How smart are you compared to an 8th grader in 1912?

I'm sure that we are learning things that were not being taught in 1912, but I found this to be pretty difficult. I have my B.S. degree and am 49 years old. I scored 81%. I missed a couple of history questions and a writing question. I can't wait to give this test to my 8th grader. How do you fare and what is your background for reference?

http://offbeat.topix.com/quiz/7458/qidx1

 

It's late, going to bed so will look at it tomorrow. I saw one of these tests for the kids waaaaay back then, m/b it was 1912 and holy cow! Couldn't believe how well they were taught...... and look at our school system now. It's pathetic.........

 

My 8th grader got a 61. My wife took it after I fell asleep. If she had done well she would have told me.

The original test wasn't multiple choice. That would make it even harder. The 1912 kids had the advantage of studying for the test and 104 less years of history to learn. The Titanic was a current event.

 

I just finished the test and scored 58% - grade B and I was shocked that I passed it! The kids back then sure weren't pampered like they are now. I understand that they're not even teaching cursive anymore. The kids can just print. I think that's disgusting.....

 

I already earned a BS and no reason to go to Harvard, besides I don't have rich parents and affirmative action isn't an option being accepted to Harvard because I'm white.

I wonder how Obama would have done on question #12 on the duties of the President ?

The The World Wide Whiskey Quiz!, this should be fun.

 

I didn't know that until the George Zimmerman trial when Trayvon's girlfriend was on the witness stand and it was revealed she couldn't write or read words written in cursive.

May explain why I have college grads today applying for a job, they have their computer generated resume but since some of my work is government, I'm required to have an old fashion job application on file. The job applicant feet start a tapping and sweat starts rolling down their face. You hire them and down the road you send out a memo in longhand and it's all greek to them.

Freaking unbelievable.

 

I absolutely agree......this country's education system is now nothing but a disgrace...

 

"Garbage in, Garbage out"

 

The Quiz maker needs to re-do #31. If 5,280=1 mile that CANNOT be the answer for "how many steps of 2 ft/ 1/3rd inches will a man take IN walking 2 1/3 miles." It's missing the other 1 1/3rd mile.

Overall? I majorly flunked this test.

 

It was 2 feet 4 inches or 2 1/3 feet.

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My 12 year old niece scored a 71. She's a 6th grader. My wife wouldn't tell us her score.

 

I still don't get it. 5,280 FT=1 Mile. It basically asked us how many feet/inches was in 2 1/3 miles. It can't logically be 5,280.

 

Your Score: 81%
Grade: A
Congratulations! You might be headed to Harvard.

I never was good at grammar, that's where I messed up a couple answers.

 

Q. How many steps of 2 feet 4 inches per step to cover 2 1/3 miles.

2 1/3 miles converted to feet = 1,760 (1/3 x 5,280) + 5,280 + 5,280 = 12,320 feet

12,320 feet converted to inches (x 12) = 147,840 inches

1 step = 2 feet 4 inches = 28 inches

A. 147,840 inches / 28 inches = 5,280 steps to cover 2 1/3 niles

 

So, to get the answer you convert total feet into inches(multiply), then divide to get to the 5,280?

That's....dizzying. They might as well have just said one foot and got it over with .

 

The key to the solution is to convert the step and the distance covered to the same unit, in this case inches.

Distance = 147,840 inches / 1 step = 28 inches

You'll need to take 5,280 steps of 28 inches per step to cover 147,840 inches or 2 1/3 miles.

 

This is why I SUCK at math(and I even took the time to map it out). I basically did it half-way, and thought I did all of the conversion. I thought the math was a bit off, and guess clicked the 14 K answer. But was absolutely floored to see the 5,280 answer.

 

A bit of a trick answer, yes as it so happens the number of steps needed to cover the distance is equivalent to the number of feet in a mile.

 

Now for all those curious about my total score: 38%. I'm actually very disappointed with myself. I did very good on the geography(yay for paying attention in US History class.) And I did a bit better as the questions got more 'modern'(The opposite of you, I loved English and reading. So only got one wrong there.) But everything else, mainly pertaining to the LONG gap. I sucked, horribly. I admit to not paying attention on some of them. I could've gotten as "high" as 45% but I'm clearly not at 1912 8th grade level, which is probably a bachelor's now lol.

 

Of all the qualities of a man or woman, I rate honesty above the ability to pass an 8th graders test from 1912.

You were honest about your result. You'd be surprised how many wouldn't be if there is no way to prove the result or if someone cheated.

 

Closed it after answering about 30 questions with no end in sight and so many of them were UScentric that of course I didn't know the answer to them.

 

I didn't do as good as you. 75%. But I went to school back in the 50's and early 60's, I did noticed a lot of stuff I learned back in Jr. High and High School are now being taught in college when my youngest daughter went to college. I didn't. But I was able to help her immensely.

 

There were 30 questions. I was curious enuf to keep on going and surprised I passed the thing and in several, it was a lucky guess.

 

I really don't see why this is difficult, but then I think back to my school days and say.... Oh my god... My classmates could barely pass Algebra....

 

The Ebbinghaus forgetting curve =

The forgetting curve is essentially the opposite of the learning curve; the downward slope of the curve shows us how much information is lost over time.

Not doing well on this quiz doesn't mean much in my opinion.

For an 8th grader, the information and what is learned is fresh.

As examples some of the grammar rules on the quiz, probably at one point I knew the answer but have long since forgotten.

Basically - Use it or lose it.

 

I'm going out on a limb and guessing that this test is bs. I really doubt that 8th graders in 1912 would have had "ww2" and "vietnam" as options for where an American battle took place.