It is generally assumed that the older an individual is, the more knowledge they contain. However, simple trivia questions more often stump high school students than one would expect.
With a combination of questions used from Buzzfeed and Today, I asked four high school students across grade levels general knowledge questions that are at a fifth grade level to see if they are in fact, smarter than a fifth grader.
I first challenged senior Emma Frudenberger. “I really hope I am smarter than a fifth grader, “ Frudenberger said.
Q: Who wrote the Harry Potter Book series?
A: J.K. Rowling
Q: Who painted the Mona Lisa?
A: Van Gogh?
Correct Answer: Leonardo Da Vinci
Q: Whose picture is on the $5 bill?
A: Abraham Lincoln
Q: What are the first 10 Amendments called?
A: The Bill of Rights
Q: What is the largest ocean on Earth?
A: Pacific
With an overall score of four out of five questions correct, Frudenberger did fairly well.
I next challenged sophomore Amen Tekleab. “I mean I passed fifth grade so I hope I am able to answer these questions correctly,” Tekleab said.
Q: What unit of measurement is abbreviated oz?
A: Ounce
Q: The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the U..S from what country?
A: France
Q: What is the universal blood type?
A: O positive
Correct Answer: O negative
Q: Which planet is closest to the sun?
A: Earth
Correct Answer: Mercury
Q: What is the longest river in the world?
A: The Nile
Scoring a three out of five, Tekleab did not do as well as Frudenberger, however, their questions were different, which may have caused that result.
Following Tekleab I challenged freshman Juho Kim, “Am I smarter than a fifth grader? Probably,” Kim said.
Q: How many great lakes are there?
A: 5
Q: What is the process of water turning into vapor called?
A: Evaporation
Q: What is the process of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly called?
A: Hibernation
Correct Answer: Metamorphosis
Q: Who wrote Romeo and Juliet?
A: Shakespeare
Q: What does a paleontologist study?
A: Vessels
Correct Answer: Fossils
Kim scored a three out of five, which is not bad considering he is the youngest participant to answer these fifth grade level questions.
Finally, I challenged junior Andrew Lord, “No, I dont think I’m smarter than a fifth grader,” Lord said.
Q: What are the three states of matter?
A: Solid, Liquid, Gas
Q: Who was the 16th president of the United States?
A: Abraham Lincoln
Q: What do you call a scientist who studies rocks?
A: Geologist
Q: What type of land animals can live on both water and land?
A: Crocodile
Correct Answer: Amphibians
Q: What does the first A in NASA stand for?
A: Aeronautics
Lord scored a four out of five, placing him in the same spot as Frudenberger.
Based on the results, high school students are generally as smart as fifth graders, or in some cases only slightly less. While these high school students have an overall stronger education, they sometimes struggle in recalling knowledge from earlier years. However, it is important to note that the results will vary among individuals rather than simply grade level, along with the fact the scores could have been different if I had asked all participants the same questions.
