Montgomery Blair, Wooton and St. John's

-Students from Montgomery Blair, Wootton, St. John's meet today on "It's Academic."

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and 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. Rubinstein 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, we're so glad you're with us today to see these students compete here on "It's Academic."

And we begin with, as we always do, the Fast Start round, where 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 at home.

Here we go.

This round may leave you with the shivers because it's all about snow, ice, and cold.

Please identify the following.

A snowflake usually has this number of points -- -Blair?

-Six.

Six is right.

Wootton.

-32.

-Yes.

The answer is John le Carré.

Wootton.

-Thermodynamics.

-No.

The answer is cryogenics.

Blair.

-George R. R. Martin.

-Yes.

This Montana national park is named for a -- Blair.

-Glacier.

-Yes.

Negative 273.15 degrees is known -- Blair.

-Absolutely zero.

-Yes.

This largest Antarctic ice shelf is named for -- Blair.

-Ross, right?

Ross.

-It is Ross.

The South Pole was first reached by this Nor-- Blair.

-Amundsen.

-Yes.

"The Snows of Kilimanjaro" is a story by this -- Wootton.

-Hemingway.

-Yeah, you've got it.

And that was our Fast Start.

Let's recap the scores.

Montgomery Blair, 160, Wootton, 110, St. John's 100 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] And now we get to meet the teams.

We begin with Montgomery Blair High School from Silver Spring.

Hello, Justin.

What you doing?

-Hi.

I'm Justin Rosentover.

I'm a 16-year-old sophomore.

And I'd like to thank our proud principal, Renay Johnson, for supporting us.

-Yeah.

She's wonderful and used to be here all of the time.

Yeah, she's great.

Tell her hi.

Hello, Ace.

-Hi.

I'm a si-- Sorry.

I'm a 17-year-old senior, and I'd like to thank August, our other team member who couldn't be here today, unfortunately, and is the rest of our quiz bowl club.

-Wonderful.

And what are you doing outside of school?

-Outside of school?

Well, I'm playing quiz bowl tournaments.

Yeah.

I'm doing research right now at University of Maryland, which is pretty exciting.

-Wow.

On what?

-It's medical engineering.

So, yeah.

-Fascinating.

That's wonderful.

Well, it's good to see you both again.

And hello, Uriel.

-Hello, I'm Uriel.

[ Laughs ] Hello, I'm Uriel, now 18-years-old senior from Blair High School.

And I would like to thank our sponsors, Mr. Rada, Mr. Hammond, Ms. Partan, and Mr. Schafer.

-By the way, happy birthday.

Can we all wish Uriel a happy birthday?

Yay!

[ Applause ] See?

I told you we'd get it in.

Alright, guys, I have some questions for you.

They're worth 20 points, nothing off for a wrong answer.

Jacob rates films.

You will rate 20 points if you find hidden within this phrase the name of what poisonous hooded snake.

-Cobra.

-Cobra.

-Yeah.

A penny, an odor.

Here you have clues to what two words that sound alike, but are spelled differently.

-Scent.

[Cent] -Scent.

[Cent] Yes.

February 2nd.

In America, this is Groundhog Day, but it's called Candlemas or Quarter Day in what political division of Great Britain, where you can search for the Loch Ness Monster?

-Scotland.

-Scotland.

-Yeah.

Dien Bien Phu, Somme, Midway.

Here you have three important 20th-century battles.

Please arrange them in chronological order beginning with the earliest.

-Somme, Midway, Dien Bien Phu.

-Yeah.

-We have Somme, Midway, and then Dien Bien Phu.

-Correct.

"We're making the world more transparent."

This statement comes from what man, co-founder and CEO of Facebook, now Meta?

-Zuckerberg.

Mark Zuckerberg.

-Yeah, that's right.

Nice job, Montgomery Blair.

260 points.

[ Applause ] And now to Wootton High School from Rockville, Maryland.

Hello, Rayan.

How you doing?

-Hey.

I'm Rayan.

I'm a 16-year-old junior from Wootton High School, and I'd like to thank our coach, Mrs. Foeckler, and our parents for supporting us and coming out today.

-Yeah.

And what are you doing outside of school these days?

-One thing I like to do outside of school is rock climbing, especially when my sister comes home from college.

Then we like to go rock climbing together.

-Do you go Great Falls?

-No, more indoor, like at a rock-climbing gym.

-Oh, cool.

That's wonderful.

Well, it's good to see you.

And, Adam, how about you?

-Hello.

I'm Adam.

I'm a 17-year-old junior, and I'd like to thank our alternate, Jake, for coming all the way here.

On my free time, I like to study music theory, and I'm trying to compose my own music.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-And just in songs, orchestrations, something big, small?

-Orchestra.

Yeah.

-Beautiful.

Well, it's really good to see you again, Adam.

And hello, Anika.

-Hi.

I'm Anika.

I'm a 15-year-old sophomore, and I'd like to thank all the tech and all the people that make this TV show possible.

And in my free time, I love to read, and I do theater.

What are you doing in theater?

-I'm doing "Seussical," which is so much harder than everybody thinks it is.

-[ Laughs ] Why?

-So, the harmonies are like -- I'm an alto, so I usually get the harmony, and they're like -- they're really hard.

-Huh.

Well, it's good to see you again.

I've got some questions for you.

Here's the first one.

Antigua, my home.

If you look carefully at this phrase, you can find hidden in it the name of what island, a US territory in the Pacific?

-Guam.

-Yes.

Parts of a chain, type of wildcat.

Here you see clues to what pair of words that sound alike, but are spelled differently?

-Lynx.

[Links] -Lynx.

[Links] -Yes.

April 3, 1860.

Today, we have e-mail, but this date marked the beginning of what mail delivery service between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California?

-Pony Express.

-Pony Express.

-Yeah.

In triplet.

Starbucks, Boeing, Standard Oil.

Here you see three corporations that have had a major impact on America.

Please arrange them in chronological order, according to the dates they were founded.

-Standard Oil, Boeing, Starbucks.

-[ Chuckles ] Yes.

"Women are the largest untapped reservoir in the world."

This statement comes from what 2016 Democratic Party presidential candidate, a former first lady?

-Hillary Clinton.

-Hillary Clinton.

-Yeah.

And that is it for Wootton.

Nice job.

210 points.

[ Applause ] And finally, St. John's College High School from Washington, DC.

Douglas, what's up with you these days?

-Hi.

I'm Douglas.

I'm a 16-year-old junior at St. John's College High School.

I'd like to thank our alternate, Diego Orrego.

-And what are you up to outside of school these days?

-I like doing volunteer work in my local community.

-Oh, fabulous.

And what are you doing?

-Mostly food kitchen stuff, like handing out different resources to communities.

-And how does that change you, if at all?

-I guess just the connection I make with people.

-That's beautiful.

Well, it's good to see you again.

-Hey, Margaret.

What are you up to?

-I'm Margaret.

I'm a 16-year-old junior.

I would like to thank my parents for coming out today and supporting me.

And outside of school, I play violin, and I like to draw.

-Oh, we talked about this before, but I forgot what you like to draw.

-I really like to draw portraits.

-Ah, great.

And what are you working on these days?

-Recently, I started a self-portrait in charcoal, which when it's done, I think I'll be proud of.

-Wonderful.

Well, we'd all like to see it.

So, that's wonderful.

Good to have you, Margaret.

Hello, Peace.

-Hi.

I'm Peace.

I'm a 17-year-old senior, and I like learning languages.

How many do you know?

-Uh...

I guess three.

-That's pretty good.

That's better than me.

What are they?

-English, Spanish, and I'm currently learning Japanese.

-Oh, wow, that's great.

Alright, guys, questions.

Here's the first one.

Istanbul gentlemen.

Hidden in this phrase is the name of what 1944 battle, the last major German offensive of World War II?

Can you see it?

Answer?

-Bulge.

-Yeah.

That's it.

It's Battle of the Bulge.

Nice.

Female deer, uncooked bread.

Here you have clues to what two words that sound alike, but are spelled differently?

-Dough.

[Doe] -Dough.

[Doe] Yes.

November 8, 1656.

This was the birth date of what English astronomer who accurately predicted the return of the famous comet that now bears his name?

-Halley.

-Yeah.

Blood circulation, fiber optics, diesel engine.

Each of these scientific discoveries occurred in a different century.

Can you arrange them in correct chronological order?

-I would probably say blood circulation.

Yeah.

Blood circulation, diesel engine, fiber optics.

-You've got it.

"An October sort of city."

This was one writer's description of what American city, the largest in the Midwest?

-Chicago?

Chicago.

-Chicago.

Nice.

St. John's, 200 points.

That does it for the Mix and Match Round.

We've got Picture Perfect for you 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.

♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -Ready for some pictures?

This is the Picture Perfect round.

Questions are worth 20 points up or down.

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

Everybody.

This fish is real, but it's named for what legendary one-horned equine -- John's.

-Unicorn.

-Yes.

"Little Golden city on the sea."

This description is of what independent Arab sheikdom whose capital is -- Blair.

Answer.

Three, two -- -Kuwait.

-No.

Qatar.

Dandelions like these provided inspiration for what American author of -- Wootton.

Answer?

-Bradbury.

-Yes, you're right.

Dandelion wine was the clue.

What is the slope of the line connecting these two -- Wootton.

-Um... -Answer?

-Negative 3... -It's 1... -In three, two -- -1/3.

-Yes.

These purple flowers grow near the home of what Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "The Color Purple"?

Wootton.

-Walker?

-Yes.

The red square on this chart covers what?

Blair?

-Gallium.

-Yeah, nice.

These famous Moai heads are found on -- Blair.

-Easter Island.

-Easter Island is correct.

Over 2,000 years old, this metallic goat comes from what modern country once known as Persia?

Yes, Blair.

-Iran.

-Iran is right, and that's the end of the Picture Perfect round.

Let's recap these scores.

Montgomery Blair, 300 points.

Wootton, 270 points.

St. John's, 220 points.

[ Applause ] We always talk about the fact that these students get a lot of support, and they really do, from their teachers and administrators, and they revel in it, I'm sure.

Let's learn more about those folks from Montgomery Blair.

Ace, tell us about your team behind the team.

-So, our coach is Mr. Rada.

So, you know, he does a lot of organizing and running practices, and we're really grateful for that.

We also have our wonderful principal, Ms. Johnson.

You know, she runs the school.

Yeah.

-[ Laughs ] Yeah, she does.

-Yeah, yeah.

-Very well.

-And we also have a lot of support from Mr. Hammond, Ms. Partan, and Mr. Schafer, whose room we used for practices.

And they help us organize practices, and we're all really thankful.

-Beautiful.

That's wonderful.

And over to Wootton.

Adam, how about you guys?

-Our coach and sponsor is Mrs. Foeckler.

This is her first full year as the head coach and sponsor.

She does an amazing job running the club.

She's been learning how to run it, everything she has had to learn, and she's been doing it amazing and everything's been running so smoothly.

-I'm sure you guys are helping lead her along, right?

Awesome.

And over to St. John's High School.

Margaret, tell us about who's with you.

-So, our coach is Mr. Zacher.

He gives us a room to -- Well, he's our coach, so he helps us practice, and we use his room.

He also gives us pizza every practice.

-[ Laughs ] Extra bonus points, right?

Alright, now that we've met all of the coaches, it is time for the Packet round.

Okay, in this Packet round, we have three packets.

Hence the title Packet round.

Montgomery Blair will get to answer questions first from one of these packets.

Wootton gets to choose which packet it will be.

Wootton?

-Packet one.

-Packet one.

Here we go, Blair.

Questions are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

And if you get all of the questions right, there's a 25-point bonus.

Augusta, the Capitol of Maine, has the chemical symbol for gold at the beginning of its name as does what capital of Texas?

-Austin.

Austin?

-Yes.

A Hindi phrase meaning "home of the snows" is thought to be the source of what name given to the mountain range that includes Mount Everest.

-Himalayas.

Himalayas?

-Yeah.

Because paper had not yet been invented, Ancient Egyptians wrote on what plant material made from the flattened stems of a type of reed?

-Papyrus.

-Yes.

Here's your science question.

Which of these terms refers to a remote, massive, extremely luminous celestial body with a power output that can be greater than the entire Milky Way?

-Quasar?

-I think so.

-Quasar?

-Yes.

If you were traveling from Moscow to Siberia, you'd have to cross what mountain range that separates Europe from Asia?

-Urals?

-Correct.

"It's an adventure story with anthropological insights," said one literary critic about what William Golding novel about a group of boys stranded on a deserted island?

-"Lord of the Flies".

-That's be terrifying.

"Lord of the Flies".

Here's your math question.

Evaluate this expression, giving your answer as a power of X.

-No, no, it's not.

No, it is X to the eighth.

-X to the eighth?

-Yes.

X to the eighth.

Neanderthals may have co existed with modern humans over 40,000 years ago in what European country where Sofia is capital?

-Bulgaria.

-Bulgaria.

-Bulgaria is right, and with that question, Montgomery Blair, a 25 points bonus and 485 points.

Well done.

Now we go to Wootton.

Wootton, you're going to answer some questions from either packet two or packet three.

St. John's, which will it be?

-Three.

-Three.

The first man to sign the Declaration of Independence was what man who wanted his signature big enough so King George could read it without his glasses?

-Hancock.

-Hancock.

Your John Hancock.

Yes.

The constitutional amendment limiting the powers of federal courts has what number that places it immediately after the Bill of Rights?

-11.

-Correct.

"Taking the bitter with the sweet."

What sticky sugar byproduct was linked to slavery and rum in the colonial triangle trade?

-Molasses?

Molasses?

-It is molasses.

Here's your science question.

Which of these is a hot southeastern wind that blows from the Sahara over Egypt and parts of the Middle East?

Answer.

I need one.

-The second one?

-Yep.

That's it.

Khamsin.

The busiest port in modern Egypt is what city that, in ancient times, was known for its extensive library?

-Alexandria?

-Yeah.

The idea of cannibalism to solve social problems is suggested in the satirical essay "A Modest Proposal" by what writer better known for "Gulliver's Travels"?

-Swift.

-Swift, -Very nice.

Here's your math question.

Solve for x if y has a value of three.

-Three?

-Yes.

Even if you don't know beans about coffee, you should know that coffee was first grown in what African country whose modern capital is Addis Ababa?

-Ethiopia?

-Nicely done.

A 25 point bonus for Wootton High School.

455 points.

And now, packet number two for St. John's.

Entrepreneurs face major problems in trying to harvest the silky threads produced by what web spinning arachnids?

-Spiders.

-Yes.

According to legend, it was 47 centuries ago that a Chinese emperor invented what medical technique in which small needles are inserted into a patient's body?

-Acupuncture.

-Yeah.

In Hindu mythology, one terrifying creature is the Shesha, an enormous snake with how many heads equaling ten cubed?

-100.

-Yes.

No, I'm sorry, 1,000.

Here's your science question.

Which of these names a ring of small icy bodies orbiting the sun beyond the outermost planet?

-Kuiper belt.

-Yes.

A smart octopus named Inky managed to slip out of his enclosure, slide into a floor drain and escape into the ocean in what country whose capital is Wellington?

-New Zealand.

-Yeah.

Still on the best sellers list decades after its publication, "Night" is a book by what Holocaust survivor?

-Elie Wiesel.

-Yeah.

Here's your math question.

How many degrees are there in the smaller angle of this parallelogram?

Answer?

In three, two, one.

45 degrees.

The name "Upper Peru" once referred to the area of what modern country whose capitals are La Paz and Sucre.

-Bolivia.

-Bolivia is right.

Nice job, St. John's.

340 points.

That does it for the Packet round.

We have the grab bag round next.

And in that round, anything can happen, so stick around to watch.

See you in a minute.

-Hello, I'm David Rubenstein.

Did you know that the Sargasso Sea, a section of the Atlantic Ocean, is where certain species of eels are born?

They will return there in their last year of life to breed for the first time and then die.

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

♪♪ -Alright.

Can you guys say this with me?

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

-Okay.

Let's do it one more time with energy.

It is time for the... -Grab Bag!

-Yeah.

Questions are worth 20 points up or down.

Here we go.

Espionage and entomology intersect in spy novels where secret agents often plant listening devices -- Wootton?

Answer.

-Bugs.

-Bugs is right.

A great-nephew of Napoleon named Charles Bonaparte once held what US cabinet position occupied today by "It's Academic" alum Merrick Garland?

Yes, Blair?

-Attorney General.

-Yes.

What American playwright contemplated his own unhappy family life in "Long Days --" Blair.

-O'Neill?

-Yeah, Eugene O'Neil.

On your monitors.

Canada's Banff National Park is located in what Canadian province?

Blair.

-Alberta?

Alberta it is.

According to legend, what Roman slave won the gratitude of -- Wootton.

Answer.

Three, two, one.

Androcles.

No.

Won gratitude of a lion by taking out a thorn.

The sign of what acute angle in degrees is equal to the sine of 165 degrees?

Wootton.

-15?

-Yeah, that's it.

The highest mountain in New Zealand is named for -- Blair.

-Cook.

-Yes, it is.

On your monitors.

This anagram will make more sense if you rearrange the letters to name what British general who surrendered at Saratoga in -- Wootton.

Answer.

Three, two, one.

Burgoyne.

According to his nickname, German Chancellor Bismarck was made of what durable -- Blair.

-Iron?

-The Iron Chancellor.

Yeah.

Choice.

The weight of two liters of oxygen gas at standard temperature and pressure is about 3 grams, 16 grams, or 32?

Blair.

Answer.

Three, two -- -16 grams.

-No, it's 3 grams.

Though he died in 1849, before his 40th birthday, what Polish born composer left a legacy of piano works -- Blair.

-Chopin?

-Yeah.

On your monitors.

This image of his daughter in an orange-pink dress is the work of what 18th century English artist whose better known works include "Blue Boy"?

Blair.

-Gainsborough.

-Yes.

Toward the end of World War II, German General von Choltitz defied a direct order from Hitler and refused to destroy what world famous city?

It was Paris.

He saved Paris.

The death of his wife inspired Edgar Allen Poe to write what poem about a girl who lived many and many -- Wootton.

-"Annabel Lee".

-Yes, it is "Annabel Lee".

I love that one.

[ Buzzer ] And with that, we have the end of the game.

Stick around.

We're going to tabulate the scores, or the judges are going to, and we'll let you know the official tabulations next.

-I'm David Rubinstein, 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.

I'm Daniel Santillian, and I'm currently a sophomore at Spartan High School.

One of my favorite ways to give back to the community is through home repair projects.

During the summer, I spent about a week with local high schoolers repairing the homes of those in need.

Last year, I helped build a new driveway for an elderly man who needed more access to his tractor.

We also repainted his house and cleaned up his yard.

I think that this act of community service helps build community with people from your generation and the ones before it.

-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.

-Hey, before we do the scores, there is a big shout out from the crew to Anika from Wootton.

They want to thank you for thanking them earlier.

So thank you so much for that.

And now we will do these scores.

We begin with St. John's College High School from Washington, DC.

Douglas, Margaret, Peace -- 340 points.

From Rockville's Wootton High School, Ryan, Adam, Anika -- 475 points.

And coming back for the semifinals, the team from Montgomery Blair in Silver Spring, Justin, Ace, Uriel -- 605 points.

Way to go, guys.

That was a great competition.

Stick around.

We will 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.

We are so glad that you joined us here on "It's Academic" today.

Let's hear it for these students.

Yay!

I'm Hillary Howard.

See you next time.

Everybody joined me.

Bye.

See you.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪