.

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

-50.

-50.

-50 is right.

"Lincoln wasn't the only noted American born in a log cabin.

So was what Virginian who became the fourth Chief Justice and wrote the Marbury vs. Madison decision?"

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Marshall?

-It is Marshall.

Nicely done.

Quince Orchard, 420 points.

Okay, Herndon.

Your time to answer questions.

Woodson, packet 1 or 2?

-1.

-1.

Alright.

♪ Dee dee dee dee ♪ Herndon.

"Most poems appear in books, but 'The New Colossus' by Emma Lazarus also appears on what famous monument in New York Harbor?"

-Statue of Liberty.

-Statue of Liberty?

-Yeah.

The amazing Statue of Liberty.

"The northernmost town in the world is located on what North Atlantic island, the largest in the world?"

-Greenland.

-Greenland?

-Yeah.

It's Greenland.

"Many people write letters when away from home.

But Martin Luther King wrote a historic letter from the jail of what Alabama city?"

-Birmingham.

-Birmingham?

-Yeah.

Here's your science question.

"Atoms whose nuclei differ only in neutron numbers are known as which of these?"

-Isotopes?

-Yep.

Mount Marcy in New York was named for William Marcy, the Secretary of War, during what conflict that included the 1847 Battle of Veracruz?"

-Mexican-American War.

-Mexican-American War?

-It is.

"19th-century poets William Wordsworth and Leigh Hunt modernized some of the work of what earlier English poet best known for 'Canterbury Tales'?

[ Indistinct whispering ] Answer?

-Shakespeare, I don't know.

-Chaucer.

Here's your math question.

"Evaluate this expression."

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Zero.

-Zero?

-Yep.

It's zero.

"The introduction of the horse into America is generally credited to what Spanish conquistador who used horses to help conquer the Aztecs?"

-Cortés?

-Right.

Thank you, Herndon.

360 points.

[ Applause ] Just give me one moment.

William, I love that you answered everything with a question.

Like, "Cortés?"

-I'm not sure.

-It made me laugh.

Okay, over to Woodson now with packet number 2.

"We are guaranteed many freedoms by the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, which are known by what collective name?"

-Bill of rights.

-Yeah.

"Scientists in Egypt have discovered a mysterious chamber in what ancient 455-foot-tall geometric structure located in Giza?"

-Pyramid.

-Yeah.

"Playful one is the meaning of the name of what Native American girl who apparently stopped playing long enough to save the life of Captain John Smith?"

-Pocahontas.

-Correct.

Here's your science question.

"When you enter a dark movie theater on a sunny day, the pupils of your eyes will do which of these?"

-Dilate.

-Dilate's right.

"What Italian newspaper editor made news himself as Italy's dictator during World War II?"

-Mussolini.

-It was Mussolini.

"The feuding between the Capulet and Montague families led to the tragic ending in which Shakespeare play?"

-"Romeo and Juliet."

-Yeah.

Here's your math question.

"Evaluate this expression, giving your answer as an integer."

-Uh, 20?

-No, 18.

"In 1890, the American envoy to Haiti was what man?

A leading black abolitionist who had earlier edited 'The North Star' newspaper."

-Frederick Douglass?

-Yes.

It was.

Nice job, Woodson.

300 points.

That does it for the Packet round.

We have the Grab Bag round coming at you next.

-Hello, I'm David Rubenstein.

Did you know that koalas, native to Australia, have prints that are very similar to human fingerprints?

This has sometimes caused confusion at crime scenes.

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

-Okay.

It's Grab Bag time.

But first, let's recap the scores.

Quince Orchard High School, 420 points.

Herndon, 360 points.

Woodson, 300 points.

You guys ready for the grab bag?

Yeah?

Yeah?

How you feeling?

-I'm feeling great.

-Good, good.

Stephen?

You guys?

-Yeah.

We're good.

-Yeah.

Alright.

Quince Orchard.

How you doing?

Alright.

So, of course, in the Grab Bag round, absolutely anything can happen because we go fast and furious here.

Let's see what does.

I've got some questions in this round where questions are worth 20 points up or down.

Here we go.

"Countless poems, plays and operas have been written about what legendary Greek woman whose beautiful face launched a thousand --" Orchard.

-Helen of Troy.

-You are right.

"By the 1833 Treaty of Chicago, the Potawatomi Indians traded their lands in Illinois for 5 million acres in what neighboring Hawkeye state?"

Yep.

Orchard.

-Iowa.

-Iowa's right.

"The 1628 murder of the Duke of Buckingham is described in what Alexandre Dumas novel about a trio of soldiers and their --" Quince Orchard.

-"The Three Musketeers."

-That's it.

On your screens.

"This Gustave Moreau painting shows Oedipus answering the riddle of what monster?"

Quince Orchard.

-Sphinx.

-Sphinx is it.

"The Smithsonian Museum proudly displays a bit of mold cultivated by Alexander Fleming, who gave what P-initialed --" Herndon.

-Penicillin.

-Penicillin.

Yeah.

Nice job.

"Name either of the functions of trigonometry that are undefined at 90 degrees."

Yep.

Quince Orchard.

-No.

-Answer -- 3, 2, 1.

Tangent or secant.

"In 1998, the U.S. Mint issued a black revolutionary silver dollar featuring what African American who was the first to die in the Boston Massacre?"

The answer is Crispus Attucks.

On your screens.

"This was the hip comment made by what author, who hooked readers with books like 'So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish'"?

Anybody?

Anybody.

Douglas Adams.

Choice.

"The feeling of weary muscles indicates the production of large quantities of what acid?"

Yes.

Woodson.

-Lactic acid.

-Lactic acid.

Nice job.

"A cabin boy in Melville's 'Moby Dick' shares what short nickname with the boy in Charles Dickens's 'Great Expectations'"?

Yes, Quince Orchard.

-Pip.

-Pip.

Yes.

"England's Parliament meets in London.

But in what city does the Canadian Parliament meet?"

Yes, Herndon.

-Ottawa.

-Correct.

On your screens.

"The Merlion fountain --" -Yes.

Quince Orchard.

-Singapore.

-Yeah, it is in Singapore.

Nicely done.

Choice.

"Which of the following blood types is often considered the universal donor?"

Herndon.

-O.

-You're right.

"All those sailors may keep personal diaries.

The record of a ship's voyage is kept in a book with what name suggesting --" Orchard.

-Log.

-Log.

[ Buzzer ] And your answer is?

-Captain's log?

-Yeah.

Log book.

So, yeah.

That's it.

Nice.

And that does it.

That is the end of the game.

-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.

-Hey, I'm Stephen and I'm a senior at Woodson High School.

So in my sophomore year, I started a satellite club that will be working with NASA in the future, potentially, to build what's called a cube satellite, which is a small satellite, and get it launched into space.

And NASA offers a program called the CubeSat Launch Initiative, which is a program that will pay for the launches of student-built satellites.

And with this opportunity, I decided to put together a team at Woodson to work on a satellite, and we're currently working on our project called WIRESat -- the Woodson Ionosphere Research and Education Satellite.

And we're building the satellite to research parts of the Earth's atmosphere, called the ionosphere, and kind of determine how they change over time.

And we're hoping that this community can continue even after I graduate.

They continue to build on the STEM skills and the project-management skills that it's helping students learn.

-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 C.G.

Woodson from Fairfax, Virginia, home of the Cavaliers.

Eleanor, Stephen, Miranda, 320 points.

[ Applause ] Herndon High School from Herndon, Virginia.

The Fighting Hornets.

Peter, William, Matthew -- 420 points.

[ Applause ] And coming back for the playoffs, the 2-man team -- Quince Orchard, home of the Cougars.

Evan, Drew, well done.

Down a person.

540 points.

We are so happy to have had all of you with us today and can't wait to see you next week.

I'm Hillary Howard.

Remember, everybody... -"It's Academic."

-Bye-bye.

See ya.

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

George Mason University.

All together different.

-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.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪