Knowledge that can cheer you up!
It often seems like you're either despairing of the world, or not paying attention, but just occasionally, paying attention can tell you some things you are glad to know. Big things!
To see what I mean, try answering these questions:
Gapminder Test 2017
1. In all low-income countries across the world today, how many girls finish primary school?
A: 20 percent B: 40 percent C: 60 percent
2. Where does the majority of the world population live?
A: Low-income countries B: Middle-income countries C: High-income countries
3. In the last 20 years, the proportion of the world population living in extreme poverty has . . .
A: almost doubled B: remained more or less the same C: almost halved
4. What is the life expectancy of the world today?
A: 50 years B: 60 years C: 70 years
5. There are 2 billion children in the world today, aged 0 to 15 years old. How many children will there be in the year 2100, according to the United Nations?
A: 4 billion B: 3 billion C: 2 billion
6. The UN predicts that by 2100 the world population will have increased by another 4 billion people. What is the main reason?
A: There will be more children (age below 15) B: There will be more adults (age 15 to 74) C: There will be more very old people (age 75 and older)
7. How did the number of deaths per year from natural disasters change over the last hundred years?
A: More than doubled B: Remained about the same C: Decreased to less than half
8. There are roughly 7 billion people in the world today. Which map shows best where they live? (Each figure represents 1 billion people.)
9. How many of the world’s 1-year-old children today have been vaccinated against some disease?
A: 20 percent B: 50 percent C: 80 percent
10. Worldwide, 30-year-old men have spent 10 years in school, on average. How many years have women of the same age spent in school?
A: 9 years B: 6 years C: 3 years
11. In 1996, tigers, giant pandas, and black rhinos were all listed as endangered. How many of these three species are more critically endangered today?
A: Two of them B: One of them C: None of them
12. How many people in the world have some access to electricity?
A: 20 percent B: 50 percent C: 80 percent
13. Global climate experts believe that, over the next 100 years, the average temperature will . . .
A: get warmer B: remain the same C: get colder
You can find the answers here