News quiz

[gailkate]

A friend sent this little quiz today and predicted which one I'd miss. He was wrong.

Subject: test from PEW Research Center


Interesting and simple test. It’s astonishing that so many people got less than half right. These results say that 80% of the (voting) public doesn’t have a clue – and that’s pretty scary. It sure indicates that the majority of Americans don't know what's going on. No wonder our politicians take such advantage.

There are no tricks here - just a simple test to see if you are current on your information.

This is quite good and the results are shocking.

Test your knowledge with 11 questions, then be ready to shudder when you see how others did



Click here: pewresearch.org/politicalquiz/quiz/index.php

[jspnrvr]

I tried the exam and was comforted to know I'm "above average". Of course I grew up in a little town out on the prairie.

[doctork]

I think it is apparent if you watch the news, read the news media, or especially check out the "comments" section that often accompany internet news stories, that there are many ignorant people out there.

I wasn't astonished. Sadly - most people do not know who David Cameron or John Roberts are. Most people think President Obama is responsible for TARP, but almost everyone knows what Twitter is. Now if they rephrased the questions to reflect knowledge of Lindsay Lohan or Charlie Sheen, I am sure scores would improve!

I did answer all the questions correctly - I try to remain an informed citizen.

[gailkate]

I got them all right, too, though I wondered how critical it is to know where the World Cup games were held. I guess it says something about how generally plugged-in you are. Judging what an informed person should know is tricky. Would I have thought of David Cameron on my own, with no prompting? heck, I forget my neighbors' names sometimes. Still, the prominence of the Lohan/Sheen variety news is discouraging. When there was all that upset about the death of Anna Nicole Smith, I'd only vaguely heard of her and still don't know why she was a household name.

( Let's hope that all the above-average midwesterners knew who John Roberts is. )

[liriodendron]

I got nine out of eleven correct, but then I don't think I'm anywhere close to being a news junkie.

[SeattleDan]

I got 'em all.

Hey, didn't David Cameron direct "Avatar"?

[jspnrvr]

Well, Cameron is the one I missed. But he's new!

[Jane]

I got them all right. Yay, me!