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Civic Literacy Not So Good.

As an example of how little people know about US civics, check out these statistics:

Quote:

In 2006 and 2007, ISI published the first ever scientific surveys of civic learning among college students. Each year, approximately 14,000 freshmen and seniors at 50 schools nationwide were given a 60-question, multiple-choice exam on basic knowledge of America’s heritage. Both years, the students failed. The average freshman scored 51.7% the first year and 51.4% the next. The average senior scored 53.2%, then 54.2%.

What's worse, our elected officials fare worse than the general public!

Quote:

Seventy-one percent of Americans fail the test, with an overall average score of 49%.
...
Officeholders typically have less civic knowledge than the general public. On average, they score 44%, five percentage points lower than non-officeholders.

How well would you do on the quiz? No googling! :)

Civic Literacy Report - Civics Quiz

87.7%

Missed 7 - 14 - 30 [ ?increase gov spending helps? ] and 33.

Thanks for the test

Got 4 wrong... only one of them a "civic "question (the subject of the Lincoln Douglas debates... he made his famous "House Divided Speech" after getting the nomination; but before the debates .So I checked off that the debates were about secession instead of the correct response about the issue being expansion of slavery into the territories.) .

I think people who are participants of this forum will probably score higher than the general population.

I would also say that many of the economic questions should not be considered "civics" .

Hello Jillian:

87.88%, but I had a hanging chad on #13, and my pencil broke on #26.

excon

I think participants on this forum probably will do better than most too, but it's an interesting quiz.

I think I missed five - but I don't think the Socrates question is really a civics question... :)

I scored 87.88% - missed 4. Amazingly I got the irrelevant Socrates question right.

He was one of the founders of Western Philosophy . To understand our history better one should explore the rudimentary philosophy of Socrates ,Plato, Aristotle, among many others that shaped the Enlightenment by applying human reasoning to age old assumptions. .

72.73%. Not bad for an Aussie?? Ill admit I guessed a few but I also got a few wrong that in hindsight I actually knew.

Good job Skell. I'm sure I wouldn't fare so well if the quiz were about you guys. But I have heard of Vegemite. :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomder55

He was one of the the founders of Western Philosophy . To understand our history better one should explore the rudimentary philosophy of Socrates ,Plato, Aristotle, among many others that shaped the Enlightenment by applying human reasoning to age old assumptions. .

Yeah... but it's not really civics... Besides, there were two answers I had it narrowed down to - both seemed relavent, so I guessed. And I guessed wrong! :o

And Skell, I'm very impressed with your score - no way would I do that well on a quiz about the Down Under! Maybe after I see that new Nicole Kidman movie... :D

Jillian My wife would never put it that way. She would say after I see that new Hugh Jackman movie.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomder55

jillian My wife would never put it that way. She would say after I see that new Hugh Jackman movie.

Your wife is a good woman! I was being nice, since this is a thread full of men. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by speechlesstx

Good job Skell. I'm sure I wouldn't fare so well if the quiz were about you guys. But I have heard of Vegemite. :D

All you need to do is eat some and you'll be an honorary Aussie. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillianleab

And Skell, I'm very impressed with your score - no way would I do that well on a quiz about the Down Under! Maybe after I see that new Nicole Kidman movie... :D

Don't pay any attention to that soppy love story (supposedly). That isn't us at all...

We're actually more like Mad Max or Wolf Creek (search for that one if you haven't seen it). :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skell

All you need to do is eat some and youll be an honorary Aussie. :)

I'm sure it would be among some of my other favorites like Spam and potted meat. I'd give it a go to have the honor though ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skell

Dont pay any attention to that soppy love story (supposedly). That aint us at all...

We're actually more like Mad Max or Wolf Creek (search for that one if you havent seen it). :D

Wolf Creek?? Hell, I was afraid to go to Oz before, since everything can kill you (sharks, spiders, koala bears), now I have to worry about crazy Outback killers too?? I'll stay here in the US where our crazy killers are in the cities, where they belong, thankyouverymuch!

:D

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skell

72.73%. Not bad for an Aussie??? Ill admit i guessed a few but i also got a few wrong that in hindsight i actually knew.

Nicely done, Skell. I didn't do nearly as well - just over 60% - which shows how little I know about American social history. Couldn't find an Australian equivalent.

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Originally Posted by frangipanis

nicely done, Skell. I didn't do nearly as well - just over 60% - which shows how little I know about American social history. Couldn't find an Australian equivalent.

I think 60% is still pretty good. In fact it is more than what many Americans seem to get. Present company here at AMHD excluded.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillianleab

Wolf Creek???? Hell, I was afraid to go to Oz before, since everything can kill you (sharks, spiders, koala bears), now I have to worry about crazy Outback killers too??? I'll stay here in the US where our crazy killers are in the cities, where they belong, thankyouverymuch!

:D

Ha ha. That's fair enough too jillian.. Plus the plane ride is just torturous.

P.S. You were joking about the koala bears weren't you??

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skell

Ha ha. That's fair enough too jillian.. Plus the plane ride is just torturous.

P.S. You were joking about the koala bears werent you???

I most certainly was not joking about the koala bears! Please view this YouTube video to see why those buggers are absolutley vicious!

YouTube - Attack of the Killer Koala

:)

Seriously though, I'd love to visit Australia - maybe in a few years. Africa comes first!

By the way, my father-in-law took the quiz and only missed two! He missed #7 (Government of the people, for the people, by the people) and #29 (the levee question). I told him he should run for Senate.