-Students from Rockville, Thomas Jefferson, and Blake 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.

-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.

We are so happy to have you with us for our second semifinal match of the season.

We're really excited.

One of the reasons is that all of you guys are so good at bringing it, and now you're going to bring it again with our Fast Start.

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

First team to buzz in gets to answer.

And for you at home, the students do not see what you do on your screens.

Here we go.

All your answers must begin with the letter "I," as in ice cream.

This state has its capital at Des Moines -- TJ?

-Iowa?

-Yeah.

-Blake?

-Index.

-Correct.

Blake.

-Infinity.

-Correct.

TJ?

-Istanbul.

-Yeah.

-Blake?

-Io.

-Correct.

In physics, this is the tendency of a body at rest to -- Blake?

-Inertia.

-[ Chuckles ] Correct.

The square root of negative two -- -Blake?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -I -- No.

-No, I'm sorry.

It's imaginary.

This layer of the Earth's atmosphere lies -- TJ?

-Ionosphere?

-Yeah, you got that one.

Yeah, Blake?

-Internal.

-That's correct.

The country of Panama is what kind of narrow -- Rockville?

-Isthmus?

-Yeah, you've got it.

And that does it for the Fast Start Round.

Let's check out the scores.

We begin with Rockville, home of the Rams -- 110 points.

Thomas Jefferson -- 130 points, and Blake -- 140 points.

We are so thrilled to have such fine students on this show, so let's meet them.

We begin with Rockville and Daniel.

Hey.

-Hi, my name is Daniel, I'm a senior, and I've done "It's Academic" since ninth grade.

-Wow.

And you're a senior now.

Well, it's been good to have you on all of those years.

Alan?

-Hi, Hillary.

I'm a senior at Rockville High School.

This is my fourth year on "It's Academic."

-Beautiful.

And Jameson?

-Hello, my name is Jameson, and I'm a senior at Rockville High School, and this is my, like -- It's a year and a half I've been doing "It's Ac".

-A year and a half.

I like that.

It's very specific.

So, guys, we have questions for you in this Mix and Match Round.

Questions are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

And we begin.

Instead of vanishing, see if you can find, in this phrase, the name of what island, where over half the population of Indonesia lives.

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Java?

-Yes.

A person who is very brave can best be described by which of these adjectives?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Intrepid?

-You've got it.

I'm not going to say this one, but you can see it on your screen.

Otherwise known as the reef triggerfish, this is the state fish of what U.S. state?

The last to join the Union.

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Hawaii.

-Yeah.

By rearranging these letters, you can name what nasty Shakespeare princess who plots with her sister Regan against their father, King Lear?

-Goneril?

-Goneril?

-Yeah, that's it.

Which of these three ancient cities was badly damaged in 2015 by fighting in Syria?

-Palmyra.

-Palmyra?

-You've got it.

You can complete this quote by Tycho Brahe by adding what Objects such as Sirius, Arcturus and Alpha Centauri?

-Stars.

-Stars?

-Stars it is.

Nicely done, Rockville -- 230 points.

Over to Thomas Jefferson High School from Fairfax County.

Arya, tell us how long you've been on the show.

-Hello, I'm Arya.

I'm a senior at TJ, and I've been doing "It's Academic" for one year.

-All right.

Deven?

-Hi, I'm Deven.

I'm a senior at TJ, and I've been doing "It's Academic" for one year.

-And finally, Abigail.

-Hi, I'm Abigail.

I'm also a senior at TJ, and I've also been doing "It's Academic" for one year.

-All right.

So, how's it going for you guys?

-It's going pretty well.

-Oh, [Chuckles] pretty well.

Glad to hear it.

All right.

Here are your questions.

It's always good to wash lettuce, but see if you can find here the hidden name of what type of sedimentary rock that can be a source of oil.

-Shale?

-Yes.

If you were in a quandary, you'd be in which of these?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Two?

-Yes, a dilemma.

This nine-year war began in 1543 in an effort to force marriage between England's Prince Edward, age five, and a six-month-old baby who would grow up to be what Queen of Scots?

-[ Whispers ] Mary?

Mary?

-Mary it is.

Rearranged the letters in this anagram and you'll get what title held by Japanese military leaders until 1868?

-Shogun?

-You've got it.

Of these three fictional doctors, which one is an optimistic philosopher in Voltaire's novel Candide?

-Three?

-Yes, Pangloss.

To complete this quotation from Albert Einstein, place in the blank space What concept or continuum called the fourth dimension?

-Time?

-Time is right.

And your time with questions is up.

Thomas Jefferson -- 250 points.

And now we head over to Blake, home of the Bengals.

Nikhil, hi.

-Hi, I'm Nikhil.

I'm a senior at Blake, and I've been doing "It's Academic" for four years.

-All right.

Nathan?

-Hi, I'm an 18-year-old senior.

I've been doing "It's Academic" for four years, and I've been on the program for three.

-Very good.

And Fred?

-Hi, I'm an 18-year-old senior, and this is my 10th appearance on the show.

It's been fun.

-[ Chuckles ] It's been fun.

Okay, there's a backstory there, everybody.

We'll find it out later.

Guys, here are your questions -- -[ Indistinct whispering ] -Hidden within this phrase is what word referring to the scientific project to map all human genes and DNA base pairs?

-Genome.

-Yeah.

Something that makes you sleepy can best be described by which of these adjectives?

-The second one.

-Yes, soporific.

This term describes a group of what kind of very small dogs named for a state in Mexico?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Chihuahua.

-Correct.

I don't know if it will help your id, but it will certainly help your score if you rearrange these letters to name the ancient Apollo Oracle at what Greek site?

-Delphi.

-Yeah.

Although these states all had economic problems during the 1930s, which one was not in the Dust Bowl?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Minnesota.

-Correct again.

You can complete this unamused comment by filling in the blank with the name of what poisonous lizard that lives in the American Southwest?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Gila.

-Gila is right.

Nice, Blake.

260 points.

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 the audience -- do hyenas really laugh?

Not exactly.

The laughing or giggling sounds they make are in response to anxiety or alarm, not a fellow hyena's comedy routine.

But hyenas can count.

Did you know that?

Males will check out the number of other males in a pack before joining it themselves.

Back to the teams.

♪♪ Are you ready for some pictures?

-Yes.

-Thank you for that.

Okay, this is the Picture Perfect Round.

Questions are worth 20 points, up or down.

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

This is the Rub' al Khali desert located -- TJ?

-Saudi Arabia.

-Yeah, that's it.

This was a French dramatist's description of what K-initialed mark of affection?

Blake?

-Kiss.

-Kiss is right.

These flowers grow along a road in Lawrence, Massachusetts, near the boyhood home of what poet who wrote -- TJ?

-Frost.

-Yeah.

If X equals five -- Blake?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Zero?

-No, it's 100.

These rock formations are considered sacred by people of what South American country?

Second-largest in land -- Rockville?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Answer?

-Peru.

-No.

Argentina.

This is a treasure map, supposedly drawn by what 17th-century English pirate captain?

Blake?

-Drake?

No, it was Kidd, Captain William Kidd.

Which of these scientists developed the theory of ionization?

Rockville?

-Becquerel.

-No, Arrhenius.

Robert Henri's 1903 painting Rolling Sea depicts the rocky shore of what New England state?

Blake?

-Maine.

-Maine it is.

Yes.

And that does it for our Picture Perfect Round.

Let's recap the scores.

Rockville, home of the Rams -- 190 points.

TJ, home of the Colonials -- 290 points.

And Blake, home of the Bengals -- 260 points.

You know, these students are all exceptional, and they do amazing things, but sometimes you need a little help from some friends.

Let's turn it over to Rockville first.

Alan, who's with you?

-Hi.

So, behind me is our principal, Miss Pyles.

And our coaches, Mike Smith and Dr. Goodrich.

-All right.

Good to see you guys.

From Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology, who's with you, Deven?

-Hi.

So, behind us we have our principal, Mr. Mukai, and our coach, Miss Fu.

-All right.

Nice to see you guys, always.

And finally, from Blake, Nathan, tell us who's standing behind you.

-I'd like to thank our coaches, Mr. Caulfield and Mr. Kalina, for helping to prepare us for today.

-Beautiful.

So good to see all of you.

You know, I love when we meet the coaches and administrators because that kind of support brings these kind of results, everybody.

We're about to embark on the Packet Round.

And Rockville, you get to go first.

TJ, you choose what packet they will answer questions from.

-We'll go with three.

-Three.

All right.

And in this round, guys, questions are worth 20 points.

As you know, nothing off for a wrong answer.

But if you get all the questions right, a 25-point bonus.

Here we go.

Freedom of speech, press and religion are three of the five basic freedoms granted to us in what number Constitutional Amendment?

-The First Amendment.

-Correct.

A museum in Ohio is named for a pioneer named John Chapman, who traveled around the country planting fruit trees, an activity which earned him what two-word nickname?

-Johnny Appleseed?

-Yeah.

Though its milk contains four times as much protein as cow's milk, this superfood will not be available anytime soon, as it's difficult to milk... what insect, known in Spanish as la cucaracha?

-[ Whispers ] Um, a cockroach.

-Cockroach?

-Isn't that disgusting?

-[ Laughter ] Would you ever drink it?

I think not.

Here's your science question.

Which of these men was the 18th century scientist who studied the composition of air and is credited with the discovery of hydrogen?

-[ Whispers ] Cavendish?

-Cavendish?

-Cavendish it is.

In 1989, deep sea explorer Dr. Robert Ballard discovered the sunken remains of what German battleship named for Germany's 19th Iron Chancellor?

-[ Whispers ] Bismarck.

-Bismarck.

-Yeah.

What 1971 book by Dee Brown presented history from a Native American point of view with Indian eyewitness accounts?

Got anything?

It is Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.

Here's your math question.

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

-[ Whispers ] Three plus one times nine, so 36.

-36?

-36 is right.

And now we have your guest questioner.

It is Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and "It's Academic" alum.

-Many of the 20,000 enslaved men who were promised freedom if they served with the British during the American Revolution, sailed north afterward to what modern Canadian province, where Halifax is the capital?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Nova Scotia?

-Yes.

Beautiful.

Nova Scotia.

Nicely done, Rockville -- 330 points.

TJ, your chance to play.

And, Blake, which packet will they play from, 1 or 2?

-Number one, please.

-Number one.

Oscar Wilde's romantic comedy The Importance of Being Earnest was first performed on what February day that celebrates romance?

-[ Whispers ] 14th.

-Valentine's day, February 14th.

-[ Chuckles ] That's it.

That's right.

US involvement in the so-called banana Wars of Central America ended because of what major economic downturn that dominated the 1930s?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Great Depression.

great depression?

-Yeah.

Vachel Lindsay was an American, but one of his best-known poems names what second-longest African river in its title?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Congo.

-Congo is right.

Here's your science question.

Which of these terms refers to the small areas in the pancreas where insulin is produced?

-Uh, the first one.

-Yes.

You're right.

Mount Odin and Mount Asgard are two of the highest mountains on what B-initialed island, the largest in Canada?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Baffin?

-Baffin's it.

What American author wrote about totalitarian dictatorship in The Iron Heel, as well as an iron-willed ship's captain in The Sea Wolf?

-London?

-Jack London is right.

Here's your math question.

Evaluate this expression, giving your answer as an integer.

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Five.

-Yes, it's five.

And now your guest questioner, another "It's Academic" alum -- Maine Senator Angus King.

-Still widely used today, a special screw device was used to raise water levels.

It was invented by and named for what Ancient Greek mathematician who died in 212 BC?

-Archimedes?

-Archimedes is correct.

25-point bonus for Thomas Jefferson.

Giving them a score of 475 points.

And now, finally, Blake.

Packet number two.

A 16th-century Chinese inventor died when he sat in a chair attached to 47 rockets and set them off in an attempt to reach what Earth satellite, where there's now a crater named for him?

-Moon.

-Moo-- Can you imagine?

Many owls live in barns, but the elf owl likes to nest in what spiny desert plants of the southwestern United States?

-Cactus.

-Yes.

In 2003, scientists unearthed the remains of a two-and-a-half-ton prehistoric ancestor to what large, thick-skinned mammal with one or two horns on its snout?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Rhinoceros?

-Rhinoceros is right.

Here's your science question.

Which of these terms refers to the main constituent of the external covering of insects?

-The third one.

-Yes, chitin.

Giant amoebas have been discovered seven miles down in the Challenger Deep in what Pacific Ocean trench?

-Mariana.

-Yeah.

Among the British writers who died in World War I was H.H.

Munro, an author better known by what one-word pen name?

-Saki.

-That is right.

Here's your math question.

When A equals two, what does B equal?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Three.

-Three is right.

And now your guest questioner, PBS NewsHour co-anchor Geoff Bennett.

-In the spring of 1940, every available ship in England was sent across the channel to rescue 330,000 Allied troops from what French port?

-Dunkirk.

-Dunkirk is right.

And with that, a 25-point bonus and 445 points.

Well done, Blake.

We've got the Grab Bag Round next, and I think it's going to be fast, so please stay where you are.

-Hello, I'm David Rubenstein.

Did you know that a cockroach can live up to a week without its head?

It can breathe through tiny holes in its body segments, but it needs its head to eat and drink, so a week is about it.

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

♪♪ -All right, we've reached it.

It's the Grab Bag.

You guys ready?

-Yes.

-All right, here we go.

Questions are worth 20 points, up or down.

The first team to buzz in gets to answer.

And I see you all so ready.

I'm going to give your scores first.

330 points for Rockville.

TJ -- 475 points.

Blake -- 445 points.

Yay!

Wa-- was that unfair of me to fake you out?

-[ Laughter ] -Okay, here we go.

The nation's first telephone directory, with just 50 names, was issued in 1878 in what city that's home to Yale University?

Blake?

-New Haven, Connecticut.

-Yeah.

In Shakespeare's Macbeth, guests presumably lost their appetite when the ghost of what -- Blake?

-Banquo.

-Yes.

When the Elephants Dance is a novel set during the Japanese occupation of -- Yes, Blake?

-Korea?

-No, Philippines.

On your screens -- these New Mexico mountains share their name With what pipe and pedal musical instrument favored by -- Blake?

-Organ?

-Yeah.

One of Dickens' lesser-known works is The Mudfog Papers, about a doctor who bleeds his patients with what sort of -- Rockville?

-Leeches.

-Leeches is right.

Choice -- in an aqueous solution of table salt, which of these would accumulate at the anode -- sodium, hydrogen or chlorine?

Yeah, Rockville?...Answer?

-Chlorine?

-Yeah, chlorine.

Russia's Ivan the Terrible was not known for sense -- Yes, Blake?

-Lithuania?

-No.

Not known for sensitivity, but even he denounced the massacre of the French Huguenots.

You know what we were going for -- Saint Bartholomew's massacre.

On your screens -- That was the observation of what 20th century author of the novel -- TJ?

[ Chuckles ] Give me something?

-Dickens.

-Sinclair Lewis, the 20th-century author of Main Street.

At approximately 4,850 years of age, one of the world's oldest living trees, has been given what name?

Yeah, TJ?

-General Sherman?

-Methuselah.

No, sorry.

What is eight to the 4/3 power?

Blake?

-16.

16 it is.

Forming much of the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe -- Yes, Blake?

-The Zambezi River.

You are right.

On your screens -- This 1942 -- Rockville?

-El Alamein.

-Pardon me?

-El Alamein?

-No, the other piece of it.

We're going for Bernard Montgomery.

Otherwise... A 10th-century Native American settlement called Cahokia was home -- -[ Indistinct whispering ] Blake?

Answer in three, two... -Illinois.

-Illinois it is.

Nice.

A will directing that all his assets be used for the freedom and education of American slaves -- Yes, Rockville?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Who?

-Freedmen’s Bu-- Oh.

-No, no.

Kosciusko is what we're looking for.

In a tribute to ancient tradition, What American cellist of Chinese ancestry -- Blake?

-Yo-Yo Ma.

-Yo-Yo Ma is right.

On your screens -- -[ Indistinct whispering ] -I'm sorry.

Answer?

-Cornwallis.

-Nope, it's Robert Clive.

Here you have what 18th-century British general whose success at the Battle of Plassey was critical in securing British control of India?

Sheridan's play The Rivals includes what female character whose name identifies her habit of mangling phrases?

Yes, Blake?

-Mrs. Malaprop.

-Mrs. Malaprop is right, and that does it for the Grab Bag.

Our second semifinal is in the books.

We'll have the scores coming up in just a minute.

-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, my name's Deven, and I'm from Thomas Jefferson.

And one thing that I do in my community is, last summer, I served as a teaching assistant at a credit recovery academy, the West Springfield High School Credit Recovery Academy.

And essentially, what a credit recovery academy does is it allows students who didn't pass a course during the school year -- In this case, it was US History.

It allows them to take that course in the summer and earn credit that sets them on a path towards graduation.

And I do it because I really believe in the power of education as a tool for empowerment.

My family has always told me that education comes first, and I wanted to spread that mission to other students.

-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.

-Before we do the scores, I want to say, these teams are fabulous and each of the teams knows the other is fabulous, which is why they were so competitive and buzzing in early.

And by the way, a lot of times, their answer was right in terms of where they thought the question was going, so props to that.

Now, let's do the scores.

We begin with Rockville, home of the Rams.

Daniel, Alan, Jameson -- 330 points.

Bringing in a 25-point bonus, Thomas Jefferson, home of the Colonials.

Arya, Deven, Abigail -- 435 points.

Nicely done.

And coming back for the championship game, Blake, home of the Bengals.

Nikhil, Nathan, Fred and little Blake Bengal, the tiger, right?

What's his name?

-Benny.

-Benny.

I always forget.

545 points!

We are so happy that you were here with us for this second semifinal match.

We love that you guys all support education the way we do.

And remember, everybody... -...it's academic!

-Bye-bye.

-Support for "It's Academic" has been provided by the following -- George Mason University, All Together Different.

-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.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪