Civic Literacy Exam

[DiverDave]

I searched for this and found some on DU2 and thought it was an interesting test: ( Mods if this is a dupe please remove)

Full Civic Literacy Exam (from our 2008 survey)

Are you more knowledgeable than the average citizen? The average score for all 2,508 Americans taking the following test was 49%; college educators scored 55%. Can you do better? Questions were drawn from past ISI surveys, as well as other nationally recognized exams.


http://tinyurl.com/3w6kl66

I missed 8 which is 75.76%

Pretty good for a guy who took my last civics class in 1973.
Most of my wrong ones were easy ones.

See how ya do.

[Fumesucker]

1. You answered 32 out of 33 correctly — 96.97 %

ETA: My last civics class was in 1966 or 67..

[DiverDave]

3. Man, thats phenomenal!

Thats great, your mind is still working good.

[Fumesucker]

5. 2000 hp engine..

However my clutch is slipping, I have a worn out U joint, a kinked axle, too much lash in the pinion, a flat tire and my parking brake drags.

[dems_rightnow]

4. I got 32 as well

Missed the one on the Lincoln-Douglas debates.

[Fumesucker]

7. I missed the one about the anti-federalists..

[backwoodsbob]

64. same here

i missed an easy one...of the people,by the people,for the people.

[cyberswede]

2. 72.73%...

and several of the ones I missed I almost got right.

[intheflow]

25. My score exactly.

All the answers I flubbed were worded with free market jibberish.

[Swamp Lover]

6. 30 0ut of 33

90.91. i should get a gold star...or a cookie...

[patrice]

8. Missed 3 and one of those was one that I talked myself out of the right answer to it.

[madamesilverspurs]

9. 93.94

Surprised the heck out of me, last civics class was in 1962 or thereabout. In truth, I think I got lucky on a couple of guesses!


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[rurallib]

10. 33 of 33

[Fumesucker]

12. Not worthy...

[DiverDave]

11. I tell folks there are alot of smart people on this site

and, man, was I right.

[white_wolf]

13. I missed one. The one about which fiscal policy the government uses.

Even though I got it right, I call bullshit on the question involving Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, and Aqunias. The question they asked wasn't even related to civics it was closer to philosophy and I question how many Americans even know who Thomas Aqunias is.

[DiverDave]

15. I also thoght a couple were

sorta sliding out of the strike zone, for a civics test anyway.
I would give 5 bucks to see what the FReakers would score on this.
But, I would imagine they would cheat and all get 100%

[dsc]

14. 31 out of 33

with one really dumb mistake and one where I really thought I was right.

[knitter4democracy]

16. I missed two. *hangs head in shame*

I really dithered about the two I missed, too, as a case could be made for both answers.

Dang. I need to tutor my students more in their social studies classwork.

[baldguy]

17. "You answered 33 out of 33 correctly — 100.00 %"

[SixString]

18. You answered 27 out of 33 correctly — 81.82 %

[laundry_queen]

19. 23 out of 33

pretty crappy, but then again I'm a Canadian who has never taken any courses on US civics or US history.

[DotGone]

20. I got 100% but I wanted to see breakdown of US born vs immigrants as well

but those percentages are pretty sad.

[ellisonz]

21. Some of those questions were loaded in favor of capitalist interpretation...

Despite it's clear bias and poor question construction, I scored 31 out of 33.

Missed:

Question: Free markets typically secure more economic prosperity than government’s centralized planning because:
Your Answer: more tax revenue can be generated from free enterprise
Correct Answer: the price system utilizes more local knowledge of means and ends

Question: If taxes equal government spending, then:
Your Answer: government debt is zero
Correct Answer: tax per person equals government spending per person on average

1. Both answers are probably true, but neither is really demonstrably true.

2. Presumes the government is spending on the public.

[malaise]

39. Yep - the economic section was biased BS

[chickypea]

22. Tied with Diver Dan

I too got 75.76%
The ones I got incorrect were DUH moments, oh well.

[Speck Tater]

23. 29/33 but one I knew the right answer but clicked the wrong button, so 30/33 really. nt

[XemaSab]

24. 94%

[JoePhilly]

55. 31 of 33 ... 93.94%

[prairierose]

26. 28 out of 33...84.82%

I was pretty happy with that result. But I was frustrated when I saw the questions I missed. I should not have missed them.

[kentauros]

27. I'm going to guess that what y'all called "Civics"

we called "US Government" because I can't recall ever taking a class in civics. And the last time I had a class in US Government was over 35 years ago, so I either have forgotten much, or I didn't retain it to begin with (most likely the latter)

My score was 78.79% (26 of 33). I dare say that I probably guessed on at least a third of the questions, so I don't feel all that disappointed with my score.

[pink-o]

65. My score exactly!

I didn't do so well on those capitalistic questions...and I missed the separation between church and state. I thought that was written into the Constitution. Jefferson shudda pushed harder!

However, all the 20th century ones I aced. I love modern history, the 1700s are too Roccoco for me!

[kentauros]

68. Rocky Roccoco, put down that pickle!

Sorry, just had to insert some Firesign Theater

I can't remember now what I missed, but I know some were the capitalism questions. As for remembering the rest, I know that any one of them will eventually be spelled out here (when I don't get the tiresome "just google it!" response) or I can indeed look it up online

[cwydro]

28. 55% for college educators?

That is pretty sad...most of those questions were simple...come on...what are the branches of government? Sheesh.

And 49% for the general public? No wonder our country has such rotten government...we deserve it.

[DiverDave]

31. I thought the same thing

If I could get 75 percent why would a collage educator get less?
Pretty sad, and 49 freaking percent??

Triple sad.

[TheKentuckian]

60. 49% is kinda awesome when taken in the context of college educators only being 6 points ahead

If 55% is the best the teachers of the educated can do then 6 points is an almost amazing drop off for the general public.

This says at least two things. That our people are capable of understanding and the the understanding is being hidden, distorted, and/or ignored.

[ohheckyeah]

29. ..............

You answered 28 out of 33 correctly — 84.85 %

I don't feel too bad about that score - the free market stuff was rather out of my realm of study and I don't remember being taught about the Supreme Court/FDR thing. Of course, school government and civics classes were a LONG time ago.

[Confusious]

30. You answered 32 out of 33 correctly — 96.97 %

I hates Philosphisers. Missed the Plato question.

Surprisingly, my recent college courses helped.

[Are_grits_groceries]

32. 30 out of 33

I'll take it, and that was a good reminder about what our laws and history really mean.

[Spider Jerusalem]

33. 33 out of 33

[iverglas]

34. 30 out of 33

and I'm Canadian.

Which could be why I thought the last part of the damned thing was more push-poll than test.

Who wrote the economics parts, the Chicago School?

"Free markets typically secure more economic prosperity than government’s centralized planning because:"

Um ... things usually fall up when I drop them because ...


If taxes equal government spending, then:
Your Answer: government debt is zero
Correct Answer: tax per person equals government spending per person on average

-- if there are no corporate taxes, I guess?


Question: What was the main issue in the debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas in 1858?
Your Answer: Is slavery morally wrong?
Correct Answer: Would slavery be allowed to expand to new territories?

-- yeah, obscure USAmerican Jeopardy questions.


Question: What impact did the Anti-Federalists have on the United States Constitution?
Your Answer: their influence ensured that the federal government would have the power to tax
Correct Answer: their arguments helped lead to the adoption of the Bill of Rights

-- I've never figured out what you people mean when you say "federalist" anyhow.

[JHB]

42. Yeah, the economics part smacked of propaganda...

...much like the econ course I took in college.

That was back in the heyday of wailing about "political correctness", about venal, petty, ideologue professors taking over English and Philosophy departments, while ignoring venal, petty, ideologue conservative professors taking over of departments of Economics and Political Science, and (take a bow, Newt) Congress.

[geardaddy]

45. Agreed. That's where I missed most of mine.

[Sancho]

35. 81.82%...

I missed a couple that I had narrowed down to two answers, and picked the wrong one....too many economic questions for me though.

[Lyric]

36. You answered 32 out of 33 correctly — 96.97 %

[MineralMan]

37. You answered 31 out of 33 correctly — 93.94 %

And I shouldn't have missed the two I did. I understand why I missed them, but I should have taken longer on those two questions.

[malaise]

38. Not bad for a 'foreigner

You answered 27 out of 33 correctly — 81.82 %

[Jkid]

40. "You answered 28 out of 33 correctly — 84.85 %"

This is pretty good!

High schools should implement have a civic exam.

[JHB]

41. 100%, though for a few at the end I picked the "correct" answer even though...

...one of the "incorrect" answers was arguable true (or even more true).

[B2G]

43. 29/33

[geardaddy]

44. You answered 30 out of 33 correctly — 90.91 %

[Burma Jones]

46. 32/33

I missed the last question about taxes and spending.......

But I grew up and still live in the DC area, took a Year of Constitutional Law and breezed through PoliSci courses in school.

[Amaril]

47. I tied you

You answered 25 out of 33 correctly — 75.76 %

And I also must confess that I flubbed a couple VERY easy ones, but the others were ones that I honestly didn't know.

[CrispyQ]

48. 70%

Those questions about the economy, fiscal policy & business profit - ack! It's been decades since I studied that stuff.

[Bettie]

50. 79% And I got caught up on the same questions you did!

It's been a LONG time since I studied that.

[treestar]

49. 90.91%

Some of the questions weren't so hot, though. They seemed to be based on opinion. There was a lot of history and economics as opposed to civics.

[hifiguy]

51. 32/33

Not bad, if I do say so myself.

[TheKentuckian]

52. Surprisingly poorly-You answered 29 out of 33 correctly — 87.88 % but not bad

Had a couple of bonehead wrongs and a couple I think are debatable.

[Johnny Rico]

53. 32 out of 33 correct --- 96.97 %

Missed the question on the definition of a public good.

[Motown_Johnny]

54. 3 wrong, 90.91%

Results
You answered 30 out of 33 correctly — 90.91 %

If you have any comments or questions about the quiz, please email [e-mail].

You can consult the following table to see how citizens and elected officials scored on each question.




I kinda have a problem with one of them.


Question: If taxes equal government spending, then:
Your Answer: government debt is zero
Correct Answer: tax per person equals government spending per person on average




I agree that what they say is the Correct Answer is indeed Correct but I would argue that my answer is also Correct. I suppose the phrasing might be the problem here. It would be more accurate to say that the deficit for the year would be zero but if revenues (taxes) equals spending then you have a balanced budget and the debt for the year (deficit) is zero.


The other two I got wrong were:

Question: What was the source of the following phrase: “Government of the people, by the people, for the people”?
Your Answer: Declaration of Independence
Correct Answer: Gettysburg Address

Question: The Puritans:
Your Answer: opposed all wars on moral grounds
Correct Answer: stressed the sinfulness of all humanity



The Puritans thing was a guess, I can live with getting that one wrong. I am rather ashamed of getting the other one wrong but there you have it, I got it wrong.

[warrior1]

56. 72.73 %

missed 9.

[Chellee]

57. You answered 29 out of 33 correctly — 87.88 %

nt

[Pool Hall Ace]

58. Boy, do I suck !!

66.67% (22/33 correct).

I hope I did better than the Freepers!

[Generic Other]

59. You answered 29 out of 33 correctly — 87.88 %

Not such a smartee after all...but way above the average American, I guess.

[rwiliff]

61. 93.94% nt

[tammywammy]

62. 31/30 n/t

[Blue_Tires]

63. 29/33

[Orangepeel]

66. Most college educators know a great deal about a very limited subject area

And quite a few weren't raised in the US.

Although 55% seems really low, I can believe that, say, a chemistry professor doesn't remember anything about Plato or the anti-federalists. (I got 100%, but I like to learn stuff like this and I have a knack for multiple choice tests)

[RBInMaine]

67. Aced it ! Got every one right. But then again I should. I teach it ! :-)

[bighart]

69. Missed one

[SidDithers]

70. 29 out of 33...

and everything I learned, I learned here at DU.

Sid