-Students from Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Centreville, Einstein, meet today on "It's Academic."

[ Applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ And now, the host of "It's Academic," Hillary Howard.

-Hello, everybody.

Welcome to "It's Academic," 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.

-The world is full of challenges.

And at Mitre, we're committed to solving them.

From aviation... ...and health... ...to cyber.

...and national security.

Our people know we are called to do more.

♪♪ Mitre -- solving problems for a safer world.

-So glad to have you with us.

And of course, this is another playoff match.

So, let's get started with Fast Start.

All questions in this round are worth 10 points up or down.

The first team to buzz in gets to answer.

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

All right, guys, here we go.

"Divide and conquer."

You don't have to add or subtract here, because these questions are all about things and places that are divided.

Ready?

"From 1961 until 1989, a wall divided this largest" -- Einstein -Berlin.

-Yeah.

"Caesar wrote that this G-initial European area" -- Jefferson -Gaul.

-"Gaul" is right.

"Lincoln said that this edifice 'divided against it--'" T.J. -House.

-Yes.

"The US state -- This US state is divided into an upper and lower peninsula."

-Michigan -Michigan is right, Einstein.

"In the 18th century, this European country was partitioned three times."

Centreville.

-Poland.

-"Poland" it is.

"Louisiana is divided into these administrative units."

T.J. -Parishes.

-Yeah.

"Control of this Mediterranean island is divided between" -- T.J. -Cyprus.

-Yes.

"Cyprus" is right.

"Budapest is divided by this river."

T.J. -Danube.

"Danube" it is.

Nicely done.

That is the end of Fast Start.

Let's recap these scores.

Thomas Jefferson -- 150 Centreville -- 110.

Einstein -- 120 points.

[ Applause ] And now that we've done Fast Start, we're going to follow it up with Mix and Match.

In this round, teams will have an opportunity to answer five questions.

They are worth 20 points apiece.

The good news is nothing off for a wrong answer.

Yay.

So, take a chance.

But before our first question, let's meet team one, from Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology.

Andrew, how you doing?

-Great.

My name is Andrew Shih.

I'm a 17-year-old senior from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.

And I'd like to thank our principal, Dr. Ann Bonitatibus, our coach, Ms. Fu, our alternate, Brian Lai, and all of the people and family members who are here to see us play today.

-Beautiful.

Great to have you.

Hello, Elliot.

-Hi.

I'm Elliot.

I'm a big fan of Christianity, cross-dressing, and Chris Yoo.

I'm very thankful for Mr. Rubenstein and Hillary Howard for -- and the entire "It's Academic" staff, for allowing this opportunity to be possible.

-Thank you very much.

I love the alliteration of your favorite things.

And, Timothy, hello.

-Hi.

I'm Tim.

And I'm a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School in Alexandria, Virginia.

-All right.

Great.

Let's do it.

"I often donate."

Generosity should be rewarded, so see if you can find here what word that names the band of tissue that connects a muscle to a bone.

-Tendon.

-Yeah.

"Numismatist," "ornithologist," "gastroenterologist."

Which of these words refers to a person whose hobby is collecting coins?

[ Indistinct talking ] -Numismatist.

-Yeah.

"By filling in the blanks here, you can spell what word, referring to a narrow strip of land that juts out from such states as Oklahoma?"

-Panhandle.

-Panhandle.

-Panhandle.

-"Panhandle" is right.

"Banana," "gurgle," "khaki."

Which one of these words can best describe, or best be described, as an example of onomatopoeia?

-Gurgle.

-Gurgle.

-"Gurgle."

Sounds like what it is.

Yeah.

"There is no likelihood man can ever tap the power of the..." You can complete this comment from early 20th-century scientist Robert Millikan by naming what particle -- the basic unit of an element -- that consists of a nucleus surrounded by electrons.

-The atom.

-That is right.

T.J., 250 points.

Well done.

[ Applause ] And now to Centreville High School from Clifton, Virginia.

Jonah, tell us about yourself.

-My name's Jonah.

I'm a 16-year-old junior from Centreville High School.

I just wanted to thank my coaches, Ms. Croote and Ms. Robinson, as well as my teammates, Devon and Annette, and also our alternate, Connor McNulty.

-Wonderful.

Hey, Devon.

Great to see you.

Tell us about yourself.

-I'm John Devon Nelson.

I'm an 18-year-old senior at Centreville High School.

-All right.

And hello, Annette.

-Hi.

I'm Annette.

I'm an 18-year-old senior at Centreville High School.

And I enjoy doing gymnastics.

-Okay.

Great.

Very nice to have you all here.

And here is your first question.

"A tailored overcoat."

You can sew up 20 points if you find here the name of what English region famous for its white cliffs.

Answer?

-Dover.

-"Dover."

Yeah.

"Contempt," "collusion," "carelessness."

Which of these words best expresses the idea of connivance?

-Collusion?

-"Collusion" is right.

"In addition to being the Roman numerals for 51, these letters appear in the name of what sword that King Arthur pulled from a stone?"

-Excalibur.

-Yeah.

-"Liar's Poker," "Into the Wild," "Sula."

You would find which of these titles in a list of works by Toni Morrison?

Answer?

'"Liar's Poker."

-The answer is "Sula."

"An ounce of action is worth a blank of theory."

You can complete this comment from one writer by adding what measure of weight equal to 2,000 pounds?

-Ton.

-"Ton" is right.

Nicely done, Centreville.

190 points.

[ Applause ] And now to the team from Einstein High School in Kensington, Maryland.

Hello, Keira.

What should we know about you?

-Hi.

I'm an 18-year-old senior.

And I'd like to thank our coach, Miss Colson, our alternate, Brendan, and our family and friends for supporting us.

-All right.

Well, it's really good to have you.

Hiya, Ben.

Good to see you in person.

-Yeah.

-My name is Ben.

I'm a 17-year-old junior.

And I'm the captain of the team.

-All right.

Hi, Eddie.

-Hi.

My name is Eddie.

I'm also a 17-year-old junior.

And I'd like to thank my parents and grandparents who might be watching today.

-Wonderful.

Here we go.

First question.

"Just able to stop."

Stop and study this phrase, and see if you can find the hidden name of what Augean structure that Hercules had to clean as one of his 12 labors.

-Stable.

-Yeah.

"Publicizing them," "delaying them," "acting on them."

If you decided to put your plans in abeyance, you'd be taking which of these actions?

-Delaying them.

-Yeah.

That's it.

"The blank Pimpernel."

"The blank Letter."

What same word should you place in the blanks to complete the titles of works by Baroness Orczy and Nathaniel Hawthorne?

-Scarlet.

-Scarlet.

Yes.

It's "scarlet."

"Etna," "Pinatubo," "Mount St.

Helens."

After being dormant for six centuries, which of these volcanoes erupted in 1991, in the Philippines, causing great damage and worldwide weather changes?

-Pinatubo.

That is right.

"Wedding is great blank's crown."

To complete these words from Shakespeare, add the name of what chief Roman goddess, the counterpart of the Greek Hera.

-Juno.

-"Juno" is right.

Einstein, nice.

220 points.

[ Applause ] And that is it for the Mix and Match round.

Picture Perfect is coming up, so don't go away.

-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.

-Before we begin the Picture Perfect round, we want to give it up for the coaches and administrators who are so amazing, supporting their teams.

Thank you, guys.

All right, now for a recap of the scores.

We've got Thomas Jefferson at 250, Centreville at 190, Einstein at 220.

[ Applause ] And now, we can begin the Picture Perfect round.

Again, the first team that buzzes in gets to answer the question.

Questions are worth 20 points up or down, so buzz carefully.

Here we go.

"Containing over 15 billion stars, this galactic cloud is named for what Portuguese explorer?"

Einstein.

-Magellan.

-Yeah.

Magellan.

"This is the flag of what West African country."

Einstein.

-Burkina Faso.

-"Burkina Faso" is right.

"Symbolizing the sun, This sculpture is on display in the Gold Museum In what capital city of Peru?"

Jefferson.

-Lima.

-Yeah.

"Lima" is right.

"What is the x coordinate of the vertex of this parabola?"

Jefferson.

-Negative 2.

-You are right.

"This painting is by Childe Hassam, who was greatly influenced by what French artistic movement?"

Jefferson.

-Impressionism.

-Yeah.

"Maybe next time you'll listen" could have been a text from what daughter of King Priam of Troy?

Jefferson.

T.J.?

-Dido?

-No.

Cassandra.

"The background of this record cover depicts the landscape of John Sebelius's homeland.

What Nordic country that recently" -- Jefferson.

-Finland.

-"Finland" is right.

And that is the end of the Picture Perfect round.

Now, it is halftime, which means the Packet Round is next.

Questions are worth 20 points each.

As you know, the really nice thing about the Packet Round is that there's nothing off for a wrong answer.

So, you can be bold.

And don't forget, if you get all questions right, there is a 25-point bonus.

Yeah?

Okay.

T.J., you're up first.

Centreville.

you get to choose which packet of questions they'll answer questions from -- 1, 2, or 3.

-3.

-3.

Here we go.

"An Army officer named Reno didn't like the odds, and led his squadron away from what famous 1876 battle, in which Commander George Custer lost his life?"

-The Battle of Little Bighorn.

-Yeah.

"In 1794, the new U.S. government sent troops into western Pennsylvania to put down a tax rebellion named for what alcoholic beverage?"

-Whiskey.

-Yeah.

"One U.S. postage stamp features Albert Bierstadt's painting of what California national park, that includes Half Dome and El Capitan?"

-Yosemite.

-Yes.

You got it right again.

Here's your science question.

"Iron, sodium, nitrogen.

Many chemical elements have several possible valence states.

Which of these elements has only one possible valence?"

-Sodium.

-Yes.

"Had U.S. Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story told stories of his early years on the bench, he'd no doubt mention what fourth Chief justice, then on the court?"

-Taney.

-No.

Marshall.

"The short sentence 'they endured' ends the novel 'The Sound and the Fury' by what American author?"

-Faulkner.

-Yes.

Here's your math question.

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

-16.

-You got it.

"Greater Colombia was a short-lived South American confederation made up of Ecuador, Colombia, and what country, whose capital is Caracas?"

-Venezuela.

-"Venezuela" is right.

Nicely done, T.J. 450 points.

[ Applause ] And now Centreville is up to play.

Einstein, which packet -- 1 or 2?

-2.

-2.

Centreville.

"On the 4th of July in 1986, the United States rededicated what National Monument, a statue in New York Harbor?"

-The Statue of Liberty.

-That is it.

"Although as secretary to the Admiralty he wrote shipping reports, Samuel Pepys is remembered for what sort of personal journal, also kept by Anne Frank."

-Diary.

-Yes.

"Diary."

"Tobacco was believed to be a medical miracle when French diplomat Jean Nicot bought it to Paris -- Brought it to Paris from what country, whose capital is Lisbon?"

-Portugal.

-Yes.

Science question.

"Sulfuric acid, benzene, sodium hydroxide."

"In order to analyze a mixture of metals, it may be necessary to dissolve it.

Which of these would probably be the best solvent?"

-Sulfuric acid.

-Yes.

You are right.

"To a historian, the letters MD suggests not medicine, but what 19th-century political theory that advocated the United States expand across the continent to the Pacific Ocean?"

-Manifest Destiny.

-"Manifest Destiny" is right.

"What Nobel Peace Prize winner wrote about the Holocaust in such books as 'Night' and 'Dawn'?"

-Elie Wiesel.

-Yeah.

Here's your math question.

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

-Three.

-Three is right.

"Established over 2,600 years ago, the city of Kathmandu is now the capital of what country?"

-Nepal.

-"Nepal" is right.

Nicely done, Centreville.

25-point bonus, and 350 points.

Way to go, guys.

[ Applause ] And now, Einstein, you've got to answer questions from packet one.

Shall we?

"Jellyfish..." This is fascinating.

"Jellyfish kill more people each year than what type of fish whose varieties include Hammerhead, Mako, and Great White?"

-Shark.

-Yeah.

Beware of the jellyfish.

"George Washington described as 'little more than a shadow without substance' what articles of government that preceded the Constitution?"

-The Articles of Confederation.

-You've got it.

"What same last name is shared by the American admiral who defeated the Spanish fleet at Manila Bay and the man whose name identifies a library decimal system?"

-Dewey.

-Yeah.

Here's your science question.

"Barium, Xenon, Erbium."

"17 Metallic elements belong to the group known as 'rare Earths.'

Which of these is a rare Earth element?"

-Erbium.

-Yes.

-"Both Albert Sabin and Jonas Salk developed vaccines to prevent what infectious disease that had crippled Franklin Roosevelt?"

-Polio.

-Yeah.

"Among the books that changed her life, author Amy Tan listed what J.D.

Salinger novel about Holden Caulfield?"

-"The Catcher in the Rye."

-You've got it again.

Here's your math question.

"What is the area of triangle ABC?"

-90.

-"90" is right.

"Some of the world's most active volcanoes are found in what largest Central American country, where Managua is Capital?"

-Nicaragua.

-We have another 25-point bonus.

Way to go, Einstein, with 420 points.

Keep it here, because we have the Grab Bag round next.

But first, here's something very interesting.

-Hello.

I'm David Rubenstein.

Did you know thousands of lightning bolts strike Venezuela's Lake Maracaibo each year, in storms lasting eight to 10 hours?

Because of atmospheric conditions, the lightning often appears pink.

And lightning storms hit over 290 days a year.

That's why Lake Maracaibo is called the "lightning capital of the world."

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

♪♪ -It is time for the Grab Bag round.

-But before we begin, let's recap those scores.

Thomas Jefferson -- 450, Centreville -- 375, Einstein -- 445.

[ Applause ] And now we can begin this Grab Bag, where questions are worth 20 points up or down.

First team to buzz in gets to answer.

Here we go.

"Pieces of steel from the World Trade Center were used in the construction of a warship named for what Empire State?"

Jefferson.

-New York.

-"New York" -- My home state, Armed with 18 sets of teeth, what monster across from Charybdis terrified" -- -Jefferson.

-Scylla.

-"Scylla."

Yeah.

"The average house cat spends 15% of its day grooming itself and 70% of what activity, associated with Rip Van Winkle."

Einstein -Sleep.

-"Sleep."

Yes.

On your screens, for 20 points.

"This is a scene in what small Caribbean island that the US invaded in 19" -- Centreville.

-Grenada.

-Yes.

It is "Grenada."

"The Saint Bernard dog in Peter Pan has what name that children also use to refer to their grandmothers?"

Jefferson.

-Nana.

-Yeah.

Choice.

"A tree trunk increases in diameter because of cell division in the cambium, epidermis, or pith."

Einstein.

Answer?

-Cambium.

-"Cambium" is Right.

"A book titled 'The Analects' contains the wise sayings of what Chinese" -- Jefferson.

-Confucius.

-"Confucius" is right.

On your screens, for 20 points.

"The stupid have always hated me."

"This quote has been attributed to what German opera composer who wrote 'Lohengrin' and" -- Centreville.

-Wagner.

-Yeah.

"Irving Stone's book 'The Agony and the Ecstasy' is a fictionalized biography of what Renaissance artist whose family name was 'Buonarroti.'"

Centreville.

-Michelangelo.

-Yes.

You are right.

"What is one half percent of 1600?"

Einstein.

-3,200.

-Pardon me?

I need your answer.

In three, two, one.

The answer is "eight."

"Shakespeare killed off a number of kings in his plays, including the Scottish king Duncan, murdered by" -- Jefferson.

-Macbeth?

-Yeah.

On your screens, for 20 points.

"This is which one of the nine muses -- the one dedicated to dance?"

Centreville.

-Terpsikhore.

-"Terpsikhore."

Do we take that, Judges?

I'll let them decide.

I think so.

"Congress passed what retaliatory E-initial act in 1807, in response to British impressment of American" -- -Jefferson -Embargo.

-"Embargo."

Yeah.

And that is the end of the game.

Good job, everybody.

We will be back in a minute with the official scores.

But first, here's a word from one of our students on the beauty of being involved in your community.

-I'm David Rubenstein, and I believe giving back is something we all can do.

Students are getting involved in their communities in many important ways.

I've asked them to share with us how they're making a difference.

-Hi, everyone.

My name is Linda Huang.

And I'm a current junior at Montgomery Blair High School.

I volunteered with two organizations.

One is the Adventist Shady Grove Healthcare Hospital, where I assist patients and nurses.

And the other one is the Chinese Culture and Community Service Center, where I teach seniors English, help them better adjust to American life, and spread Asian heritage and culture by playing my violin in senior homes.

I really hope that everyone can contribute to the community because there are a lot of people who are in need, and you can make a difference, and also grow professionally and personally.

-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.

[ Applause ] -Our scores are now official.

But before I even say them, special props to Centreville and Einstein for each getting a 25-point bonus.

[ Applause ] And now for the scores.

We begin with Centreville High School from Clifton, Virginia.

Jonah, Devon, and Annette -- 455 points.

[ Applause ] From Einstein High School in Kensington, Maryland.

Keira, Ben, Eddie -- 465 points.

[ Applause ] And coming back for the semifinals again, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, in Fairfax County.

Andrew, Elliot, Timothy -- 570 points.

[ Applause ] All of you brought it today.

You all did a fabulous job.

Thanks for that.

And thanks to you, our incredible viewers.

We are so happy you could join us today, and match wits with our very impressive students.

-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.

-At Mitre, we're committed to solving some of our biggest challenges in national security, cyber, aviation, and health.

And our dedication to service starts at home, working to fight hunger, serving people in need.

protecting public health, and supporting our civic institutions.

This is serving the public.

This is Mitre.

Solving problems for a safer world.

-Next week, please join us when we have Blake, Saint Albans, and McDonough high schools competing in another playoff match right here on "It's Academic."

I'm Hillary Howard.

Glad you were here.

Come on over, everybody.

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