Strata: The Bible and Archaeology Are “Academic” for High School Teens

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the world’s longest-running quiz show on TV is It’s Academic, a program based in Washington, D.C. (and produced in several other U.S. cities). Each week, the show features three different teams from area high schools facing off in a tournament to test their knowledge in a variety of subjects. Mac McGarry has been hosting the show since it began in 1961, and he’s seen some contestants go on to become famous, including film producer Bruce Cohen, political correspondent George Stephanopoulos and U.S. Senator Charles Schumer.

Below are some questions from the files of It’s Academic that were all answered correctly by the teenage contestants of the show. How many of them can you get right?

1) In 1922, archaeologist Howard Carter unearthed the treasure-filled tomb of what “boy king” of ancient Egypt?

2) According to the Bible, the ark built by Noah came to rest on what mountain in Asia Minor?

3) Southeast of Naples lie the ruins of what Roman resort, destroyed in 79 C.E. by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius?

4) King Nebuchadnezzar is said to have ordered the building of what horticultural wonder in ancient Babylon?

5) Near the Dead Sea is a rock formation named for what Biblical woman, who turned into a pillar of salt when she looked back at the city of Sodom?

6) In the name of Star Trek captain James T. Kirk, the initial “T” alludes to what Roman emperor who was the successor of Augustus?