Why the metric system matters.

What was the primary reason for the accidental crash of a NASA Mars Orbiter?

• A software malfunction.

• An engine propulsion failure.

• An error in converting between two measurement systems.

• A communication breakdown with Earth.

Before the French Revolution, what was a significant issue with measurement units across different regions?

• They were too difficult to understand.

• They were based on complex calculations.

• They were NOT standardized and varied from place to place.

• They were only used by the wealthy elite.

Which number system largely replaced Roman numerals and fractions in Europe by the late Middle Ages?

• Egyptian hieroglyphic system.

• Babylonian

  system.

• Hindu-Arabic decimal system.

• Greek alphabet system.

Approximately how many different measurement units were in use in France alone before the French Revolution?

• Around 1,000 different units.

• About 10,000 different units.

• A quarter-million different units.

• 5 million different units.

Why did the French Academy of Sciences reform the system of measurements during the French Revolution?

• To base measurements on local traditions.

• To make a system based on reason and natural relationships.

• To make it easier to trade with other nations.

• To make the monarchy more powerful.

How did standardizing measurements benefit the government during the French Revolution?

• It allowed nobles to manipulate local units for personal gain.

• It made it harder to collect taxes.

• It enabled the government to collect taxes more efficiently.

• It encouraged the use of diverse local measurement systems.

Which of the following countries is one of the few that has not fully adopted the metric system?

• Portugal.

• The Netherlands.

• The United States of America.

• France.