-Students from Washington Liberty, Landon, and Whitman meet today on "It's Academic".

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ Hello, everybody.

I'm Hillary Howard.

Welcome to "It's Academic".

In case you didn't know, we're 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.

♪♪ -Well, hello, everybody.

We're so glad you've joined us for yet another playoff match here on "It's Academic".

All of these teams have won their first round games.

And now, we get to dive in with a fast start, guys.

Questions are worth 20 points up or down.

First team to buzz in gets to answer.

And the contestants don't see what you do on the screens at home.

Let's begin.

After I put my glasses on.

Do you mind?

I really should see these questions.

Flowers In Bloom.

The world is filled with all kinds of flowers, so these questions will have all to do about flowers.

-Landon.

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Answer.

-Cauliflower ear.

-No.

Black-eyed Susan.

Answer is...

Yes, Washington Liberty.

-Is it Rose?

-It is "Rose".

-Yes, Landon.

-[ Whispers ] Poinsettia.

-[ Normal voice ] Poinsettia.

-Yep.

The throne of the Japanese Emperor is -- -Landon.

Answer.

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

-Yes.

-Landon.

-Tiger lily.

-Yeah.

-Yes, Landon.

-Hawaii.

-"Hawaii" is right.

-Yes, Whitman.

Answer.

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Answer.

Three -- -Petunia.

-"Petunia" is right.

-Yes, Washington Liberty.

-Poppy.

-Yes, it is.

-Yes, Landon.

-Water lily.

-"Water lily" it is.

Poet William Wordsworth wrote of "dancing" with -- Landon.

-Daffodils?

-Yes, daffodils.

And that does it for the Fast Start.

[ Applause ] Let's recap these scores, shall we?

Washington Liberty -- 120 points, Landon -- 150 points, Whitman -- 110 points.

[ Applause ] Well, now that we've begun this competition, let's meet the students who are taking part.

We begin with Washington Liberty from Arlington.

Hey, Will, what's going on with you?

-Uh, my name is Wil.

I'm a 16-year-old junior at Washington Liberty High School.

Um, I'm the president of the Tabletop Ga-- the Tabletop Games Club at the school.

-Oh, and now tell me what that is exactly.

I guess I should know.

-It's a club where we play a lot of games, mostly Dungeons and Dragons.

That's the main appeal of the club, but we also play card games sometimes.

-I would love to do Dungeons and Dragons, but I think I'd just get lost and never come out of it.

-So, you know -- -It's fine.

-Okay well, I'll do it to make my kid happy.

Solomon, what's going up with you?

-I'm Solomon Galpern from, uh, Washington Liberty High school.

I'm a 17-year-old senior, and I really like chess.

-Uh, how good are you?

-Eh, I'm in the middle.

-Ah, the middle is pretty good.

You'd beat me, I'll tell you that.

Levi, hi.

-Hi, I'm Levi Opper.

I am a 17-year-old senior at Washington Liberty, -and I really like Monopoly.

-[ Chuckles ] -Oh.

You do?

I hate Monopoly.

-[ Laughter ] -Oh, wow.

-I'm so sorry.

But I'd play with you.

You could just clobber me.

Okay, guys, here's your first question.

Uh, questions in this round are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

Thuds On The Roof.

Look carefully here, and you'll find hidden in the name of what English explorer who found the large Canadian bay -that's named for him.

-[ Whispers ] Hudson.

-Hudson.

-Yes, it's "Hudson".

If you're in a state of euphoria, you're experiencing which of these?

-Happiness -Yeah.

You can rearrange these letters here to name what man whose lawsuits against Madison led to a major 1803 Supreme Court case concerning judicial review.

-Marbury.

-You got it.

If you followed a line of latitude due west from England, you would arrive at which of these places in North America?

[ Whispers ] Connecticut?

-Uh... yeah.

-Uh, Connecticut?

-No, it's "Labrador".

This was an early assessment of what stone that provided the key to Egyptian hieroglyphics?

-Uh, the Rosetta Stone.

-"Rosetta Stone" is right.

Nice, Washington Liberty -- 200 points.

[ Applause ] Now to the Landon School from Bethesda, Maryland.

Hey, Zack, what's been going on with you since we spoke last time?

-Yeah, so I'm Zack, I'm a senior at Landon, and I have started wrestling for the season.

-Really?

And how's that going?

-Yes.

It's going good.

It's a rough workout, but I'm happy to be doing it.

-Is it harder than you remember?

-No, not at all.

-Alright.

Well, very good.

I'm glad you've rediscovered it.

-Hello, Thomas.

-Hi, I'm Thomas.

I am 17 years old.

I'm a ten year bear, and I have recently started swimming and directing my one act show for school.

-Well, do tell.

-Uh, so, I wrote a show, which is a spoof of the horror movie "Saw".

And basically, the gimmick of it is that instead of it being horror traps, it is chores that children must do.

-Ah.

[ Laughs ] Very good.

Tell me about your bear.

-We have our lovely stuffed animal bear here -as our support charm.

-Whoo-hoo!

Good to have you and him.

-Hello, Ryan.

-Hi, I'm Ryan.

I'm a junior at Landon.

Um, and I'm planning on watching Thomas' -it's -- 1X production.

-When is it?

-I'm actually not sure.

He's gonna tell me, -and I'm gonna go watch it.

-[ Laughs ] Okay, guys.

Here we go.

Ten Percent Aura.

Your aura will improve if you find here the hidden word for what mythical creature -- -half man, half horse?

-[ All whispering ] Centaur -[ Normal voice ] Centaur.

-Yes.

If someone told you a palpable lie, that falsehood could best be described -by which of these adjectives?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Obvious.

-"Obvious" it is.

Rearrange the letters in this anagram and you'll name what Turkish empire that lasted until 1918?

-[ Whispers ] Ottoman.

[ Normal voice ] Ottoman?

-Yeah.

Which of these phrases was often used by 19th century critics of our purchase of Alaska?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Seward's Folly.

-"Seward's Folly" is right.

This was one newspaper's 1866 description of what suffragette, whose initials are SBA?

-[ Whispering ] Susan B. Anthony.

[ Normal voice ] Susan B. Anthony.

-You've got it.

Nicely done, Landon.

250 points.

[ Applause ] Now, let's mosey on over to Whitman High School, also from Bethesda, Maryland.

Hey, Alexis, how are you doing?

-Good.

I am Alexis Chase.

I'm an 18-year-old senior at Walt Whitman High School, and my usual fun fact about me is that I am an identical twin.

-You've never pranked people with it or anything?

-When we were little, yes, but we look less similar now.

-Okay.

[ Laughs ] Uh, hello, Jack.

-Uh, hi, I'm Jack Pelmoter.

I'm a sophomore at Whitman.

And, um, actually, over the summer, I worked as a camp counselor at Landon Day Camp.

-Oh, is that right?

-I was the archery instructor, and that was a ton of fun.

Some of the kids are actually better than me at it.

-Ooh, really?

Alright, that's something I'd love to try, Archery.

Hello, Gavin.

-Hi, I'm Gavin Evans.

I'm a 16-year-old junior, and I'd like to thank David Rubenstein for producing this great program.

-Alright.

Well, thank you for that.

And now I've got some questions for you.

Dance To A Hula.

As long as you're focused on Hawaii, see if you can find hidden here the name of what island on which Honolulu is located.

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Oahu.

-"Oahu" is correct.

Which of these words is another name for werewolf?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Lycanthrope?

-Yes.

The letters in this anagram can be rearranged to name what Royal dynasty that ruled Austria and Austria-Hungary until 1918?

-Hapsburg.

-Correct, again.

Casimir Pulaski, who fought in the American Revolution, was a patriot from which of these countries?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Poland.

-Yep.

The poet Longfellow wrote this description of what vast rivers of ice that move slowly over land?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Glacier.

-Yeah, it's "glaciers".

Nicely done, Whitman.

210 points.

[ Applause ] And that does it for the Mix & Match.

We're coming back in just a moment with Picture Perfect, so stay with us.

-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 ] -Alright, let's recap the scores before we dive into our next round.

Washington Liberty -- 200 points, Landon -- 250 points, Whitman -- 210 points.

And now, it is time for the Picture Perfect round.

Questions in this round or worth 20 points up or down.

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

Here we go.

Carnations like these can often be seen around what sea that separates Europe from Africa?

-Yes, Landon.

-Mediterranean.

-"Mediterranean" is correct.

This cheerful painting by Childe Hassam depicts a garden in what New England state, largest in area?

-Yes, Landon.

-Maine.

-"Maine" is right.

This is what Scottish physicist known for his electromagnetic theory -- Yes, Landon.

Answer, three, two, one... -Uh... -Maxwell.

Sorry.

Please perform -- Landon.

-Fo-- Six.

-No.

-Wait.

Four -- Four, final.

Four, final.

-Okay.

You just got that in.

This is the flag of what?

North African country, which -- -Yes, Washington Liberty.

-Algeria.

-Yeah, you've got it.

This very civilized comment was made by the governor of what islands that Argentina invaded?

-And Whitman.

-Falkland Island.

-"Falkland Islands" is correct.

These stamps honor James Weldon Johnson, a writer who also served as a U.S. diplomat in what Central American country where Managua is?

-Landon.

-Nicaragua.

-Yeah.

That's it.

The structure of benzene can be referred to -- Landon.

-Hexagonal.

-Correct.

In Budapest, the Parliament building is situated on the banks of what --?

-Whitman.

Answer.

-"Danoob".

-Danu-- Danube.

-No.

"Danube" is right.

Here, you see a nighttime view of what small city state at the tip of -- Landon.

-Singapore?

-"Singapore" is correct.

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

[ Applause ] Let's take a look at those scores once again.

Washington Liberty -- 220 points, Landon -- 350 points, Whitman -- 250 points.

[ Applause ] So we've already met the students.

Now let's meet the coaches and administrators that prepare them for "It's Academic".

And we begin with Washington Liberty.

Hey, Solomon.

Who's with you?

-Uh, we're with our coaches, Miss Sotomayor and Miss Scher, our alternate Benji, and our former captain, Devin.

-Beautiful.

What can you tell us about your coaches?

-Uh, they're super awesome.

They host "It's Academic" practice every week, and they sometimes order pizza.

-[ Laughs ] What kind?

-Uh, like, cheese, pepperoni.

-Just, uh-huh, pretty -- pretty basic.

-Alright, Landon.

Thomas, tell us about your team.

-Uh, so right now, uh, we have our loyal Bears at home, our lower, middle, and upper schoolers.

We have our excellent coach, Miss Chambers, our alternates, Noah and TD, our Spanish teacher, Doctor Prinkey, and our geometry teacher of over 45 years at Landon, -Mr. Steven Sorkin.

-Wow.

So you better get any questions dealing with geometry, -right.

-Precisely.

-Or else.

[ Laughs ] -Yes.

The bear will get you.

Okay, Whitman.

Jack, tell us about who's with you.

-Uh, we'd like to say thanks to our coach, Mr. Negrin.

It's his first year coaching us, and he's done a great job of making sure we don't embarrass ourselves out here.

-Alright, guys, now that we've learned about the team behind the team, we can dive in to this Packet round.

So if you're a student of this show, you know what happens in the Packet round.

We have these three lovely envelopes.

Washington Liberty will answer questions from them first.

Landon, you get to choose which packet it's going to be.

-We'd like to give them number three.

-You would?

Okay.

Number three for Washington Liberty.

Questions are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer, and do this with me, if you get a 25 -- No, I messed that up.

If you win the Packet, you get the... [ All ] 25 point bonus.

-...by getting all of them right.

Okay, here we go.

Among those serving as ambulance drivers in the first World War was what cartoonist who later created Mickey Mouse?

-Answer?

In -- -Oswald?

-No.

Walt Disney.

[ Laughs ] If you go to France -- sorry -- on July 14th, you can celebrate the French national holiday named for what Paris prison stormed at the beginning of the French Revolution?

-Uh, Bastille Day?

-Yeah.

In classical mythology, the chariot of Venus was drawn by what birds that, today, symbolize peace?

-Doves.

-Yes.

Here's your science question.

In any real process, the entropy of an isolated system will decrease, increase, or stay the same?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Increase.

-Yep.

That's it.

Revolutionary War negotiations with Britain were helped by the resignation of what English Prime minister whose name identifies a compass point?

-North.

North.

-"North" is it.

"Darkness Visible" is a novel by what man who shined a light on the dark side of human nature -in "Lord of the Flies"?

-Is it Golding?

-Yes, it is.

Nice.

That story always scared me.

It's appropriate that the town of Hernando is in Mississippi, as Hernando is the first name of what Spanish explorer, the first European to reach the Mississippi River?

-Cortez?

-Pardon me?

-Cortez?

-No, it's "de Soto".

And here's your math question.

Evaluate this expression, giving your answer as an integer.

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Uh, 3,606.

-You've got it.

Nice job.

Washington Liberty -- 340 points.

[ Applause ] Now, we have packets one and two left.

Which is Landon going to get, Whitman?

-Let's give them number two.

-Alright.

[ Laughs ] Number two it is.

A huge telescope called the Great Eye in the Karoo is located in the Great Karoo desert in what country where Nelson Mandela -rose to prominence?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -South Africa?

-Yes.

Citizens of Massachusetts showed an appreciation for history when they chose as their state blossom what flower with the same name as the pilgrim's ship?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -The Mayflower.

-Yep.

It is.

One survey claimed that the average age of Americans who ride motorcycles is what next prime number after 43?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -47.

-Yeah, a lot of those dudes on bikes, they're 47 years old.

Here's your science question.

The edges, or rim, of the moon are alternately visible and not visible from the Earth.

This phenomenon is an example of the moon's libration, fluorescence, or galena?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Answer.

-Libration.

-Yeah.

-Considered one of the greatest military leaders of all time, what Carthaginian general led an army to the gates of Rome -during the Punic Wars?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Hannibal.

-"Hannibal" it is.

The Salem witch trials are the setting for "The Crucible", a play by what American who also wrote "Death of a Salesman"?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Arthur Miller.

-"Arthur Miller" is right.

Here's your math question.

Solve for X.

-Four.

-Four is right.

In 1775, Ethan Allen led the Green Mountain Boys to their greatest Revolutionary War exploit when they captured what fort in upstate New York?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Ticonderoga.

-Yep.

And with that, you get a 25 point bonus, Landon.

Beautiful.

535 points.

[ Applause ] And now, Whitman, you have packet number one.

If you read the "Aeneid", you will learn that the high priest was suspicious of what large wooden gift that the Greeks left at the gates of Troy?

-The Trojan horse?

-Correct.

Words like lords, vassals, and serfs are associated with what political and economic system found in Europe during the Middle Ages?

-Feudalism.

-You're right.

To study a poisonous spider's behavior, researchers attached a tiny tracker to its back after first anesthetizing the spider with what gas whose formula is CO2?

-Carbon dioxide.

-You got it.

Here's your science question.

If you looked at some coccus bacteria under a microscope, you would find it has which of these shapes?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Spherical?

-Yeah.

-Mexico has not changed significantly in size since what 1853 land purchased by the United States?

-The Gadsden Purchase.

-Yeah, that's right.

The Persian calendar was revised in the 11th century with the help of what multi-talented astronomer better known as the author of the "Rubaiyat"?

Answer... is...?

Omar Khayyam.

Here's your math question.

Solve for X.

[ Indistinct whispering ] -It's 21.

-21.

-21 is right.

In 1815, all the stores in New York City closed for one hour to mourn the death of what man who had built the first commercially successful steamship, the Clermont?

-Fulton?

Fulton.

-Yep.

It's Fulton.

Nice, Whitman.

390 points.

That does it for our Packet round.

You know what's coming up next.

It's the Grab Bag.

See you in a minute.

-Hello, I'm David Rubenstein.

-Did you know that Icelanders consume more Coca-Cola per capita than any other country?

Coca-Cola even sells its soda in super sized cans there.

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

♪♪ [ Applause ] -Hey, it is time for the Grab Bag.

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

Here we go, guys.

Because the team's name is so long, only an abbreviated version of it appears on the uniforms of what Arizona major league?

Whitman.

Answer.

-Answer, three, two, one.

-Diamondbacks.

Diamondbacks.

Gotta answer when you buzz.

The 1937 Hindenburg airship explosion occurred at Lakehurst in...?

Whitman.

-New Jersey.

-You got it.

The sum of an integer and its reciprocal is two and a half.

What is the integer?

Whitman.

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Answer... in three, two, one.

-Three.

-Two.

On your monitors.

These tiny birds can be seen in what African country where Nairobi is the capital.

Landon.

-Kenya.

-Kenya's correct.

What man is the only U.S. governor to have ever been elected president of a foreign --?

Washington Liberty.

-Oh.

Dang it.

-Oh.

[ Laughs ] The answer is Sam Houston, the first person ever elected president of a foreign nation, in this case, the Republic of Texas, in 1836.

Choice.

When the velocity of an object is doubled, which of the following is quadrupled?

Its kinetic energy, momentum, or potential energy?

-Liberty.

-Kinetic energy.

Yep.

You're right.

Kinetic.

British soldiers rescued from Dunkirk in 1940 breathed a sigh of relief when they reached what white cliffs of what --?

-Whitman.

-Dover.

-Dover is right.

On your monitors.

This was the observation of what American author whose human characters do a lot of talking in the play "Our Town"?

-Yes, Landon.

-Wilder.

-Yep.

A collector paid over $25,000 for a British doll dating from 1690, when what two English sovereigns reigned jointly?

Yes, Liberty.

-Uh, William and Mary.

-You've got it.

Choice.

It is believed that the ancient Hittites were the first to use -what metal?

Liberty.

-Iron.

-Yep.

According to ancient Egyptian custom, Cleopatra married her brother who had what same name as --?

-Liberty.

-Ptolemy.

-Correct.

On your monitors.

Drafted in Louisiana, this treaty was signed -- -Whitman.

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -[ Buzzer ] -Answer is Cherokees.

-And that is it for the game.

-[ Applause ] We're going to have the official scores in just a minute, so please stay with us.

-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 Amy Qi, and I am a junior at Langley High School.

Just two years ago, I was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis, a chronic disease of the liver.

Fortunately, one of my good friends recognized the signs of the disease, prompting me to seek medical attention and preventing the need for liver transplant.

Recognizing the importance of early prevention, I wanted to find a way to utilize technology to make affordable and accessible diagnosis a reality.

That's why I developed a mobile app that employs machine learning to enable early Parkinson's disease diagnosis by detecting tremors in spiral and wave drawings.

If I can assist even one person in their Parkinson's journey, it would make my experiences worthwhile despite the challenges.

And I encourage each of you to contribute, whether big or small, to advancing research for cure, raising awareness, or supporting individuals facing the daily challenges of Parkinson's disease.

-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 ] -The scores are now official, and we begin with Washington Liberty High School from Arlington, Virginia.

Will, Solomon, Levi -- 400 points.

-Good job, guys.

-[ Applause ] From Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland, Alexis, Jack, Gavin -- 410 points.

-Nicely done.

-[ Applause ] And coming back for the semifinals, Landon School from Bethesda, Maryland, Zack, Thomas, Ryan, and the bear [Laughs] -- -575 points.

-[ Applause ] Way to go, guys.

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.

-And that does it for another playoff match right here on "It's Academic".

Let's hear it for these teams once more, guys.

Yay!

[ Cheers and applause ] I'm Hillary Howard.

So happy you could join us.

Can't wait to see you next time.

Bye, everybody.

Say bye, everyone.

Bye!

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