NationStates Jolt Archive


The new Kansas Science Exams...

Silliopolous
22-11-2005, 03:55
As published by the Minneapolis Star Tribune (http://www.startribune.com/stories/1519/5735618.html)

Gee, wonder which side of the debat they come down on? Well, see how you do....:


Beginning in 2008, public school students in Kansas will be tested under that state's new science standards, which open the door to criticism of evolution. Here are sample questions -- some new, some adapted from current biology exams -- to help them get ready.

1. Some sources suggest the earth is approximately 4.55 billion years old. Others estimate the earth is 6,012 years old. Without favoring one estimate over the other, calculate the likely age of God. Show your work.

2. The presidency of George W. Bush is an example of:

a. Heredity

b. Parasitism

c. Survival of the fittest

d. Predestination

e. Judicial activism

f. Divine intervention

3. If male zebra finches are raised by foster parents of another species, the Bengalese finch, they will court female Bengalese finches instead of females of their own kind. Which statement best explains their behavior?

a. Birds are animals!

b. Imprinting

c. Gold-digging

d. What happens in Bengal stays in Bengal

e. Co-habituation

f. If you'd ever had the chance to court a Bengalese finch, you wouldn't have to ask

4. The fossil record contains:

a. Fossils

b. Gaps

c. Skips

d. A couple of hits, but mostly B-sides

e. An elaborately, not to say intelligently, designed hoax consisting of pre-aged rocks arranged in the shapes of bones, teeth, footprints and eggs

5. Evolutionists claim that some moths have changed color to blend in with their background. This is an example of:

a. Assimilation

b. Tokenism

c. Natural selection

d. Hate speech

e. Social climbing

f. Mistaken identity

6. After a population of laboratory animals has been allowed to breed randomly for a number of generations, 49 percent display a recessive trait (bb), the same percentage as at the beginning of the breeding program. The rest of the animals show the dominant phenotype, with heterozygotes indistinguishable from the homozygous dominants. Question: Um ... if you were writing a really hard test for the Kansas School Board, what might you ask about this? (Extra credit if your question gives a hint about what that "homo" thing means.)

7. Men are to apes as:

a. Gingerbread men are to ginger snaps

b. Cats are to kittens

c. Rock is to rap

d. Schnauzers are to snails

e. "Planet of the Apes," the original film starring the incomparable Charlton Heston, is to "Planet of the Apes," the remake, starring nobody

8. The bones of a human arm are homologous (another homo word) to structures in all of the following except:

a. A frog's extra leg

b. A spiral galaxy's arm

c. A camouflaged moth's wing

d. A right whale's flipper

e. A child's left behind
Letila
22-11-2005, 04:04
LOL, good one.:p
Dobbsworld
22-11-2005, 04:12
That was good for a few chuckles and guffaws.
Silliopolous
22-11-2005, 04:16
Yeah, well don't tell me the answers. I'm still working on Question 2...
Zatarack
22-11-2005, 04:28
1. Insufficient data
2. d
3. b
4. d
5. f
6. That randomness has nothing to do with genetics due to...that guy's...square and double traits
7. e
8. e
UpwardThrust
22-11-2005, 04:49
Lol go minnesota!
[NS]Simonist
22-11-2005, 08:45
As what seems to be the first Kansan ringing in on this topic, all I can say is......Marky Mark was the star of the re-make of Planet of the Apes. This test is flawed!
Silliopolous
22-11-2005, 16:31
Simonist']As what seems to be the first Kansan ringing in on this topic, all I can say is......Marky Mark was the star of the re-make of Planet of the Apes. This test is flawed!


Hmmmm.....Marky Mark versus Charleton Heston....


The assertion in the test stands!
The South Islands
22-11-2005, 16:46
File not found, mothafucka!
Skinny87
22-11-2005, 16:50
I think we killed the server. Quick, blame it on evolution somehow!
Silliopolous
22-11-2005, 16:52
File not found, mothafucka!

Sorry, seems like they changed the link.... (http://www.startribune.com/stories/562/5735618.html)

Although given you got directed to their seach page, was it THAT much work to type in Kansas Science Test?


Wow.... took me five whole seconds to retrieve the new link to it......
The South Islands
22-11-2005, 17:00
Yes, yes it was. I expect everything to be handed to me on a silver platter.

Where's my Existence Pie?

EDIT: This is the link now. (http://www.startribune.com/stories/562/5735618.html)
Silliopolous
22-11-2005, 17:05
Yes, yes it was. I expect everything to be handed to me on a silver platter.

Where's my Existence Pie?

EDIT: This is the link now. (http://www.startribune.com/stories/562/5735618.html)


It's in the fridge behind the HavePatience Pudding.... which you'd have seen if you'd just pushed the carton of Entitlement Milk one inch to the left....


*sigh*

the kids today.... :D
The South Islands
22-11-2005, 17:10
Yah, I think I need to go buy some more silver spoons.