American students aren't the only ones who are faring poorly compared to other nations. The English are falling behind, too. Since 2000, English students have dropped from fourth to fourteenth place on an international science test given to fifteen-year-olds. The response? A national science exam has been dumbed down to an extraordinary degree, presumably to raise overall scores and so mask the problem.

Here are some sample questions from the test:

1(i) Give one way a mole, pictured on the right, is suited for digging through soil.

(ii) Where does the energy come from for a solar-powered mole-scarer?

2 Sharon, pictured on the left, is riding her horse. She is wearing a riding hat. Give the name of one organ the riding hat protects.

3 In very cold weather a mixture of salt and sand is spread on roads. Why are salt and sand used? (Tick two correct answers)

(a) salt makes the road white

(b) salt makes the water freeze

(c) salt makes the ice melt

(d) sand dissolves in water

(e) sand increases the friction between car tyres and the road

(f) sand makes the water freeze

The passing grade for this year's test has not yet been published. But last year's was 57 percent--a mark 27 percent of students taking the test did not make.