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Here Are The Basic Science Questions That 1 In 4 Americans Got Wrong
Business Insider ^ | 02/18/2014 | Dina Spector

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 ...


TOPICS: Education; Science; Society
KEYWORDS: education; science
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To: ConfusedAndLovingIt

The universe began with a really REALLY tiny explosion.


81 posted on 02/20/2014 8:14:45 AM PST by misanthrope (Liberalism; it is not unthinking ignorance, it is malignant evil.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Hmm, I guess I’ll always miss #7 and #10, even knowing what they think is the “right” answer.


82 posted on 02/20/2014 8:36:24 AM PST by jda ("Righteousness exalts a nation . . .")
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To: SeekAndFind
1. The center of the Earth is very hot. True or false?

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.

83 posted on 02/20/2014 8:49:36 AM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (Proud Infidel, Gun Nut, Religious Fanatic and Freedom Fiend)
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To: SeekAndFind

11. Liberals are Morons. (true or true)


84 posted on 02/20/2014 9:03:06 AM PST by Kickass Conservative (Nobody owes you a living, so shut up and get back to work...)
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To: Psiman
When one bacteria loves another bacteria very, very much...

Sounds like the argument for same-sex marriage.

85 posted on 02/20/2014 9:21:54 AM PST by FatherofFive (Islam is evil and must be eradicated)
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To: FatherofFive
Never liked peanut butter and jelly sammy's...

I like peanut butter...and I like jelly. Just don't like them together. Ha!!

86 posted on 02/20/2014 12:41:54 PM PST by Osage Orange (I have strong feelings about gun control. If there's a gun around, I want to be controlling it.)
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To: FatherofFive

By golly, it does! I was laughing so hard at my own little joke that I didn’t even think about it. Thanks!


87 posted on 02/21/2014 1:16:42 AM PST by Psiman (PS I am not a crackpot)
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To: TexasFreeper2009

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.)


88 posted on 02/21/2014 1:25:15 AM PST by 21twelve (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2185147/posts 2013 is 1933 REBORN)
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To: Fledermaus

“...it’s Nitrogen...”

Huh? I thought I just heard Obama saying it was CO2!?


89 posted on 02/21/2014 1:30:18 AM PST by 21twelve (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2185147/posts 2013 is 1933 REBORN)
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To: 21twelve

Well, if he’d ever shut up...


90 posted on 02/21/2014 11:18:13 AM PST by Fledermaus (If we here in TN can't get rid of the worthless Lamar, it's over.)
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To: Fledermaus

lol!


91 posted on 02/21/2014 1:35:08 PM PST by 21twelve (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2185147/posts 2013 is 1933 REBORN)
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