-From the Casey Studio at WETA, students from South Lakes... Elizabeth Seton... and Osbourn meet today on "It's Academic"!

[ Applause ] [ Theme music plays ] ♪♪ [ Applause ] Hello, everybody.

I'm Hillary Howard.

Welcome to "It's Academic," the world's longest-running TV quiz show, now in its 65th season, produced by Altman Productions and the great WETA.

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

[ Applause ] -Well, hello.

We're very happy you're there today.

And we begin this "It's Academic" match with the Fast Start, as we always do, teams.

You probably know how it works.

Questions are worth 10 points up or down.

First team to buzz in gets to answer.

And the students don't see what you do on the screens in this particular round.

Teams, fictional animals.

All questions in this round have to do with various fictional animals.

Kermit is this amphibian -- South Lakes.

-Frog.

-Frog is right.

Yes.

Eaton.

-Um... -Eeyore.

-Eeyore.

Yeah.

In this Disney film, Jiminy is what kind of creature -- Osbourn.

-Cricket.

-Cricket's right.

Yes, South Lakes.

-Smokey.

-Smokey is it.

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is this animal -- Osbourn.

-Mongoose.

-Mongoose is correct.

-Yes.

-Cerberus.

-No.

Argos.

Yeah, Osbourn.

-Bambi.

-Bambi is right.

And in the film "Bambi," Thumper is this small -- South Lakes.

-Rabbit.

-Rabbit's right.

Anybody, anybody?

Nana?

And the answer is horse.

Alright.

Nicely done, everybody.

Let's recap those scores.

[ Cheers and applause ] Alright.

Let's meet the teams.

We begin with South Lakes High School, home of the Seahawks, in Reston, Virginia.

Isla, how are you doing?

-I'm doing good.

-Good.

Tell us something about yourself.

-I'm a sophomore.

This is my second year doing quiz bowl and my first year doing "It's Academic."

-Well, we're very happy to have you.

-And I really like genetics.

-Ooh, cool.

Eric, how are you?

-Hi.

I'm Eric.

I'm a senior.

This is my third year doing "It's Academic."

And I play marimba in my school's marching band.

-Very nice.

And, Avery, hey.

-Hi.

I'm also a senior, but this is my first year doing anything quiz bowl-related.

And I really think it's neat how it's TV time and I'm on TV.

-[ Laughing ] -Well, we're very glad we can help facilitate your desire to be seen by everybody else in this game today.

Guys, these questions are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

Hidden within this phrase is the name of what "Wind in the Willows" amphibian?

-[ Whispering ] Toad.

-Toad.

-Toad is right.

If an employee plans to augment his or her salary, they intend to take which of these actions?

-Add to it.

-Yeah.

Oats are always good, but the letters in this phrase can be rearranged to name what sort of two-wheeled, horse drawn vehicle used for racing in ancient Rome?

-Chariot -Chariot's correct.

This date marked the execution of what abolitionist who six weeks earlier had led the attack on Harpers Ferry?

-John Brown.

-You've got it.

Two of these phrases appear in the preamble to the Constitution.

Which one does not?

-International peace.

-You were right again.

This quote from an elderly comedian can be completed by adding the name of what salty Middle East sea on the border separating Israel and Jordan?

-[ Whispering ] I think it's Dead.

[ Normal voice ] Dead Sea.

-Yeah.

From sick to dead.

[ Laughs ] Absolutely.

That does it, South Lakes.

Nice job.

250 points.

[ Applause ] To Elizabeth Seton School from Bladensburg, Maryland.

Hello, Alyssa.

Tell us something about yourself.

-Hi.

I'm a senior at Elizabeth Seton High School, and this is my second year doing "It's Academic."

I am an AV technician for plays, musicals, assemblies, and masses.

-That's great.

So you must really like this.

Yeah.

Good to have you again.

Hi, Kiera.

-Hi.

I'm a senior at Elizabeth Seton, and I do year-round competitive swimming.

-Really cool.

And finally, we say hello to Tiffany.

Hi.

-Hi.

I'm also a senior at Elizabeth Seton High School, and I really like computer science, engineering, and animation.

-Cool.

We'll see some of your designs one day, hopefully.

[ Laughs ] Here we go.

You won't need a tonic if you can find hidden here the name of what Ohio city that was home to the Wright Brothers.

-[ Whispering ] Dayton.

-Dayton.

-Yes.

You would not want someone to call you insipid because insipid has which of these meanings?

-[ Whispering ] Stubborn.

-Stubborn.

-No.

Lacking excitement.

Please rearrange the letters in this anagram and you'll name what medieval pseudoscience whose practitioners tried turning base metals to gold?

-Alchemy.

-Alchemy's correct.

This was a big day for astronomy when Sir William Herschel discovered what planet that lies between Saturn and Neptune?

-Jupiter.

-No.

Uranus.

Which of these patriotic songs was popular during the Revolutionary War?

-[ Whispering ] "Yankee Doodle."

-"Yankee Doodle."

-"Yankee Doodle" is right.

You can complete this information from the ancient writer Plutarch by adding the name of what Egyptian queen, beloved by Mark Antony?

-Cleopatra.

-Cleopatra is right.

Nice job, Elizabeth Seton.

180 points.

[ Applause ] And now to Osbourn High School from Manassas, Virginia.

Hello, Gabrielle.

-Hello.

I'm a senior at Osbourn High School, and I'm part of the debate and tennis team.

-Nice.

Debate.

But you don't debate while you tennis.

[ Laughs ] Okay.

Hi, Victoria.

-Hi.

I am a senior at Osbourn High School.

In my free time, I tutor in math, and I do theater.

-Wonderful.

And Marshall.

-I am a senior at Osbourn High School, and I am the president of my school's Latin Club.

-Latin is a very good thing to know, in college especially, right?

Guys, here we go.

See if you can find in this sentence about Nicaragua the name of what small, self-governing U.S.

territory in the Pacific.

-Guam.

-Yeah.

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

-Reserved.

-Yes.

You don't want to hiss the dew, so rearrange these letters to name what language spoken in Stockholm.

-[ Whispering ] Swedish.

-[ Whispering ] Swedish.

-[ Normal voice ] Swedish.

-Swedish is right.

On this date, the U.S.

Supreme Court reinforced an earlier ruling by refusing to delay school integration.

in what Arkansas capital city?

-Little Rock.

-Yeah.

Little Rock.

Which of these medical problems is not spread by mosquitoes?

-Botulism.

-It is botulism.

In describing the ancient cave paintings found at Lascaux in France, one writer compared them to what ancient Greek temple on the Acropolis?

-The Parthenon.

-It is the Parthenon.

Nice, Osbourn.

250 points.

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

The Picture Perfect round is coming at you next.

Stay with us.

In 1961, nine high-school students walked into a TV studio in Washington, D.C., to film the very first episode of "It's Academic."

-Good evening, and welcome to "It's Academic," the weekly program... -Little did they know that over the course of the next 65 years, thousands of high-school students would follow them onto the set and into broadcast history.

-I think what has kept "It's Academic" on the air for so long, you had strong support from the schools.

And we've had a strong community support.

-There aren't a ton of outlets to, like, be competitive in an academic setting.

-It teaches composure, knowledge, wisdom.

-And it's, like, an engaging, fun quiz show, but it also teaches you so much about the world in so many different facets.

-Today, "It's Academic" is celebrating 65 years and is the world's longest-running TV quiz show.

Thank you, students, schools, viewers, and fans.

And remember, it's academic.

Well, now we can begin the Picture Perfect round, teams.

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

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

As its circular shape suggests, this Galaxy shares its name with what kind of jewelry named in the title of a Tolkien trilogy.

Yep, South Lakes.

-Ring.

-Ring is right.

This blanket was woven for a chief of what "N"-initialed tribe of Native Americans?

Yes, Osbourn.

-Navajo.

-Navajo is it.

Because of its cry, this swan is named for what musical instrument favored by Louis Armstrong?

Yep.

Osbourn.

-Trumpet.

-Trumpet's right.

And he hated Loo-wee Armstrong, by the way.

He liked Loo-wis.

Taking positive roots, it's -- Okay, South Lakes.

Do you want me to read it?

-16.

-16 is right.

Very good.

During our dispute with Britain over the Oregon Territory, this map was drawn to show settlements along the shore of what sound in Washington state?

South Lakes.

-Puget Sound.

-Yes.

This was the way one scientist described what insects whose name indicates 100 legs?

Yep, South Lakes.

-Centipedes.

-Centipedes.

Right choice.

Titled "Music," this 1910 work is by what French artist -- Mahler, Matisse, or Monteverdi?

The answer is Matisse.

Roman emperor Augustus had a record of his achievements inscribed on a temple wall in what city, now the capital of Turkey?

Yep.

Seahawks.

-Ankara.

-Ankara is right.

Well-done.

Let's recap those scores.

[ Applause ] How about we meet the coaches who helped prepare these teams for "It's Academic"?

And we begin with South Lakes.

Tell us who's with you, Eric.

-Today, we have two amazing people with us.

We have our mascot, Seymour the Seahawk, and our amazing coach, Mrs.

Frantz.

-Very good.

So glad to have you here.

Thanks.

[ Applause ] Over to Elizabeth Seton.

Kiera, who's behind you?

-This is Ms.

Edwards, our computer science teacher and coach.

-Awesome.

Thank you so much for being here.

[ Applause ] And to Osbourn, we have a whole team behind you, Victoria.

-Yes, we do.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone here to support us today.

We have our coaches -- Mr.

Iqbal, Ms.

Hagood, and Ms.

Hein.

We have our principal, Dr.

Chapman.

We have a school board chair, Ms.

Seaberg, vice chair Spall, and Councilman Osina.

We also have parents, staff, and other fans of our team.

[ Applause ] -Thank you to all of the coaches.

We really appreciate you being here.

Alright.

And now we can start the packet round.

South Lakes, you'll answer questions first.

Elizabeth Seton, you get to choose which envelope they'll answer questions from.

-1.

-1.

-1.

-South Lakes... We've got a North and South Carolina, but what state has a West, but no East equivalent?

-Virginia.

-Yeah.

It's Virginia.

There are now thousands of people in the U.S.

certified in what ancient Chinese medical procedure involving the insertion of multiple needles?

-Acupuncture.

-Acupuncture is right.

"We Fed an Island" is a book about the chefs who fed thousands of people in 2017 after Hurricane Maria hit what Caribbean island, a U.S.

territory?

-Puerto Rico.

-That is right.

Here's your science question.

Which of these three elements is not frequently used in transistors and semiconductors?

-[ Whispering ] Tungsten.

[ Normal voice ] Tungsten.

-You've got it right again.

When he said, "You furnish the pictures.

I'll furnish the war," William Randolph Hearst was referring to what 1898 war for which his newspapers whipped up public support?

-Spanish-American War.

-That's right.

Jockey's Ridge, North Carolina, boasts the East Coast's biggest example of what kind of hilly sand formation that titles a Frank Herbert's novel -- -Dune.

-Dune.

Yeah.

Here's your math question.

Solve for X if Y equals 5.

-49.

-49 is right.

In 1841, what vice president served only 31 days before succeeding William Henry Harrison to become our 10th president.

-John Tyler.

-Nice.

25-point bonus for South Lakes.

Well-done.

[ Applause ] Over to Elizabeth Seton.

You guys are up to answer questions.

Osbourn, will they answer questions from packet 2 or 3?

-3.

-3.

The gradual cooling of its core has resulted in the shrinking of what small planet closest to the sun?

-Mercury.

-Yeah.

It's Mercury.

In 1967, Francis Chichester was knighted after single-handedly repeating what sailing feat that had been first accomplished by the Magellan expedition?

-Circumnavigating.

-You've got it.

Many rulers have had regrets, but Philip II of Spain must have felt especially sunk after he sent what forced to attack England in 1588?

You're gonna know it when I say it.

The Spanish Armada.

Here is your science question.

A beam of parallel rays is reflected from a plane's surface.

After reflection, the rays will be which of these?

-Diverging.

-Nah.

Parallel -The notorious fugitive slave laws were passed as part of what compromise whereby California was admitted to the Union?

-The Missouri compromise.

-Actually, it's the Compromise of 1850.

The title character of what Shakespeare tragedy is an ambitious Scottish nobleman who plots with his wife to kill King Duncan?

-Macbeth.

-Yes.

Here's your math question.

Please perform the indicated operations.

-4,000.

-Yeah.

4,000.

"Blessed are the young, for they shall inherit the national debt.

I'm so sorry."

So said what 31st president, in office when the stock market crashed in 1929?

-[ Whispering ] Hoover.

-Hoover.

-Yeah, Hoover.

That does it.

Nice job, Elizabeth Seton.

280 points.

[ Applause ] Alright.

To Osbourn, with packet 2.

Team, the first electronically designed U.S.

postage stamp depicted sculptor Frédéric Bartholdi With what large statue that lifts up her torch in New York Harbor?

-Statue of Liberty.

-Yeah.

From 1936 until 1977, it was illegal for workers in Spain to belong to what sort of organization, such as those in the AFL-CIO?

-[ Whispering ] Union?

[ Normal voice ] Union.

-That's it.

NASA scientists cheered after the successful 2008 Mars landing of a spacecraft named for what mythical bird that's reborn from its own ashes?

-Phoenix.

-Yeah.

Here's your science question.

-Along the internodes, especially on young twigs, tiny pores known by which of these terms allow gas exchange between the atmosphere and the stem interior?

[ Whispering indistinctly ] -Lenticels.

-That's it.

George Washington had a foxhound named for what Roman god of the forge, the counterpart of the Greek Hephaestus?

Answer?

In 3...2...1.

Vulcan.

The 1820s sinking of the Essex after it had been rammed by a whale provided the inspiration for what Herman Melville novel, published 31 years later?

-"Moby Dick."

-It is "Moby Dick."

Here's your math question.

What is the length of this rectangle if it has a width of 10 and a perimeter of 80?

-[ Whispering ] 30.

[ Normal voice ] 30.

-Yeah.

Our country's first trillion-dollar budget was presented in 1987 during the second term of what 40th president?

And the answer is -- -Reagan?

-Yes.

It's Ronald Reagan.

Nice.

Osbourn, home of the Eagles, 430 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] That does it for the packet round.

Grab Bag is next.

"It's Academic" has been on the air for 65 years.

and over the decades, we've showcased thousands of high-school students from all over the D.C.

area.

Today, "It's Academic" continues to celebrate education and remains a critical part of WETA's mission-focused programming.

With the recent loss of federal funding for public media, we need your help now more than ever to support "It's Academic."

Please make a donation and become a friend of "It's Academic" today and help keep "It's Academic" on the air and streaming for our students and their futures.

[ Applause ] Alright, here we are.

It's Grab Bag time.

Questions are worth 20 points up or down.

First team to buzz in gets to answer.

Here we go.

What same word refers to a cupboard and, also, the President's official group of advisers heading -- Osbourn.

-Cabinet.

Yes.

The Pennsylvania town of Valencia takes its name from the Spanish region famous for producing what citrus fruit?

Yeah, Elizabeth Seton?

-Oranges.

-Yeah.

That's it.

Called the Hidden Falls, a 100-foot-high waterfall was discovered in 1998 In what mountainous Asian land where Lhasa is capital?

The answer is Tibet.

On your screens.

Radishes get their name from the Latin word radix, meaning what portion of a plant that grows downward and absorbs water and nutrients?

Osbourn.

-Roots.

-Roots is right.

A student taking a correspondence course might study the casket letters of what Stewart Queen beheaded at the behest of Elizabeth I?

And the answer is Mary, Queen of Scots.

Choice -- of the following gases, which diffuses most rapidly -- oxygen, helium, or hydrogen?

Yep, South Lakes.

-Hydrogen.

-Yeah, it is.

In 1816, James Monroe defeated Rufus King, the last presidential nominee of what party?

Yep, South Lakes.

-The Whigs?

-Nope.

The Federalist Party.

On your screens.

This is what ancient Greek philosopher whose teachings have come down to us through Plato's "Dialogues"?

Yes, South Lakes.

-Aristotle.

-Nah.

Socrates.

Political cartoonists traditionally used what ursine animal to symbolize Russia?

Yes, South Lakes.

-Bear.

-You got that one.

If the edges of a cube are doubled, the volume is how many times -- yes, South Lakes.

-Eight.

-Eight is right.

Author Dashiell Hammett wrote a mystery about a Maltese variety of what sort of -- South Lakes.

-Falcon.

Yeah.

Not a Seahawk, though.

On your screens one morning, Franz Kafka wrote these opening words -- South Lakes.

-"Metamorphosis."

-Yes.

it was.

What is the area of a square that has a diagonal of length two times the square root of two?

Yep, South Lakes.

-Four.

-Four is right.

One of the first 18th-Century writers to write ghost stories was what author better known for "Robinson Crusoe"?

Yes.

South Lakes.

-Stevenson?

-Nope.

Daniel Defoe.

To avoid the U.S.

Navy, what Confederate warship named for a river valley in Virginia sailed around the world?

The answer is, you Virginia teams, Shenandoah.

On your screens.

This is what American author, who wrote "The Bridge of San Luis Rey" and the play "Our Town."

Yep, Osbourn.

-Um... -Answer?

3...2...1.

Thornton Wilder.

In the World War I battle of the Marne, troops drove from Paris to the battlefield in what kind of public vehicles with meters -- Osbourn.

-Taxi.

-Yes.

In Greek mythology -- [ Buzzer ] And that does it for us.

That is the end of the game.

Stay with us.

We'll have those scores in just a second.

I'm Hillary Howard, host of "It's Academic."

And I've got a question for you.

The answer is WETA+.

That's right.

WETA+ is a free and easy-to-use streaming service created specifically for D.C.-area viewers like you.

With WETA+, you can watch local shows like "It's Academic" or PBS hits like "Masterpiece" wherever and wherever you want, on your TV or on the go.

WETA+ is free and available to download on all major streaming devices and smart TVs.

For more information, go to weta.org/wetaplus.

[ Applause ] The scores are now official.

We begin with Elizabeth Seton, home of the Roadrunners.

Alyssa, Kiera, Tiffany -- 300 points.

[ Applause ] From Osbourn High School, home of the Eagles, in Manassas, Virginia, Gabrielle, Victoria, Marshall -- 470 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] And our victors for today, South Lakes, home of the Seahawks, in Reston, Virginia.

Isla, Eric, Avery -- 595 points.

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

I'm Hillary Howard.

Can't wait to see you next time.

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

Bye-bye.

Thanks for being here.

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

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪