-Students from Wakefield... ...Chantilly... ...and Seneca Valley meet today on "It's Academic."

♪♪ -Hello, everybody.

I'm Hillary Howard.

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.

-And now, it's time to meet the teams.

from Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia, Alex, Ben, Kevin, welcome to "It's Academic," guys.

-Hi.

[ All greeting ] -Thanks for being here.

From Chantilly High School in Fairfax County, Haley, Griffin, and Xavier, really great to have you.

-Good afternoon.

-Hello.

-Hi.

-Hi.

And from Seneca Valley High School in Montgomery County, Serafia, Sena, and Jude, really happy you are here.

Hi.

-Hi, Hilary.

I'm so happy all of you are here.

And now, to the opening round.

In this round, questions are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

All right, let's kick this off with Team One, from Wakefield High School.

Kevin, Ben, Alex, let's do this.

Here's your first question.

"Nicaragua Man."

Hidden in this phrase about Nicaragua is the name of what small, self-governing American territory in the Pacific?

-I see "Guam."

-Oh, yeah.

I agree.

Alex, do you agree?

Okay.

Final answer, "Guam."

-Yes, "Guam."

"A fraud, a miser, a traitor."

"No one wants to be called a 'charlatan,' because a charlatan is which of these?"

-Ben, Alex, which one do you think?

-Um, I say a "fraud."

-That sounds right to me.

Alex, do you agree?

-Answer.

-Do you think "fraud" or "miser"?

Okay.

Final answer, "fraud."

-I don't think it's "miser."

"Fraud."

-"Fraud" was you final answer, and it is "fraud."

Yes.

Forget "war," and fill in the blanks to name what Secretary of State, who arranged the peaceful purchase of Alaska.

-Do you guys agree -- "Frank Seward"?

-Answer.

-Um... -All right, final answer "Seward."

-Yeah.

I'm glad you kept it.

-No.

No, no, no.

Oh -- Oh, wait.

-Yeah, we did it.

We got it.

"Midway, Marne, Marathon."

These three battles did not occur in this order.

Please arrange them in correct chronological order, beginning with the earliest.

-I know Midway's the last one.

And then, is it Marathon then Marne, or the other way around?

I don't know what Marne is.

-I think maybe Marne.

-Marathon is definitely before... -No, go ahead, Alex.

-Midway is World War II.

Marathon was Napoleon.

-Marathon is definitely -- is definitely before Midway.

-I need your answer, guys.

Please.

-Final answer -- "Marathon, Marne, Midway."

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow."

These were the words of what blind, deaf woman taught to read and speak by Annie Sullivan.

-I say "Helen Keller."

-All right.

Alex, do you agree?

-"Helen Keller."

-Final answer -- "Helen Keller."

-The absolutely remarkable Helen Keller.

Nice job, Wakefield.

200 points.

-Great job, guys.

-Now, to Team Two, from Fairfax County, Chantilly High School.

Haley, Griffin, Xavier, Here is your first question.

"A man I lauded."

You'll get lots of praise here if you find the hidden name of what capital city of the Philippines.

-"Manila."

-Yeah, "Manila."

Okay.

"Manila," final answer.

-Yes.

"Robbing him, pleading with him, watching him."

If you are imploring someone, you are taking which of these actions?

-"Pleading with him."

-Yeah, I agree.

-Yeah.

-Okay.

"Pleading with him."

-Yes, it is.

Yes, it is.

Fill in the blanks here, and you can name what British general who found himself fenced in by George Washington's forces at Yorktown in 1781.

-"Cornwallis"?

-Yeah.

-Definitely "Cornwallis."

-Okay.

"Cornwallis" final answer.

-Yes, it is.

"The Great Depression, the Cold War, Reconstruction."

Here, you have three major periods in U.S. history.

Please arrange them in chronological order.

-"Reconstruction, the Great Depression, the Cold War."

-Yeah, I agree with that.

-"Reconstruction, the Great Depression, the Cold War."

-Okay, um, "Reconstruction, the Great Depression, the Cold War."

Final answer.

-Well done.

-"Blood alone moves the wheels of history."

This statement comes from what fascist later, known as "Il Bouchet," who led Italy into World War II.

-"Benito Mussolini."

-Yeah, I would agree with that.

-Yeah, I agree.

It's "Benito Mussolini."

-Okay.

"Mussolini," final answer.

-Yes, it is.

Chantilly, you did it.

200 points.

Now team Three, from Montgomery County, Seneca Valley High School, Serafia, Sena, and Jude.

Here's your first question.

"Wilbur made history."

Though this phrase might suggest one of the Wright brothers, you can find within it the name of what Asian country, also known as "Myanmar."

-"Burma."

-Con-- yeah.

-Conferring -- "Burma."

-"Burma" is right.

Nicely done.

"Handwriting, cooking, embroidery."

a person noted for calligraphy is noted for which of these skills?

-"Handwriting."

-Final answer, "Handwriting."

-Yeah.

Wouldn't you love to draw like that, have handwriting like that?

You can be a hero and gain 20 points by filling in the blank to name what tribe of Native Americans, whose chiefs include Sequoia.

-"Cherokee"?

-Final answer, "Cherokee."

-Yeah.

"Ataturk, Attila, Augustus."

Each of these men played a major role in world history.

Please arrange them in correct chronological order.

-Conferring.

-I just know "Augustus" would come first.

So, "Augustus" first.

Maybe "Ataturk" second?

Or... [ Indistinct talking ] -So, give me your answer.

-Final answer -- "Augustus, Ataturk, Attila."

No, it's "Augustus, Attila, Ataturk."

Nearly there.

"The sun has not caught me in bed for 50 years.

This was the proud comment of what third U.S. President, whose days often started early at Monticello.

[ Indistinct talking ] -Final answer, "Jefferson."

-"Jefferson."

And man, isn't Monticello beautiful?

Nice job, Seneca Valley.

180 points.

And that's the end of the opening round.

The Picture Perfect round is 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.

-Let's do the Picture Perfect round, everybody.

In this round, as you undoubtedly know, answers are worth 20 points up or down, 10 points for not answering at all.

Team One, Wakefield, here's your first picture.

What Oregon Lake, our country's deepest, is named for its location in the depression at the top of an extinct volcano.

-Conferring -- is the lake Mt.

Kennedy, which has a different name.

-I need an answer.

-Or "McKinley."

I meant "McKinley."

-Your answer is... -Final answer, "Lake McKinley."

-no.

It's "Crater Lake."

What value of X will satisfy this equation?

-Conferring -- "-5."

-Um...

Yes, that's correct.

Final answer, "-5."

-It is, in fact, correct.

A species of cave-dwelling crocodiles lives on what huge island off the coast of East Africa.

-Conferring -- "Madagascar."

-"Madagascar."

-Yes, it is "Madagascar."

And that gives you a score of 220 points, Wakefield.

Team Two, from Chantilly High School, you are up for the Picture Perfect round.

Here is the first clue.

Trained to bark at strangers, this spaniel is named for what Central Asian region, where the Dalai Lama once ruled?

-Conferring... do you guys know?

-Conferring -- Tibet.

-Um, oh, yeah, that -- that could be it.

You we want to use that as our answer?

-Is that your answer?

-Yes.

"Tibet," final answer.

Good.

It is "Tibet."

Assuming A is positive, simplify completely this expression.

Answer, please.

-Final answer, "3a."

-"3a" is right again.

The Putumayo River forms much of the border between Peru and what country, where Bogota is capital.

-Conferring -- "Colombia."

-Yeah.

"Colombia," final answer.

-And the answer is "Colombia."

Nicely done, Chantilly.

You've got 260 points.

Now, Team Three can play the picture Perfect round.

Seneca Valley, here we go.

First picture.

This snowy scene could be seen in what New England state, the 14th to join the Union.

-Conferring.

-Um...

I don't know.

Maybe, like, Maine?

-Okay.

Final answer, "Maine."

Not too far away.

It was "Vermont."

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

-Conferring -- "2."

-Final answer, "2."

-Yes, it is.

Underground Railroad conductors led runaway slaves along this creek to what river that forms Kentucky's northern border, and separated Kentucky from free states?

-Conferring.

-Answer?

-[Indistinct] -[Indistinct] -No answer.

-It is "the Ohio River."

Nice job, Seneca Valley.

You've got 170 points.

Picture Perfect round is finished, and the Packet round is next.

-Hello.

I'm David Rubenstein.

Did you know that Sigmund Freud, although usually associated with studying humans, first studied and published a paper on the reproductive life of eels?

After dissecting about 400 of them, Freud finally found reproductive organs in one, and was able to disprove the then-current theory that eels reproduce by spontaneous generation.

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

-Well, we have reached halftime on "It's Academic," and that means the Packet round.

As you know, in this round, correct answers are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

And if you get every answer right, there's a 25-point bonus.

Okay, Team One, from Wakefield High School.

Kevin, Ben, Alex, let's do this.

Here's your first question.

"A book called 'Shark Trouble' was the work of Peter Benchley, who had earlier hooked the public with what novel and movie about a Great White shark"?

-Conferring -- "Jaws"?

-I think it's "Jaws."

-Final answer, "Jaws."

-Yeah, "Jaws."

"One area sometimes hit by hurricanes is what group of small islands that extends south from Florida, and includes Biscayne, West, and Largo."

-I think it's -- -Conferring -- "The Caribbean."

-I think, more specifically, the Bahamas.

-Either the Florida Keys or the Bahamas.

The Bahamas is a country -- -I think it's Florida Keys.

-Okay.

Final answer, "Florida Keys."

-Yeah, that's it.

Here's your science question.

"Lymph, auxin, enzyme."

Of these three terms, which one refers specifically to a protein that acts as a catalyst?

-Conferring -- "enzyme."

-It might be "enzyme."

-"Enzyme."

-"Enzyme."

-Final answer, "enzyme."

-Yeah.

"When something moves very slowly, its progress is sometimes compared to what sweet, sticky substance, part of the Triangle Trade in colonial America?"

-Conferring -- "molasses."

-"Molasses."

-It might be, um...

Okay.

Yeah.

-Final answer, "molasses."

-You got it again.

"Obviously, Jane Austen was not in a hurry, since it took her 17 years to complete what novel about the Bennet family?"

-What do you guys think?

-Maybe it's "The Boxcar Children."

-Is it "Uncle Tom's Cabin," by any chance?

Does that sound right?

-I need you answer.

-Honestly, maybe.

-Final answer, "Uncle Tom's Cabin."

-No.

"Pride and Prejudice."

Here's your math question.

Perform the indicated operations.

-"0."

Final answer, "0."

-Yeah.

"Though he wasn't connected with the crime, anarchist Johann Most was briefly imprisoned following the 1901 assassination of what 25th President?"

-Conferring -- Is that Kennedy?

[ Indistinct talking ] -I think it's McKinley.

Final answer, "McKinely."

-Yes, it was McKinley.

Wakefield, you've got a score of 340 points.

-Yay.

-Yay.

Now to Team Two, from Fairfax County, Chantilly High School.

Haley, Griffin, Xavier, here's your first question.

"Spaghettification is the official term describing what will happen to you if you fall into what kind of phenomenon created by a collapsed star that not even light can escape?"

-Conferring -- "black hole."

-"Black hole"?

-Yeah.

Okay.

Final answer, "black hole."

-"Black hole" it is.

"Robert Fulton, who built the steamboat, also determined that what navigational device, which always points north, works as well underwater as on the surface?"

-Conferring -- "the compass."

-Yeah.

Final answer...

Final answer, "compass."

-Yes.

Here's your science question.

"Clay, limestone, shale."

"Underground caves were formed by groundwater dissolving which of these?"

-Conferring -- limestone?

-Yeah, I think it's limestone.

-Okay.

Final answer, "limestone."

-Yes, it is.

"'A Peace to End All Peace' is the ironic title of a book on the fall of what Turkish Empire that broke up after World War I?"

[ Indistinct talking ] -Final answer, "the Ottoman Empire."

-Got it again.

"A collector paid $12,000 for a letter to Martin Luther King from what American writer, author of 'The Grapes of Wrath.'?"

-Oh.

Conferring -- "John Steinbeck."

Do you guys...?

-I'd be okay with that.

-Okay.

Final answer, "John Steinbeck."

-Yes.

Here's your math question.

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

-Conferring..."60?"

Yeah.

-"60."

-Final answer, "60."

-Yeah.

"The refusal of the United States to join the League of Nations was a bitter disappointment to what 28th President in office during World War I?"

-Conferring -- "Woodrow Wilson."

-Okay.

Final answer, "Woodrow Wilson."

-It was Wilson.

And with that correct answer, Chantilly, you've got a 25-point bonus.

Awesome.

And 425 points.

Now to Team Three, from Montgomery County, Seneca Valley High School Serafia, Sena, and Jude.

Here's your first question.

"It's not unusual in mythology for people to be changed into animals.

But a woman named Asteria was changed into an island.

by what chief classical god?"

-Conferring -- "Zeus."

-Yeah.

-Final answer, "Zeus."

-It's "Zeus."

Nicely done.

"We now know that an ability to use tools is a trait we share with what eight-armed invertebrate sea creatures?"

-Conferring -- "octopus."

Or "squid."

-"Octopus."

-"Octopus?"

-Yeah.

-Final answer, "octopus."

-Yes, it is.

They're so smart.

Here's your science question.

"Gallium, meniscus, creosote."

"Which of these terms refers to the curved surface of a liquid in a thin tube as a result of the cohesive effects of surface tension?"

-"Meniscus."

-Conferring.

You guys are good?

-Final answer, "meniscus."

-Yes, it is.

"Fugitive slave laws were part of what pre-Civil War compromise named for a year that admitted California to the Union?"

Answer.

Is... 1850.

"The compromise of 1850."

"Sharekhan, the villain in Kipling's 'Jungle Book,' is what same sort of wild animal that is a frightening presence in 'Life of Pi'?"

-Conferring -- "tiger."

-Final answer, "tiger."

The answer is "tiger."

Here's your math question.

"Solve for X, giving your answer as an integer."

-Conferring -- "5."

-Final answer, "5."

-Yep.

"The Warren Commission that investigated the assassination of John F Kennedy included what Michigan Congressman who later succeeded Richard Nixon as president?"

-Confirming -- "Ford."

-Final answer, "Ford."

-Yes.

It was "Gerald Ford."

Serafia, Sena, and Jude, nice job.

290 points.

Let's see if lightning strikes next.

We've got the Lightning Round.

Time to turn up the temperature with the Lightning Round.

In this round, you've got 45 seconds to answer up to 10 questions.

They're worth 20 points up or down.

No penalty if you pass.

Team One, Wakefield, you're up.

Ready?

All your answers must contain the letters.

"p-e-n" somewhere in the word.

That's "p-e-n" as in "pen."

In three, two, one.

"Alexander Fleming discovered this antibiotic."

-Penicillin.

-"This declaration was signed in 1776."

-"Independence."

-Yes.

"These household gods were worshiped along with the [indistinct] in ancient Rome."

-Do you guys know?

-Pass.

-"Penates."

-"The Golden Gate Bridge is this structural type of bridge."

-"Suspension."

-Yes.

"This is the NHL team from Pittsburgh."

-"Penguins."

-Yes.

"Shakespeare often used this type of iambic verse rhythm."

-"Pentameter."

-Yes.

"Alibaba used these two words to enter the Cave of 40 Thieves."

-"Open sesame."

-Yes.

"This building houses the U.S. Defense Department."

[Buzzer] -"Pentagon."

-And there it is.

Yes, it's the Pentagon.

You just got that in with the buzzer.

Wakefield -- Kevin, Ben, Alex -- great job.

480 points.

Team Two, It's your turn to play the Lightning Round.

Are you ready, Chantilly?

Yes.

All right.

Here we go.

All your answers must contain the letters "a-n-t" somewhere in the word.

That's "a-n-t" as in "ant."

In three, two, one.

"This is the coldest continent."

-"Antarctica."

-Yes.

"This is the second largest ocean."

-"Atlantic."

-Yes.

"He was Lincoln's Secretary of War."

-Pass.

-"Stanton."

"Chaucer wrote these tales."

-"Canterbury Tales."

-Yes.

"Physicist Max Planck studied this type of mechanics."

-"Quantum."

-Yes.

"This is San Francisco's MLB team."

-"Giants."

-Yes.

"This is the capital of New Mexico."

-"Santa Fe."

-Yes.

"Sharpsburg is another name for this major Civil War battle."

-"Antietam."

-Yes.

"He was our 18th president."

-"Ulysses S.

Grant."

-Yes.

"This medieval Italian wrote 'The Divine Comedy.'"

[Buzzer] Oh, my gosh.

And this was the 10th question.

You almost got through them all.

"This medieval Italian wrote the Divine Comedy."

The answer is "Dante."

Let me tell you what, Chantilly -- fabulous job.

585 points.

It's Team Three's chance to play the Lightning Round.

Seneca Valley, you are up.

All your answers must contain the letters "m-a-n" somewhere in the word.

That's "m-a-n" as in "man."

In three, two, one.

"President Lincoln issued this proclamation in 1863."

-"Emancipation."

-Yes.

"This insect is described as 'praying.'"

-"Mantis."

-Yes.

"This is the highest African mountain."

-"Kilimanjaro."

-Yes.

"This French province was invaded on D- Day in World War II."

-Pass.

-"Normandy."

-The capital of this Canadian province is Winnipeg."

-"Manitoba."

-Yes.

"This Russian dynasty ended with Nicholas II."

-Pass.

-"Romanoff."

"Willy Loman is the protagonist of this Arthur Miller play."

[Buzzer] Oh, and the answer is "Death of a Salesman."

Nice, Serafia, Sena, and Jude.

You have a score of 370 points.

And that is the game.

The official scores are next.

-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.

I'm Annie Tinetti.

I'm a senior at Walt Whitman High School, and every Tuesday, I am down at the fire station, shift as an EMT.

And so, what I do is I transport patients either to suburban, or whatever nearby hospital, depending on what case it is.

And I find that it's really rewarding to be able to help people in the community, because all of our calls are local.

And whether it's just a simple transport for an elderly person who's fallen, and just needs a x-ray to make sure everything's okay, or a car crash, cardiac arrest, more serious call, I find it very rewarding to be able to be there, and use what knowledge I have to help them in that moment, and make sure that they're healthy, and get them on their way to more advanced treatment at the hospital.

-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 Seneca Valley High School, from Montgomery County.

Serafia, Sena, and Jude -- 370 points.

And congratulations, also, to Wakefield High School in Arlington.

Kevin, Ben, and Alex -- 480 points And coming back for the playoffs, Chantilly High School from Fairfax County.

Haley, Griffin, and Xavier knocking it out of the park with 585 points.

Incredible, guys.

Let's hear it for our awesome teams, and for you, our amazing viewers.

Really happy you could join us today, and match wits with these 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.

-Please join us next time, when we've got Gonzaga, Jefferson, and Washington Latin Public Charter right here on "It's Academic."

I'm Hilary Howard.

Really glad you were with us.

See you then.

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