Civics quiz

POSTED BY: Khyron
UPDATED: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 06:30
VIEWED: 6253
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KHYRON

Monday, November 24, 2008 10:32 AM

http://www.americancivicliteracy.org/resources/quiz.aspx

Good luck!

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What sane person could live in this world and not be crazy?

FREMDFIRMA

Monday, November 24, 2008 3:29 PM

100%

Luck had nothin to do with it, knowin History did.
Although there's two slanted questions in that test, mind you.

-F

SERGEANTX

Monday, November 24, 2008 4:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Fremdfirma:
100%

Luck had nothin to do with it, knowin History did.
Although there's two slanted questions in that test, mind you.

-F

heh.. I kinda noticed that myself. But I missed two

(and not the two that were slanted, I guessed the pc answer on those)

who cares about that dumb ol' Gettysburg address anyway?

SergeantX

"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock

KWICKO

Monday, November 24, 2008 4:32 PM

Dang it - missed two of 'em. :(

GEEZER

Monday, November 24, 2008 4:56 PM

Missed the last one, more through mis-reading the answers.

Note that elected officals scored lower than the general public.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

6IXSTRINGJACK

Monday, November 24, 2008 5:10 PM

I got 57.58%

Not ashamed to admit it either.

That test seemed to me to vary from facts about how government works (in theory) to opinions held by people I don't agree with.

I think those who scored abysmally low and those who scored exceptionally high on this test are the ones who I would choose to converse with. Those hovering within 5% of this months average of 78.1% are the ones I wouldn't trust since, in my mind, they've been manipulated into what to think.

Just my thoughts on the issue.

"A government is a body of people, usually notably ungoverned." http://www.myspace.com/6ixstringjack

ERIC

Monday, November 24, 2008 7:31 PM

Meh, 88%. But a lot of those are bullshit ultracapitalist indoctrination talking points.

The associated news item should make us all feel warm and squishy inside:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081120/od_afp/ushistoryeducationoffbeat;
_ylt=AoqNz9SeHDfX6tY_OS7nex.s0NUE

Quote:
US officials flunk test of American history, economics, civics

WASHINGTON (AFP) – US elected officials scored abysmally on a test measuring their civic knowledge, with an average grade of just 44 percent, the group that organized the exam said Thursday.

Ordinary citizens did not fare much better, scoring just 49 percent correct on the 33 exam questions compiled by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI).

"It is disturbing enough that the general public failed ISI's civic literacy test, but when you consider the even more dismal scores of elected officials, you have to be concerned," said Josiah Bunting, chairman of the National Civic Literacy Board at ISI.

"How can political leaders make informed decisions if they don't understand the American experience?" he added.

The exam questions covered American history, the workings of the US government and economics.

Among the questions asked of some 2,500 people who were randomly selected to take the test, including "self-identified elected officials," was one which asked respondents to "name two countries that were our enemies during World War II."

Sixty-nine percent of respondents correctly identified Germany and Japan. Among the incorrect answers were Britain, China, Russia, Canada, Mexico and Spain.

Forty percent of respondents, meanwhile, incorrectly believed that the US president has the power to declare war, while 54 percent correctly answered that that power rests with Congress.

Asked about the electoral college, 20 percent of elected officials incorrectly said it was established to "supervise the first televised presidential debates."

In fact, the system of choosing the US president via an indirect electoral college vote dates back some 220 years, to the US Constitution.

The question that received the fewest correct responses, just 16 percent, tested respondents' basic understanding of economic principles, asking why "free markets typically secure more economic prosperity than government's centralized planning?"

Activities that dull Americans' civic knowledge include talking on the phone and watching movies or television -- even news shows and documentaries, ISI said.

Meanwhile, civic knowledge is enhanced by discussing public affairs, taking part in civic activities and reading about current events and history, the group said.

"Arguing against this crap is like explaining to a meth tweaker that the shadow people aren't real."
-Bob Cesca

YINYANG

Monday, November 24, 2008 8:41 PM

84.85%

I missed the Gettysburg Address (#7), two questions on taxes (#30 and #33), the one about levees (#29), and the one about international trade (#31).

ECGORDON

Monday, November 24, 2008 9:15 PM

Not as good as I thought I'd do. 87.88%

Missed 8, 26, 31 & 33

BLUESUNCOMPANYMAN

Monday, November 24, 2008 11:02 PM

Missed the last one only. Looking at it now, I mis-read it. It's actually a straight equality. Duh.

The straight civics questions were cake.

The free market questions took thinking, but I'm a thinker.

And to all you Obama libs, read question 27 and really try to think about it. Try really hard. I know you can do it.

Do not fear me. Our's is a peaceful race and we must live in harmony.

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