Get the Right Answers to Pretty Brainy’s Quick Quiz for STEAM Educators

1. The year that the number of math and computer science degrees earned by women reached an historic high, the following also was of note (choose from among the following):

  1. a. The Titanic was discovered less than 400 miles from Newfoundland.
  2. b. Dental porcelains contained uranium, which is radioactive.
  3. c. The cost of a first-class stamp was $0.20.

The Answer? Each of these is correct.

What was the year? 1985. The number of math and computer science degrees earned by women peaked 30 years ago.1

2. What percentage of boys agreed with the statement, “Teachers think it is not important for girls to be good at math”?

  1. a. Just over 3%
  2. b. Nearly 15%
  3. c. Less than 1%

The Answer: letter b. Nearly 15 percent of boys and 17 percent of girls agreed with the statement. Further, 44 percent of girls and 38 percent of boys said, “The smartest girls in my school are not popular.”2

Sources

1. Corbett, Christianne, Catherine Hill and Andresse St. Rose. Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. March 2010. AAUW. Washington, D.C. www.aauw.org.

2. Girls, Inc. (Oct. 2006). The Super Girl Dilemma: Girls Feel the Pressure to Be Perfect, Accomplished, Thin, and Accommodating. www.girlsinc.org/supergirldilemma/.