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US officials flunk test of US history, civics, economics
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flakfizer



Joined: 12 Nov 2004
Location: scaling the Cliffs of Insanity with a frayed rope.

PostPosted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 8:25 pm    Post subject: US officials flunk test of US history, civics, economics Reply with quote

Title says it all.

Here is the article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081120/od_afp/ushistoryeducationoffbeat

But you might want to take the quiz yourself first here:

http://www.americancivicliteracy.org/
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Gopher



Joined: 04 Jun 2005

PostPosted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 8:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
How can political leaders make informed decisions...?


American elected officials have highly-educated and -experienced advisors all around them. This statement makes no allowance for these people. As far as other countries go, I suppose they are all sophisticated geniuses, far superior to Americans -- especially the Canadians and Western Europeans among them?

In any case, I missed 13, 29, and 33. I question 13's relevance. When I answered 25, 27, and 31, I imagined that leftists would complain. For 31, they will not see the testmakers' "correct answer" and will want to answer "creates dependency and suffering in the colonized/neocolonial Third World," for example.
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Kuros



Joined: 27 Apr 2004

PostPosted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 9:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I missed #7 & #15, which means I beat Gopher! Laughing

Quote:
You answered 31 out of 33 correctly � 93.94 %


Leftists can suck it, #31 is correct.
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canuckistan
Mod Team
Mod Team


Joined: 17 Jun 2003
Location: Training future GS competitors.....

PostPosted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 9:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
I question 13's relevance.


Studying the Greek philosophers is part of a well-rounded education. You'll find all kinds of it underpinning the ideas of the men behind the Declaration of Independence ie: relevance

In particular, the answer to #13: certain permanent moral and political truths are accessible to human reason....

"we hold these truths to be self-evident"....unalienable rights.....

Sound familiar?

I missed 8 of them. I'm a bad Canadian Very Happy
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BS.Dos.



Joined: 29 Mar 2007

PostPosted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 10:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You answered 21 out of 33 correctly � 63.64 %

I attribute a good number of those questions I answered correctly to watching the West Wing.
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newteacher



Joined: 31 May 2007

PostPosted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 10:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I got 27 out of 33, but I never studied in college, or high school for that matter.
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thiophene



Joined: 15 Sep 2007

PostPosted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 11:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

20 out of 33 correct. guessed on like 6 cause the questions were too confusing/long. I guess living next to the US has taught me a thing or two.
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huffdaddy



Joined: 25 Nov 2005

PostPosted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 11:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
You answered 30 out of 33 correctly � 90.91 %

Answers to Your Missed Questions:
Question #7 - D. Gettysburg Address
Question #14 - B. stressed the sinfulness of all humanity
Question #33 - D. tax per person equals government spending per person


Not bad considering it has been 20 years since my last government class.
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Sleepy in Seoul



Joined: 15 May 2004
Location: Going in ever decreasing circles until I eventually disappear up my own fundament - in NZ

PostPosted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 12:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
You answered 22 out of 33 correctly � 66.67 %


Never been to America, don't know about U.S. civics and know just enough about the U.S. electoral system to be appalled. How is it possible for me to score so much better than so many Americans (according to the article)?
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bacasper



Joined: 26 Mar 2007

PostPosted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 1:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

91%. I missed #7, 15, and 27, but I was rushing at the end.

It is absolutely inexcusable that with all the money spent on education, that civic officials demonstrate such a lack of basic civic knowledge, never even mind other basic knowledge, such as scientific .

What's worse, the average citizen scored higher than the average elected official. Therefore, voting them all out of office and replacing them with random citizens would be an improvement.

Don't forget this next year. Throw the bums out!
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samcheokguy



Joined: 02 Nov 2008
Location: Samcheok G-do

PostPosted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 4:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

93% missed two questions. The questions were VERY right-wing bias, for example they argued the Federal Govt does NOT have the right to have an income tax.
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T-J



Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul EunpyungGu Yeonsinnae

PostPosted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 4:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

14) The Puritans:
A. opposed all wars on moral grounds
B. stressed the sinfulness of all humanity
C. believed in complete religious freedom
D. colonized Utah under the leadership of Brigham Young
E. were Catholic missionaries escaping religious persecution

29) A flood-control levee (or National Defense) is considered a public good because:
A. citizens value it as much as bread and medicine
B. a resident can benefit from it without directly paying for it
C. government construction contracts increase employment
D. insurance companies cannot afford to replace all houses after a flood
E. government pays for its construction, not citizens

The two I missed. Answered C and C. Question 14 I can accept as it has been about 20 years since I've studied anything about the Puritans. Question 29 I've got a problem with.
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T-J



Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul EunpyungGu Yeonsinnae

PostPosted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 4:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

samcheokguy wrote:
93% missed two questions. The questions were VERY right-wing bias, for example they argued the Federal Govt does NOT have the right to have an income tax.


Careful, your left wing is hanging out.

Actually I thought just the opposite when I was taking it.

I think that is actually an indication that it was pretty centered and well constructed. My 2.
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bacasper



Joined: 26 Mar 2007

PostPosted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 6:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

samcheokguy wrote:
93% missed two questions. The questions were VERY right-wing bias, for example they argued the Federal Govt does NOT have the right to have an income tax.

And exactly where is the right to tax income enshrined? The country existed nearly 150 years without one.
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reactionary



Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Location: korreia

PostPosted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 7:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

You answered 32 out of 33 correctly � 96.97 %

still can't seem to pass the foreign service officer exam though.
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