LAist: Extra, Extra: The First Lady of Ta-Dow!

Matt Vannucci

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 09:52:58 -0800

Yeah, this test is the most read on yahoo today. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081120/od_afp/ushistoryeducationoffbeat;_ylt=AkHiDD3QIqYG8mZ1RdoVIl4DW7oF

msmerymac

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:28:40 -0800

Oh, the scariest part is that 49% of elected officials who took the quiz couldn't pick the three branches of government. REALLY? On a multiple-choice quiz?

msmerymac

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:20:47 -0800

90.91%, 30/33 correct. Sadly, that should be higher, since I'm currently getting a master's degree in history (concentration in American history). I agree with Ross. Some of those questions were sketchy, poorly worded, or had NO answer I wanted to pick or 2 or 3 answers I wanted to pick.

benjamin

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:15:34 -0800

82% glad i'm not the only person who missed the gettysburg address answer.

christina

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:28:28 -0800

*sigh* 73% i guess it's a good thing i'm going back to school. apparently i need it. and ross, i agree. i was expecting actual you know, history questions.

BingosDingo

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:58:45 -0800

I agree Ross. But I am appalled with the comparison between average citizens and elected officials. Does that mean more of of "average Joes" should run for office? *Thwack* How did I get the Gettysburg address answer wrong?!?!?! 82% here.

Ross A. Lincoln

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:49:59 -0800

I call serious bullshit on this quiz - halfway through the questions switch from simple, unambiguous history to suspiciously douchertarian statements about economics that are absolutely not cut and dry nor proven, for instance: 27) Free markets typically secure more economic prosperity than government’s centralized planning because: Orly? Do they? Because this seems to make a number of assumptions that actually don't have anything to do with testing one's civil literacy. Also, this: 29) A flood-control levee (or National Defense) is considered a public good because: Um... first of all, we need to define terms - do you mean "good" as in something of positive benefit, or "good" as in commodity? Because rly, it's not clear. I guessed based on the douchertarian context what they were getting at. Then, without warning, the test switches to an assumption that the reader has a working understanding of Keynesian economic theory. While I think people should, I allow that it doesn't necessarily follow that it's required to be considered literate, civically speaking. Oh, and then there's this bullshit: 31) International trade and specialization most often lead to which of the following? A. an increase in a nation’s productivity B. a decrease in a nation’s economic growth in the long term C. an increase in a nation’s import tariffs D. a decrease in a nation’s standard of living Well golly, I guess it depends on who you talk to. because I'm pretty sure a "protectionist" (and how misleading of a term is that) would probably choose D, while a free trader would go with A. I went with B. Because it's true. Unless you think I'm not talking about the USA. Seriously, this is bullshit. I got 95% BTW. And it's still bullshit. Doesn't prove a thing about what I know.

Bert Green

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:10:40 -0800

I got 27 33 = 81.82 % Average score for this quiz during November: 77.1% Average score since November 20, 2008: 77.1% There were a few of the economics questions that got me, I never thought of economics as civics :-(

benh57

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:59:34 -0800

32/33. I'm amazed myself, guess i remembered more from AP US History than i thought. Also, the 101 freeway won't be 'rerouted' under the park, the park will be built over it. (it's below ground level through that stretch)

DrewB

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:55:03 -0800

33/33 (Although I admit, there were 2 in there that were complete.. 'i don't know buy I think this is what you're asking' type of moments)

db

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:50:50 -0800

I also did 31/33 — 93.94% I missed #7 (I need to read more Lincoln), and #33 (Bah! I claim poorly worded answers). I'm agree with Juaquin, the truly scary thing is how F-ing clueless elected officials are about our country.

Matt Vannucci

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:55:13 -0800

I'm embarassed, an honest 22/33 - 67%. Some of those were HARD though! deafsound - I bow down.

Juaquin

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:26:36 -0800

The sad part was the comparison of Citizens to Elected Officials - the officials scored an average of 4% LOWER. Pathetic.

deafsound

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:56:19 -0800

31/33 94% I'm pretty awesome.

field

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:47:28 -0800

80%. woohoo

DHeckeler

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:35:53 -0800

27/33 on the history quiz...82%!

Alexcantsee

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:42:03 -0800

Michelle Obama's got DONK!!! You know it!