Did you know that a surprising one in four Americans is unaware that the Earth orbits the sun? Absolutely! This eye-opening statistic comes from the National Science Foundation’s biennial survey of American science knowledge, which was recently presented in a comprehensive report to Congress.
In the 2014 survey involving over 2,200 participants, individuals averaged a mere 65 percent correct responses—a grade that would typically translate to a D in most middle or high school science classes. Interestingly, those with bachelor’s degrees scored an average of 78 percent, while only 45 percent of high school graduates managed to answer correctly. Additionally, individuals over 65 years old performed worse than their younger counterparts.
So, do you think you can outperform the average? Test your knowledge with the quiz below (and be sure to check your responses afterward):
- Is the center of the Earth extremely hot? True or false?
- Have the continents been shifting their positions for millions of years and will they continue to do so? True or false?
- Does the Earth revolve around the sun, or does the sun revolve around the Earth?
- Is all radioactivity a result of human activity? True or false?
- Are electrons smaller than atoms? True or false?
- Do lasers operate by concentrating sound waves? True or false?
- Did the universe originate from a massive explosion? True or false?
- Is it the father’s gene that determines the sex of the baby? True or false?
- Do antibiotics eliminate both viruses and bacteria? True or false?
- Did human beings, as we recognize them today, evolve from earlier animal species? True or false?
This article first appeared on February 26, 2015. Interested in more engaging content? Check out this link for our other blog posts.
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In summary, understanding basic science concepts is crucial, not just for academic purposes, but also for making informed decisions in your personal life. Test your knowledge against the average American and see where you stand!