-Students from Richard Montgomery... ...Rockville... ...McLean meet today on "It's Academic."

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and 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.

-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.

-What happens when the right people connect, diversity challenges convention mentors inspire greatness, and passions drive innovation?

From health to transportation and national security, cyber and AI to space and back, MITRE connects the power of government, academia, and industry to meet our nation's challenges together.

MITRE connects.

♪♪ -Hey, so glad you've joined us for our second semifinal match of the season.

And of course, we begin, as we always do with the Fast Start, where questions are worth ten points up or down.

First team to buzz in gets to answer.

Here we go.

When The Cat's Away -- All questions in this Fast Start round will relate to mice and other rodents.

He created Mickey Mouse in -- -Rockville.

-Disney.

-Disney is correct.

-Rockville.

-Chocolate.

-Chocolate.

Yes.

This semi-aquatic South American animal is the world's largest -- -McLean.

-Capybara.

-Yep, you got that one.

Richard Montgomery.

-Jerry.

-Yeah.

Mice are a source of protein in this African country where Lilongwe is -- Rockville.

-Malawi.

-Malawi is right.

The Rat Islands are part of this island chain -- McLean.

-Aleutians.

-Correct.

The Mouse King appears in this -- -McLean.

-"Nutcracker."

-Yeah.

This P-initialed rodent has quills -- -McLean.

-Possum.

-No.

Porcupine.

The mouse River flows through this state where Bismarck is -- -Rockville.

-North Dakota.

-Correct.

Gerbils like engaging in this activity then can be sumo or Greco-- Rockville.

-Wrestling.

-Wrestling is right.

And that does it for our Fast Start round.

[ Applause ] Let's recap those scores.

We begin with Richard Montgomery 110, Rockville 150, McLean 120.

♪♪ So you know them.

You love them.

These teams, Richard Montgomery, Rockville, and McLean have won two games already.

This is their first semifinal.

Well, the only semifinal match.

Let's meet them.

We begin with Richard Montgomery from Rockville, Maryland.

Hey, Rachel, good to see you again.

-Hey, it's good to see you.

-Thanks.

What should we know about you?

-I am a senior at Richard Montgomery.

I like to read.

Recently, I've been getting into pottery.

-Nice.

So what kind of stuff are you doing?

-Mostly -- Mostly bowls.

You know, I'm working my way up.

-Okay.

Josh, how about you?

-Hey, I'm Josh, I'm a senior at Richard Montgomery.

Um, I love to watch movies.

And also TV shows.

Have this new mic setup.

Kind of reminds me of, um, "Frasier."

I feel like I'm Doctor Crane in Seattle.

-I'm listening.

And.

Hello, Michelle.

-Hello.

-What's going on?

-Also, senior at Richard Montgomery and recently went up to watch the eclipse so.

-Where did you see it?

-Oh, we went up to New Hampshire.

-Beautiful.

And in totality there?

-Yeah.

-What was it like?

It was -- It was a little disconcerting to see, like everything darkened around you.

But it was really nice.

It was really cool.

-Well, okay, guys, here are some questions for you.

They're worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

Build Flat Viaducts -- You can build up your score by finding, in this phrase the name of what small Baltic country whose capital is Riga?

-Latvia.

-Yeah.

Demanding, dormant, demonic -- Which of these words would be the best synonym for the word quiescent?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Dormant.

-Dormant, yes.

To complete this observation from General Sherman, add what concept that is called the fourth dimension.

-Time.

-Time is right.

Paramecia, coelacanths, gastropods -- Whether or not you enjoy eating snails, you should know that snails are classified as which of these?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Gastropods.

-Yeah.

Poet Lord Byron wrote this description of what A-initialed sea that separates Greece from Turkey?

-Aegean.

-Yes, that is it.

Nicely done.

Richard Montgomery, 210 points.

[ Applause ] Now let's mosey on over to Rockville High School, obviously, from Rockville, Maryland.

Hello, Daniel.

-Hi, I'm Daniel, I am a junior at Rockville High School, and I'm an avid science fiction reader.

-What's your favorite book and author?

-Well, I would say my favorite book is, uh, "Solaris" by Stanislaw Lem.

And I think it's a really interesting book because of how, like, um, philosophical is.

-Cool.

I'll have to dive into that one.

Thanks.

Hello, Henry.

-Hello.

I'm a senior here at Rockville High School.

Um, I play Magic the Gathering every Friday.

-Do you really?

-Yeah, down at the card shop.

-Are you good?

-Uh, sort of.

Not really.

Kind of.

-Alright, well.

-Go Merfolk.

-Good to see you.

And.

Hello, Alan.

-Hi, Hillary.

Um, I'm a junior at Rockville High School.

And I play tennis.

Our season just started.

-Oh, I do remember that.

And are you excited about the season?

-Oh, I'm incredibly excited.

We have, uh, some new people coming on.

I think this year will be a strong year for our team.

-Wonderful.

Here are the questions, gentlemen.

Try a Lucky Coin -- You won't need luck if you find in this sentence the name of what Asian river that forms a boundary between Korea and China?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Yeah, Yalu.

-That's it.

Diverse interests, a temper, money -- If a person were described as eclectic, you would expect that person to have which of these?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Diverse interests.

-Yep.

to complete this phrase by writer P.G.

Wodehouse, name what mythical titan who was chained to a rock because he had given fire to mankind.

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Prometheus.

-Prometheus it is.

Rhizome, stamen, pod -- Which of these terms refers to the underground stem in plants that sends up other leaf-producing stems?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Rhizome.

-Yeah.

This remark is characteristic of what American woman who led a full, adventurous life despite being both deaf and blind?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Helen Keller.

-Helen Keller is right.

Rockville 250 points.

[ Applause ] Now to the non-Maryland team of the day.

[ Laughter ] McLean High School obviously from McLean, Virginia the returning champions.

Carter, what's going on with you?

-Hi I'm Carter I'm a senior at McLean.

And, uh, I was recently convinced to audition for the school play.

-And what is.

-It's "Anastasia."

-And did you get a part?

-Uh, I'm in the ensemble, but it's fun.

And all of last week and all of next week is going to be devoted to that.

So, yeah, I've had a great time.

-Alright.

Good to see you, Carter.

Hello, Andrew.

-Hi.

Uh, I'm also a senior at McLean.

And speaking of tight-knit community, I am also in "Anastasia."

[ Laughter ] Um, outside of that, I've been getting more into writing some classical music lately.

Um, currently about 60 bars into a string quartet.

-Wow.

That's fabulous.

-Yeah.

It's nice to be able to hear your work being realized as it comes together.

-Yeah.

Awesome.

Well, good to have you again, Andrew.

And.

Hello, Clara.

-Hi, I'm Clara.

I'm also a senior at McLean High School.

And I will unfortunately be missing our school's production of "Anastasia" because I'm going to be playing at the All-State band.

-Best piece that you're playing?

-Uh, "Libertadores."

It's like 15 minutes long.

It's great.

I'm really excited.

-Okay, guys.

Here we go.

Ninja Rub A Cat -- You can rub on suntan lotion if you find hidden in this phrase the name of what Caribbean island whose capital is Oranjestad?

-Aruba.

-Yeah.

Linnaeus, riparian, temporal -- Which of these adjectives describes objects containing wood or wood fibers?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Riparian.

-No ligneous.

-Oh.

To complete this description of diplomats add what type of explosive invented by Alfred Nobel.

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Dynamite.

-Dynamite is right.

Coulombs, quanta, filaments -- Theoretical physicist Max Planck demonstrated that electromagnetic energy flows in individual packets called which of these?

-Quanta.

Quanta is right?

Sir Kenneth Clarke made this observation about what musical art form exemplified by Verdi's "Aida" and Puccini's "La bohème."

-Opera.

-Yes, it is opera.

Nicely done.

McLean, 200 points.

That does it for our Mix and Match round.

But we are far from over.

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.

♪♪ [ Applause ] -We've reached the Picture Perfect round and all you viewers know out there.

The Picture Perfect round includes questions that are worth 20 points up or down.

And teams, you know the first team to buzz in gets to answer.

Here is the first picture.

This is what French diplomat and engineer, the driving force behind building the Suez -- Rockville.

-Lesseps.

-Yeah.

This painting shows the U.S. military capturing what Mexican port in 1840?

Richard Montgomery.

-Veracruz.

-Yeah.

Please complete the Steve Jobs quote by filling in the blank with what kind of outlaws such as Blackbeard -- Rockville.

-Pirate.

-Pirate it is.

Evaluate this -- [ Indistinct whispering ] Rockville.

Answer.

[ Indistinct whispering ] Three, two... -Two.

-No.

16.

-16, yeah.

-This is a detail of a 15th century painting of what Biblical queen who paid a visit to King -- McLean.

-Sheba?

-Yeah.

Queen of Sheba.

The first significant protest march on Washington took place in 1894 when what -- Richard Montgomery.

-Coxey's Army.

-Yeah, very nicely done.

This ancient Middle-Eastern god had the same name as what British ship that John Paul Jones captured?

Rockville.

-Serapis.

-Serapis is right.

You can stroll along this lovely beach if you visit what small West African country whose capital city is Ankara.

McLean.

-Ghana.

-Ghana.

Yeah.

Among the most intricate of Scottish tartans is this pattern, which represents -- McLean.

-Plaid?

-No.

Which represents the family of what British writer?

Hugo -- Hugh Munro.

This is a distant view of what city?

The capital of Puerto Rico.

Rockville.

Answer.

Three, two, one -- -San Juan.

-San Juan.

It is.

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

[ Applause ] Let's talk about these scores, huh?

Richard Montgomery 250, Rockville 310, McLean 220.

[ Applause ] And now we get to meet the coaches, which is a fun thing to do because the coaches work closely with these teams to get them to the semifinals.

We begin with Richard Montgomery.

The captain is Josh.

Josh, who's with you today?

-Um, joining us in the studio today are our coach, Mr. Mason, and our principal, Ms. Deeney.

Uh, Mr. Mason has worked with us for a number of years now.

Uh, this is going to be all of our last season playing Quiz Bowl.

-Aww.

-Um, and we'll all be real sorry to go.

-Always great having you guys.

To Rockville.

Henry, tell us about your coaches.

-Well, first off, I want to give a shout out to our main coach who was not able to be here today for the first time ever.

Dr. Gee, he's amazing.

He's been doing it forever.

We have our assistant coach here, Mike Smith.

Um.

He's great.

Then we also have our principal, uh, Ms. Pyles.

Um, and also our parents and also our alternates, Trenton and Jamison.

-Very good.

Hello, McLean.

Andrew, tell us about your coach.

-So we have today, Mr. Brocketti and Mrs. Benedict, who are our two coaches.

Both absolutely wonderful teachers.

And we have Doctor Riley, our principal, who comes to pretty much all of our important events for Quiz Bowl.

Uh, and of course we have our alternate Edward.

And all of our parents are here as well to help support us.

-Awesome, and I'm glad you have that kind of crew ready to cheer you on, because we're about to embark on the Packet round.

Alright, so you guys are very experienced with "It's Academic."

You know that in this round we have three packets -- One, two, three.

Richard Montgomery, you go first.

Rockville, you choose which packet they answer questions from.

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Three.

-Three.

Questions are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

And if you get all the questions right, there is a 25-point bonus.

Here we go, Richard Montgomery.

Omar Khayyam not only wrote the "Rubaiyat," he also wrote a book on what A-initial branch of mathematics studied along with geometry?

-Algebra.

-Yeah.

-People have about 700 muscles in their bodies, but more than 4,000 muscles stretch over the frame of what larval form of butterfly?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Yeah.

Pupae.

-No.

Caterpillar.

-Okay.

-That's all.

A Civil War battle on Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, was named the battle above what kind of cirrus or cumulus phenomena?

-The clouds.

-Yeah.

Here's your science question.

Beta, alpha, gamma -- Which of these radioactive emissions is not affected by an electric field?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Gamma.

-Yep.

That's it.

Because of a dispute over a pig, five British warships and 100 U.S. soldiers were dispatched in 1859 to an island off the coast of what Westernmost Canadian province?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -British Columbia.

-Yeah, beautiful British Columbia.

What woman who also did a study of voodoo religion is known for her 1937 novel, "Their Eyes Were Watching God"?

-Zora Neale Hurston.

-Correct.

Here's your math question.

Solve for x.

[ Indistinct whispering ] Negative 9.

-Negative 9 is right.

And now we have a special guest questioner.

It is "PBS NewsHour" co-anchor Geoffrey Bennett.

-Land of Moors is the meaning of the name of what West African country whose capital is Nouakchott?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -[ Chuckles ] Consulting.

Consulting.

-Mauritania.

-Yeah.

It's Mauritania.

Nice job, Richard Montgomery, 390 points.

[ Applause ] Now over to Rockville.

Packet one or two, McLean?

-One.

-One.

Here we go.

"Quidditch Through the Ages" is the most checked out library book at what fictional school of magic?

-All: Hogwarts.

-Yeah.

Hogwarts.

-Hogwarts.

Yeah.

Called the most successful failures in history, what series of medieval military expeditions was an effort to recapture the Holy Land?

-Crusades.

-Yes.

-Screech, Snowy and Great Horned are all terms used by ornithologists to describe what bird associated with wisdom?

-All: Owls.

-Owl.

-Yeah.

Science question.

Gasoline and water, alcohol and water, carbon tetrachloride and water -- Which of these sets of liquids is miscible?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Um, do you know that word means?

Uh, I'm going to go with alcohol and water?

Alcohol and water.

-So glad you did.

That is correct.

Double-entry bookkeeping was first used by accountants for what Italian family that ruled Florence from the 13th to 17th centuries?

-Yeah.

Medici.

Medicis.

-Correct.

Readers were hooked on "Saving Fish from Drowning," A novel by what Chinese American woman who had earlier reeled in praise with "The Joy Luck Club"?

-Yeah.

Tan.

-Yeah.

-Here's your math question.

Evaluate this expression if x equals -2.

[ Indistinct whispering ] [ Whispering continues ] -Two.

-Two is correct.

And now your guest questioner, Senate Majority Leader and "It's Academic" alum, Chuck Schumer.

-The development of weed is generally attributed to the people of ancient Mesopotamia, a region located in what modern country whose cities include Basra and Mosul?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Iraq.

-Iraq is right.

Rockville, you've got a 25-points bonus and 495 points.

[ Applause ] Alright, McLean, you are up.

Doctor Mary Walker, a surgeon in the Civil War, was the first woman to receive what highest military decoration in America?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Answer.

-Medal of honor.

-Yeah.

That's it.

As part of a deal to buy Florida from Spain, the United States agreed to give up land claims in the territory that later became what Lone Star State?

-Texas?

-Yes.

The vast salt flats in Bolivia cover much of the world's supply of what element whose chemical symbol is "Li" and whose atomic number is 3?

-Lithium.

Lithium.

-Yeah.

Here's your science question.

Amplitude, wavelength, period -- The speed of a wave is equal to its frequency times which of these?

[ Indistinct whispering ] Answer.

-Wavelength.

-Yes, it is.

-Nice.

You don't need a nose to be able to sneeze if you are what kind of aquatic creature of the phylum Porifera that uses body contractions to expel water and mucus?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Sponge.

-Yes.

Sponges.

The Bible isn't the only work that ends with the word "Amen," so does the Shakespeare play named for what villainous king who offered his kingdom for a horse?

-"Richard III."

-Yes.

It was.

Here's your math question.

If x equals 2, what is the value of this expression?

[ Indistinct whispering ] Answer.

-Negative 10.

-Yes it is.

Now, your special guest questioner, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

-The statement, "God does not require uniformity of religion," was made by what colonial minister who founded Providence, Rhode Island, after being banned from Massachusetts?

[ Indistinct whispering ] [ Chuckles ] Guy.

-Roger Williams.

-Roger Williams it is.

We have another 25-point bonus, and 405 points for McLean.

You know what's coming up next?

It's the Grab Bag.

So stay where you are.

-Hello, I'm David Rubenstein.

Did you know you can't sneeze when you're asleep?

At least not during deep sleep.

Which is just as well, since you can't blow your nose then either.

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

♪♪ [ Applause ] -We've reached the final round, the Grab Bag round, where questions are worth 20 points up or down, and it's pretty exciting.

So let's begin.

Though it wasn't fought on a college campus, the slogan of the French Revolution linked liberty and equality -- McLean.

-Fraternity.

-Yeah.

Lincoln Steffens attacked political corruption in his angry -- Rockville.

In three, two, one.

-"Sin Of The City."

-It's "The Shame Of The Cities."

I have to leave that to the judges.

Nope.

Sorry.

The Pearl Harbor attack occurred on, what, 1941 date of -- McLean.

-December 7th.

-Yeah.

On your screens.

This waterfall is one of the many scenic attractions in what small South American country whose capital is Paramaribo?

-McLean.

Suriname.

-Correct again.

Six interlocking stories about teen love.

Light up the book "Blackout" by what author of "On the Come Up"?

McLean.

-Angie Thomas.

-Correct.

The cosine of what acute angle is equal to the sine of 20 degrees?

Rockville.

[ Indistinct whispering ] Answer.

-Uh... -Three -- -70.

-70 is right.

A Utah River has the same name as what simple form of transportation that Huck Finn used to float -- Rockville.

In three, two, one.

-Steamboat.

-Nope.

Raft.

On your screens.

America's founding fathers were influenced by -- Richard Montgomery.

-John Locke.

-John Locke is right.

Nice.

The Titanic sister ship, the Britannic, was sunk by a floating mine in what year?

Just four years after the Titanic struck -- Rockville.

-1916.

-Yep.

Most odes are found in poetry books, but the musical "Ode to Joy" is found in the 9th symphony -- Rockville.

-Beethoven.

-Yes it is.

What writer -- What French writer created a big fuss about Alfred Dreyfus and his famous letter -- McLean.

-Zola.

-Yes.

On your screens.

The ghosts of Crimean War soldiers are said to haunt this area near what S-initialed Crimean city?

Richard Montgomery.

-Sevastopol.

-Yeah, you've got it.

A Latin root meaning "elsewhere" gives us, what, five-letter word for a criminal -- [ Buzzer ] That's the end of the game.

[ Applause ] Stick around, we'll be right back with the official scores in just a moment.

-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, my name is Evie and I'm a freshman at Dominion High School.

In my free time, I like to volunteer at my church where I help teach kids Bible lessons.

I also like to volunteer at my local taekwondo studio where I teach kids skills such as kicking and sparring.

I really like to be around kids and help volunteer with them, because they always give me a lot of energy and they're so lively and fun, and I learn a lot of leadership skills that I can implement at school and in my home life.

-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.

-Alright, the scores are now official.

We begin with Richard Montgomery High School from Rockville, Maryland.

Rachel, Josh, and Michelle, 430 points.

From McLean, Virginia, McLean High School.

Carter, Andrew, Clara, 505 points.

Nice guys.

And coming back for the championship game, the gentleman from Rockville High School, Daniel, Henry, Alan, 515 points.

Stick around.

We'll be right back.

-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.

-What happens when the right people connect, diversity challenges convention, mentors inspire greatness, and passions drive innovation?

From health to transportation and national security, cyber and AI to space and back, MITRE connects the power of government, academia, and industry to meet our nation's challenges together.

MITRE connects.

-Make sure you catch us next time for the third semi-final match when we have Sandy Spring Friends, Landon, and Georgetown Day.

I'm Hillary Howard.

See you next time.

Bye, guys.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪