That test (copied below) given at the end of Jim Freysinger's interview
by Bo Petersen of the Charleston, SC "Post and Courier" is decidedly
NOT a "Metric" test. Four of the five questions ask for relations
between Olde English measurements and metric measurements.
Testing one's metric knowledge should involve questions that are solely
about the metric system.
It's interesting though in the sense that it shows how people percieve what
going metric means. They tend to regard it like learning a second language
where you do it with reference to the first one.
People do say they don't understand metric and can't get used to it. I think
it's because they try to think of it as bunch of awkward conversions and
can't handle the math, or even remember what the factors are. I get this
from my wife. We weigh ourselves in kg but she keeps asking how much it is
on stones and pounds so she can "guage" how much it is.
Phil Hall
