The following were taken from a 5th grade textbook published in 1909:
- How many pounds of sugar, at * How many pounds of sugar, at $0.06 a pound, can be exchanged for 9 pounds of butter at $0.32 a pound, and 12 dozen eggs at $0.18 a dozen?.06 a pound, can be exchanged for 9 pounds of butter at * How many pounds of sugar, at $0.06 a pound, can be exchanged for 9 pounds of butter at $0.32 a pound, and 12 dozen eggs at $0.18 a dozen?.32 a pound, and 12 dozen eggs at * How many pounds of sugar, at $0.06 a pound, can be exchanged for 9 pounds of butter at $0.32 a pound, and 12 dozen eggs at $0.18 a dozen?.18 a dozen?
- A lady sold some butter at * A lady sold some butter at $0.32 a pound and with the sum received bought.32 a pound and with the sum received bought
- is the value of 5/6ths of an acre of land. At this rate, how many acres of land can be bought for 96?
- How many pecks are there in 17.5 bushels?
- A market gardener bought 20 yards of carpet at .25 a yard and paid for it in potatoes at * A market gardener bought 20 yards of carpet at $1.25 a yard and paid for it in potatoes at $0.05 a quart. How many bushels were required..05 a quart. How many bushels were required.
Contrast the above with today's typical 5th grade test:
- How much is 2 plus 2 (Hint: the answer is not a color)?