Posted on 02/19/2014 4:32:22 PM PST by SeekAndFind
The Earth circles the sun once every year, but a startling 26% of Americans get this simple fact backward. They think that the sun orbits around the Earth. This shocking finding comes from a survey of more than 2,200 people in the United States, conducted by the National Science Foundation in 2012. The survey, done every two years, tests the public's knowledge of basic facts in the physical and biological sciences.
The survey is included in a major federal report, Science and Engineering Indicators, prepared for the president and Congress.
In 2012, Americans answered an average of 5.8 out of the survey's 9 questions correctly. That's a score of 65% — barely a passing grade.
All of the questions on the survey are listed below. Take the quiz, then see how you compare to your fellow compatriots.
Questions:
1. The center of the Earth is very hot. True or false?
2. The continents have been moving their location for millions of years and will continue to move. True or false?
3. Does the Earth go around the sun, or does the sun go around the Earth?
4. All radioactivity is man-made. True or false?
5. Electrons are smaller than atoms. True or false?
6. Lasers work by focusing sound waves. True or false?
7. The universe began with a huge explosion. True or false?
8. It's the father's gene that decides whether the baby is a boy or girl. True or false?
9. Antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria. True or false?
10. Human beings, as we know them today, developed from earlier species of animals. True or false?
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
The universe began with a really REALLY tiny explosion.
Hmm, I guess I’ll always miss #7 and #10, even knowing what they think is the “right” answer.
Probably true. However what is "very hot"?
2. The continents have been moving their location for millions of years and will continue to move. True or false?
You are asking for a prognostication. Invalid question.
3. Does the Earth go around the sun, or does the sun go around the Earth?
The earth is in orbit around the sun but the question is oversimplified.
4. All radioactivity is man-made. True or false?
Finally! A question that is answerable. False.
5. Electrons are smaller than atoms. True or false?
Another. True.
6. Lasers work by focusing sound waves. True or false?
You guys are on a roll! False.
7. The universe began with a huge explosion. True or false?
Probable supposition but unable to verify. Invalid question.
8. It's the father's gene that decides whether the baby is a boy or girl. True or false?
True but over simplified to the point that a false answer would not be totally inaccurate.
9. Antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria. True or false?
False. 10. Human beings, as we know them today, developed from earlier species of animals. True or false? Invalid question.
Send the designer of this test back to school.
11. Liberals are Morons. (true or true)
Sounds like the argument for same-sex marriage.
I like peanut butter...and I like jelly. Just don't like them together. Ha!!
By golly, it does! I was laughing so hard at my own little joke that I didn’t even think about it. Thanks!
Yeah - those were my answers as well.
Well - and the sun thing. Idiots. It doesn’t revolve around the earth in a year - it only takes a day! (And even less during daylight savings.)
“...it’s Nitrogen...”
Huh? I thought I just heard Obama saying it was CO2!?
Well, if he’d ever shut up...
lol!
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