Re: Well, when I was in 8th grade...

My schooling is closer to the test's period than either that of Grant or Taylor. And I don't much of what is being asked. I think it germane to note that the school was evidently in rural Kansas and, at that time, farming was the predominant occupation so they taught the skills associated with farming. That is evident when you read the test questions. Further the scope of teaching has changed to today.
I believe it that grammar, geography and history receive, in a general sense, slipshod/short shrift teaching. Evidence of that is everyhwere today.
But, as reagards the test, it's subjects were relative to the dominant occupation - farming.