Author Topic: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition (Read 2531 times)

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/

Steve Contra · « **Reply #1 on:** October 08, 2013, 01:49:47 PM »

13 out of 13

CajoleJuice · « **Reply #2 on:** October 08, 2013, 01:50:54 PM »

this is so old

ToxicAdam · « **Reply #3 on:** October 08, 2013, 01:52:53 PM »

Quote from: CajoleJuice on October 08, 2013, 01:50:54 PM

this is so old

Is it? I should've google searched it.

archnemesis · « **Reply #4 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.

Tasty · « **Reply #5 on:** October 08, 2013, 01:54:42 PM »

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

Fracking I didn't know but took an educated guess.

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #6 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.

fistfulofmetal · « **Reply #7 on:** October 08, 2013, 01:55:03 PM »

13/13

Raban · « **Reply #8 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.

Steve Contra · « **Reply #9 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.

fistfulofmetal · « **Reply #10 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.

Raban · « **Reply #11 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

CatsCatsCats · « **Reply #12 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?

Tasty · « **Reply #13 on:** October 08, 2013, 02:12:43 PM »

People didn't know the nitrogen one?

I almost

ed on the carbon dioxide one, I thought they meant which gas makes things rise higher. Caught myself just in time.

Brehvolution · « **Reply #14 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.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #15 on:** October 08, 2013, 02:15:13 PM »

Quote from: Tasty Meat on October 08, 2013, 01:54:42 PM

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

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

cool breeze · « **Reply #16 on:** October 08, 2013, 02:19:13 PM »

Quote from: Tasty Meat on October 08, 2013, 01:54:42 PM

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

ha, same here.

I imagined a box full of nails

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #17 on:** October 08, 2013, 02:19:45 PM »

Quote from: Howard Alan Treesong on October 08, 2013, 02:15:13 PM

Quote from: Tasty Meat on October 08, 2013, 01:54:42 PM
12/13, I thought the chemical reaction one said "Nails rustling" (like jimmies.)

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.

CajoleJuice · « **Reply #18 on:** October 08, 2013, 02:22:20 PM »

Quote from: ToxicAdam on October 08, 2013, 01:52:53 PM

Quote from: CajoleJuice on October 08, 2013, 01:50:54 PM
this is so old

Is it? I should've google searched it.

yeah, but whatever, i'm just cranky

13/13

king of the internet · « **Reply #19 on:** October 08, 2013, 02:59:23 PM »

10/13. My parents would have been so proud of a grade like that!

Tasty · « **Reply #20 on:** October 08, 2013, 03:02:27 PM »

Quote from: Great Rumbler on October 08, 2013, 02:19:45 PM

Quote from: Howard Alan Treesong on October 08, 2013, 02:15:13 PM
Quote from: Tasty Meat on October 08, 2013, 01:54:42 PM
12/13, I thought the chemical reaction one said "Nails rustling" (like jimmies.)

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.

Robo · « **Reply #21 on:** October 08, 2013, 03:23:29 PM »

If you got any of these questions wrong, you're as dumb as a fuck.

Rufus · « **Reply #22 on:** October 08, 2013, 03:32:05 PM »

13/13

Tasty · « **Reply #23 on:** October 08, 2013, 03:53:55 PM »

Quote from: Robo on October 08, 2013, 03:23:29 PM

If you got any of these questions wrong, you're as dumb as a fuck.

Your wrong.

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #24 on:** October 08, 2013, 04:08:55 PM »

13/13

Quote from: Howard Alan Treesong on October 08, 2013, 02:15:13 PM

Quote from: Tasty Meat on October 08, 2013, 01:54:42 PM
12/13, I thought the chemical reaction one said "Nails rustling" (like jimmies.)

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

hampster · « **Reply #25 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

Yulwei · « **Reply #26 on:** October 08, 2013, 04:52:14 PM »

I got a 15

Madrun Badrun · « **Reply #27 on:** October 08, 2013, 05:16:39 PM »

12/13 because apparently I didn't answer one when I did

Diunx · « **Reply #28 on:** October 08, 2013, 05:35:16 PM »

You answered 11 of 13 questions correctly.

Third world education

naff · « **Reply #29 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

Tasty · « **Reply #30 on:** October 08, 2013, 05:41:44 PM »

Quote from: Butt Seriously 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

Same.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #31 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.

Steve Contra · « **Reply #32 on:** October 08, 2013, 06:03:21 PM »

Quote from: Exodust SoulBurn on October 08, 2013, 05:59:04 PM

13 for 13, bitches. That was easy.

Never forget 10/8

benjipwns · « **Reply #33 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.

Madrun Badrun · « **Reply #34 on:** October 08, 2013, 06:11:27 PM »

Quote from: Diunx on October 08, 2013, 05:35:16 PM

You answered 11 of 13 questions correctly.

Third world education

Post what questions you got wrong, so we can make fun of you.

Olivia Wilde Homo · « **Reply #35 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.

Steve Contra · « **Reply #36 on:** October 08, 2013, 06:15:52 PM »

Quote from: Mary Tyler Whore 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.

Sounds like someone got a shitty score

G The Resurrected · « **Reply #37 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.

Steve Contra · « **Reply #38 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.

CatsCatsCats · « **Reply #39 on:** October 08, 2013, 07:01:05 PM »

Quote from: The Business on October 08, 2013, 06:08:40 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.

Himu · « **Reply #40 on:** October 08, 2013, 08:27:27 PM »

13 out of 13

Himu · « **Reply #41 on:** October 08, 2013, 08:32:07 PM »

Sarah Palin taught me what fracking was

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #42 on:** October 08, 2013, 08:35:15 PM »

Quote from: Formerly Known As Himuro on October 08, 2013, 08:32:07 PM

Sarah Palin taught me what fracking was

Himu · « **Reply #43 on:** October 08, 2013, 08:38:50 PM »

If only I could age as gracefully as my hero Sarah Palin

lennedsay · « **Reply #44 on:** October 08, 2013, 10:46:44 PM »

13/13! I really am a man

recursivelyenumerable · « **Reply #45 on:** October 08, 2013, 10:49:45 PM »

12/13

Rufus · « **Reply #46 on:** October 08, 2013, 10:50:38 PM »

Quote from: lennedsay on October 08, 2013, 10:46:44 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.

Trent Dole · « **Reply #47 on:** October 08, 2013, 11:07:18 PM »

12/13

You scored better than 85% of the public, below 7% and the same as 8%.
Smarter than most people tho.

Tasty · « **Reply #48 on:** October 08, 2013, 11:14:42 PM »

Quote from: Trent Dole on October 08, 2013, 11:07:18 PM

12/13
You scored better than 85% of the public, below 7% and the same as 8%.
Smarter than most people tho.

Most people are smarter than most people.

Madrun Badrun · « **Reply #49 on:** October 09, 2013, 04:03:59 PM »

Hey, I'm most people! Thanks for the complement, bro.

Hock · « **Reply #50 on:** October 09, 2013, 04:20:31 PM »

10/13 yikes

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Author Topic: Are you smarter than an American?: Science Edition (Read 2531 times)