THE BORE

General => The Superdeep Borehole => Topic started by: ToxicAdam on October 08, 2013, 01:45:04 PM

Title: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: ToxicAdam on October 08, 2013, 01:45:04 PM
Pew Research did a study that asked 1006 American adults basic science questions. The results are pretty appalling.

I got them all right, but one question took me a few seconds to think about.


You can take the test here:

http://www.pewresearch.org/quiz/science-knowledge/
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Steve Contra on October 08, 2013, 01:49:47 PM
13 out of 13 :obama
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: CajoleJuice on October 08, 2013, 01:50:54 PM
this is so old
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: ToxicAdam on October 08, 2013, 01:52:53 PM
this is so old

Is it? I should've google searched it.

Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: archnemesis on October 08, 2013, 01:53:35 PM
I got all of them right when I did it a few months ago. Appalling is certainly the right word to describe the results.
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Tasty on October 08, 2013, 01:54:42 PM
12/13, I thought the chemical reaction one said "Nails rustling" (like jimmies.) :lol :derp

Fracking I didn't know but took an educated guess.
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Mr. Gundam on October 08, 2013, 01:55:01 PM
13 out of 13, but I honestly wasn't confident about the laser question. 

I'd love to hear some people's thought processes about the global warming question.
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: fistfulofmetal on October 08, 2013, 01:55:03 PM
13/13
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Raban on October 08, 2013, 01:55:16 PM
Aced it. When "Which gas makes up most of the Earth’s atmosphere?" came up I had a feeling that it would throw a lot of people, and wasn't surprised to see it had the lowest percentage of correct answers.
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Steve Contra on October 08, 2013, 01:57:06 PM
The Earth's atmosphere question is the ringer.  Most people have no idea and it's something you would've learned once in your life and quickly forgotten.
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: fistfulofmetal on October 08, 2013, 01:59:18 PM
It doesn't really bother me that most don't know the answers. None of those questions are really things that a typical person needs to know to function in society.
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Raban on October 08, 2013, 02:01:48 PM
The test isn't about functioning in society though, just understanding some pretty basic scientific facts. Clearly, science is not a priority for Americans :usacry
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: CatsCatsCats on October 08, 2013, 02:04:33 PM
13/13, but yeah I had to think for a second about the atmosphere one. So our studies show forum goers more likely to be able to answer science questions than the general public, how about that?
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Tasty on October 08, 2013, 02:12:43 PM
People didn't know the nitrogen one?

I almost :derp ed on the carbon dioxide one, I thought they meant which gas makes things rise higher. Caught myself just in time.
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Brehvolution on October 08, 2013, 02:13:13 PM
11/13 cause it said I didn't answer 2 of them even though I click on the right answer. :comeon
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on October 08, 2013, 02:15:13 PM
12/13, I thought the chemical reaction one said "Nails rustling" (like jimmies.) :lol :derp

I missed the same one for the same reason lol, I thought it meant like, dragging fingernails on a chalkboard :~(
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: cool breeze on October 08, 2013, 02:19:13 PM
12/13, I thought the chemical reaction one said "Nails rustling" (like jimmies.) :lol :derp

ha, same here. 

I imagined a box full of nails
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Great Rumbler on October 08, 2013, 02:19:45 PM
12/13, I thought the chemical reaction one said "Nails rustling" (like jimmies.) :lol :derp

I missed the same one for the same reason lol, I thought it meant like, dragging fingernails on a chalkboard :~(

Clearly, there are deeper issues in play here than not knowing the answers to basic scientific questions.
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: CajoleJuice on October 08, 2013, 02:22:20 PM
this is so old

Is it? I should've google searched it.



yeah, but whatever, i'm just cranky

13/13
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: king of the internet on October 08, 2013, 02:59:23 PM
10/13. My parents would have been so proud of a grade like that!
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Tasty on October 08, 2013, 03:02:27 PM
12/13, I thought the chemical reaction one said "Nails rustling" (like jimmies.) :lol :derp

I missed the same one for the same reason lol, I thought it meant like, dragging fingernails on a chalkboard :~(

Clearly, there are deeper issues in play here than not knowing that answers basic scientific questions.

I don't know what the results of a reading comprehension test would be. :kobeyuck
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Robo on October 08, 2013, 03:23:29 PM
If you got any of these questions wrong, you're as dumb as a fuck.
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Rufus on October 08, 2013, 03:32:05 PM
13/13 :pimp
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Tasty on October 08, 2013, 03:53:55 PM
If you got any of these questions wrong, you're as dumb as a fuck.

Your wrong.
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Joe Molotov on October 08, 2013, 04:08:55 PM
13/13 8)

12/13, I thought the chemical reaction one said "Nails rustling" (like jimmies.) :lol :derp

I missed the same one for the same reason lol, I thought it meant like, dragging fingernails on a chalkboard :~(

(http://i.imgur.com/oclAgZE.gif)
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: hampster on October 08, 2013, 04:23:12 PM
The one I had the most trouble with (sunscreen) is the one most people got right. My guess between Ultraviolet and Infrared was correct so go me :-[

Everyone else must watch more sunscreen commercials than me
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Yulwei on October 08, 2013, 04:52:14 PM
I got a 15
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Madrun Badrun on October 08, 2013, 05:16:39 PM
12/13 because apparently I didn't answer one when I did :maf
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Diunx on October 08, 2013, 05:35:16 PM
You answered 11 of 13 questions correctly.

Third world education :fbm
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: naff on October 08, 2013, 05:36:51 PM
13/13 that fracking thing was an educated guess, only time I ever heard that term used was in BSG and its always made me cringe a little

Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Tasty on October 08, 2013, 05:41:44 PM
13/13 that fracking thing was an educated guess, only time I ever heard that term used was in BSG and its always made me cringe a little

Same.
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Great Rumbler on October 08, 2013, 05:45:15 PM
I missed two that were, in retrospect, really obvious. Whatever. I don't need to know science stuff to play games and watch anime.
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Steve Contra on October 08, 2013, 06:03:21 PM
13 for 13, bitches. That was easy.
Never forget 10/8 :usacry
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: benjipwns on October 08, 2013, 06:06:42 PM
Some of the other choices on the quiz being correct would certainly make things more...interesting...like say an atmosphere of 80% hydrogen.
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Madrun Badrun on October 08, 2013, 06:11:27 PM
You answered 11 of 13 questions correctly.

Third world education :fbm

Post what questions you got wrong, so we can make fun of you.
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Olivia Wilde Homo on October 08, 2013, 06:14:58 PM
Looking at the report, with the exception of the earth's atmosphere question, the percentages aren't that bad.  95%+ of the population doesn't need to know that fracking is used to extract natural gas but a good solid majority know the potential concerns of antibiotics and UV rays, which is more important for them due to health concerns.

A lot of you are handflapping over nothing as per the usual.
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Steve Contra on October 08, 2013, 06:15:52 PM
Looking at the report, with the exception of the earth's atmosphere question, the percentages aren't that bad.  95%+ of the population doesn't need to know that fracking is used to extract natural gas but a good solid majority know the potential concerns of antibiotics and UV rays, which is more important for them due to health concerns.

A lot of you are handflapping over nothing as per the usual.
Sounds like someone got a shitty score :neogaf
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: G The Resurrected on October 08, 2013, 06:17:50 PM
12/13 would have been 13/13 but I clicked something other than Nitrogen. Guess I'm not as dumb as I thought I'd be.
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Steve Contra on October 08, 2013, 06:41:21 PM
Also the fracking question is just to see if you read or listen to any semi-intelligent news source.
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: CatsCatsCats on October 08, 2013, 07:01:05 PM
The more I think about it, I remember nitrogen being in scuba tanks.


This is why I knew it. They taught me a lot about nitrox mixtures, nitrogen build up and that sort of thing in my SSI course.
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Himu on October 08, 2013, 08:27:27 PM
13 out of 13 :rejoice
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Himu on October 08, 2013, 08:32:07 PM
Sarah Palin taught me what fracking was :rejoice
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Joe Molotov on October 08, 2013, 08:35:15 PM
Sarah Palin taught me what fracking was :rejoice

 :mynicca
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Himu on October 08, 2013, 08:38:50 PM
If only I could age as gracefully as my hero Sarah Palin :rejoice :bow

(http://i.imgur.com/PSYrWGu.jpg)
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: lennedsay on October 08, 2013, 10:46:44 PM
13/13! I really am a man :(
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on October 08, 2013, 10:49:45 PM
12/13  :derp
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Rufus on October 08, 2013, 10:50:38 PM
13/13! I really am a man :(
Nah, being ashamed of basic education is a sign of either working class 'pride' or a vagina.
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Trent Dole on October 08, 2013, 11:07:18 PM
12/13 :fbm
You scored better than 85% of the public, below 7% and the same as 8%.
Smarter than most people tho. 8)
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Tasty on October 08, 2013, 11:14:42 PM
12/13 :fbm
You scored better than 85% of the public, below 7% and the same as 8%.
Smarter than most people tho. 8)

Most people are smarter than most people.
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Madrun Badrun on October 09, 2013, 04:03:59 PM
Hey, I'm most people!  Thanks for the complement, bro. 
Title: Re: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition
Post by: Hock on October 09, 2013, 04:20:31 PM
10/13  yikes  :fbm