When put to the test, Americans rate C in science, a new study has found.

       The Pew Research Center found in a basic quiz of a dozen random science questions, Americans got eight correct, according to an online survey of more than 3,200 adults. The questions ranged from what kind of waves are used in cell phones to interpreting a scatter plot graph(散点图).

      “This is one of those cases where you can look at it as a glass half-full or a glass half-empty,” said Pew associate director Cary Funk. She found it more interesting which questions Americans got right — the core is the hottest part of Earth — and which ones they failed in: water boils faster at higher altitudes.

        Rush Holt, chief executive officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, said: “It may not be important to know that the core of the Earth is hotter, but it is important to know the difference between astronomy and astrology(占星学). It is important to know that science is based on evidence and that their daily decisions on daily life can also be based on evidence.”

       Holt said he found “very troubling” what the demographic breakdown(人口统计数据) of the survey showed. Men in general got one more right answer than did women, while people with college degrees got two more correct answers than did those with a high school education or less. Whites did better than blacks and Hispanics. People between 30 and 49 scored the most correct answers. Those over 65 scored the lowest. Westerners scored the highest on average, while those in the South did the worst.

       The gender difference is noticeable in physical sciences like chemistry and physics and not in biological sciences. Studies show that as early as sixth grade, girls have shown more interest in biological science and boys in physical science. It may be that children are encouraged one way or another, researchers said.

      No one demographic group, not even those with postgraduate degrees, got 11 or 12 answers correct on average to get an A grade.

本时文内容由奇速英语国际教育研究院原创编写，禁止复制和任何商业用途，版权所有，侵权必究！

1.Which question did many Americans get wrong about?

A What kind of waves does a cell phone use?

B Is the glass half full or half empty?

C At what altitude does water boil faster?

D What is the hottest part of Earth?

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据文章第三段最后一句...and which ones they failed in: water boils faster at higher altitudes可知，很多美国人在“水在较高海拔更快沸腾”这一问题上都弄错了。故选 C。

2.What made Rush Holt feel “troubling”?

A People’s level of science varies greatly.

B Men knew much about science than women.

C Westerners know the least about science in America.

D College students know more about science than school pupils.

解析：选A。A 细节理解题。文章第五段介绍了调查结果的详细情况——缺乏科学知识的人因性别、年龄、地域、种族等区别而变化很大。Rush Holt 的担忧是：美国人的科学知识水平太不均衡，差异太大。故 选 A。

3.What makes the gender difference in physical sciences?

A Living area.

B Age.

C Encouragement.

D Interest.

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。文章第六段第一句提到现象“在物理科学上的性别差异较明显”；第二句介绍具体表现“小学六年级的女生对生物科学更感兴趣，而男生则更喜欢物理科学”；最后一段说明原因“可能是由于孩子们受到了不同的鼓励”。故选 C。

4.How does the author feel about Americans’ average level of science?

A Delighted.

B Amazed.

C Satisfied.

D Disappointed.

解析：选D。D 推理判断题。根据文章中的 important, troubling,worst, not even 等消极词汇可以判断，作者对当前美国人的平均科学知识水平表示失望。故选 D。