Quiz How Assumptions Shape Perspectives: A Teaching Demonstration Barney C. Beins Ithaca College - Ithaca, NY

1. Whose face appears on the penny? 1. Whose face appears on the penny? 2. What is the minimum voting age in a national election? 2. What is the minimum voting age in a national election? 3. On what month, day, and year will the next century begin? 3. On what month, day, and year will the next century begin? 4. Is the earth closer to the sun during the winter or during the summer? 4. Is the earth closer to the sun during the winter or during the summer?

5. What are loonies good for? 5. What are loonies good for? 6. Who hit more home runs in a career than any other professional baseball player? 6. Who hit more home runs in a career than any other professional baseball player? 7. Is it possible for a football game that is played to completion to end with a 1 – 0 score? 7. Is it possible for a football game that is played to completion to end with a 1 – 0 score? 8. Who stole the greatest number of bases in a single season in professional baseball? 8. Who stole the greatest number of bases in a single season in professional baseball?

9. Can you transform the item below into a perfect square, drawing just one straight line?

Answers 1. It depends on the country minting the coin. In the U.S., it will be Abraham Lincoln, although some students may be aware of the old Indian-head pennies. In Canada, the queen of England appears on the penny. 1. It depends on the country minting the coin. In the U.S., it will be Abraham Lincoln, although some students may be aware of the old Indian-head pennies. In Canada, the queen of England appears on the penny. 2. The students original answer will be 18, the minimum age in the U.S. During the discussion, they will not know that they should not assume that the answer involves American law. The correct answer (as far as I can ascertain) is 16. In Canada, military personnel 16 may vote in national elections. 2. The students original answer will be 18, the minimum age in the U.S. During the discussion, they will not know that they should not assume that the answer involves American law. The correct answer (as far as I can ascertain) is 16. In Canada, military personnel 16 may vote in national elections.

3. Referring to the Western calendar the next century will begin on Jan. 1, (There are valid arguments that the next century will begin on 2101, since there is no year 0) At the same time, there are other calendars that may mark centuries differently. 3. Referring to the Western calendar the next century will begin on Jan. 1, (There are valid arguments that the next century will begin on 2101, since there is no year 0) At the same time, there are other calendars that may mark centuries differently. 4. The answer depends on your hemisphere. In the northern hemisphere, the earth is closer to the sun in winter. In the southern, it is in summer. The degree of warmth is not associated with distance from the sun, rather with the tilt of the earth. 4. The answer depends on your hemisphere. In the northern hemisphere, the earth is closer to the sun in winter. In the southern, it is in summer. The degree of warmth is not associated with distance from the sun, rather with the tilt of the earth.

5. “Loonies” are crazy people in popular parlance, at least in the U.S. In Canada, however, loonies are dollar coins. One reason is the loons are depicted on the reverse side of the coin. 5. “Loonies” are crazy people in popular parlance, at least in the U.S. In Canada, however, loonies are dollar coins. One reason is the loons are depicted on the reverse side of the coin. 6. The person is Sadduharo Oh, a Japanese player who hit over 800 home runs in his career. There’s more than American baseball. 6. The person is Sadduharo Oh, a Japanese player who hit over 800 home runs in his career. There’s more than American baseball.

7. Yes. Soccer is football in England. In Canadian football, when a punter kicks the ball out of the back of the end zone, the team is awarded one point. There’s more than American football. 7. Yes. Soccer is football in England. In Canadian football, when a punter kicks the ball out of the back of the end zone, the team is awarded one point. There’s more than American football. 8. Sophie Kurys, who played for the Racine Belles in the Women’s Professional Baseball League. In 1946, she stole 202 bases. 8. Sophie Kurys, who played for the Racine Belles in the Women’s Professional Baseball League. In 1946, she stole 202 bases.

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