Fun summer game #3: Civic Literacy Quiz

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Saturday, July 2. 2011

Fun summer game #3: Civic Literacy Quiz

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%. No wonder pols have such an easy time fooling people with their BS.

Can you do better? Test here.

I'd bet many Maggie's readers score higher than the college educators.

Posted by Gwynnie in Our Essays, Politics at 11:53 | Comments (72) | Trackbacks (0)

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93.94%

I got the anti-federalists wrong on a 50-50 guess. and I just jumped on the first answer on government debt because it looked right. I might have stuck with it anyway, even had I read on. There were two others, a one-in-three and a 50-50, which I apparently got right.

This is clearly free-market slanted, and my guess that most of what college educators get wrong are drawn from those questions, because they are unsympatheitc to the ideas, bore out. It is worth noting that the major weak area was history before 1900.

#1 Assistant VIllage Idiot (Link) on 2011-07-02 12:14 (Reply)

Incredibly easy. How could anyone do poorly on this?

31 of 33 right.
I forgot "of the people, for the people" source
and got the question on government revenues equaling spending wrong. That was just because I was near the end and rushing....didn't read.

Still, I can't figure out why anyone would do poorly on this.

#2 Rick on 2011-07-02 12:15 (Reply)

I would love to see the demographics on the quiz takers - I'd bet the higher scoring test takers were around my age (64) and the lower ones less than 50.

#2.1 Tom Francis on 2011-07-02 12:33 (Reply)

Yup. 100%, age 68.

I think it might be more related to education than age. This looks like a test I took in 8th grade.

In the 1940s and 1950s there were only two professions that competent women could pursue - teaching and nursing.

#2.1.1 Roy Lofquist on 2011-07-02 16:14 (Reply)

Agreed. age 73 and score 100% although a couple were tricky, especially taxes equals spending.

#2.1.1.1 Mike K (Link) on 2011-07-02 19:29 (Reply)

I got the same score you did - 31 correct - and missed the same ones.

Tom, I am 47.

#2.2 class factotum (Link) on 2011-07-02 14:49 (Reply)

Same score - same wrong answers!! I think the "taxes/government spending" was a screwy question. I couldn't decide whether we were to answer what SHOULD be done, or how badly the question had been answered for real in the past.

Susan Lee, age 61

#2.3 Susan Lee on 2011-07-02 16:08 (Reply)

FWIW, I'm 49 with degrees in Economics and Political Science.
I thought it was easy for a variety of reasons, but I could've gotten those 2 right if I'd not been so impatient.

The budget one was a "trick" question, though not as tricky as many others I've seen. I figured they mistakenly put "debt" in place of deficit. Though the correct answer IS correct....

Even so, a cursory knowledge of the Constitution and history and you should get AT LEAST 70% right.

#2.3.1 Rick on 2011-07-02 22:16 (Reply)

Ditto on age, score and wrong answers.
If I hadn't had the one year of "liberal arts" I'd probably have gotten a 100%

#2.3.2 John on 2011-07-03 11:52 (Reply)

31 for 33 for me too. I couldn't remember whether of not he threatened to impeach the Justices or appoint more :(

#3 Sean G on 2011-07-02 12:23 (Reply)

30 out of 33 - they got me on a couple of business questions (which I think have two correct answers) and of all things the Gettysburg Address -of the people, by the people, etc...

I'm so ashamed. :>)

#4 Tom Francis on 2011-07-02 12:30 (Reply)

I'm Canadian and scored 66.67%.

#5 Eeyore on 2011-07-02 12:32 (Reply)

Had a friend of mine take one of these history/government guizes - he beat me by one percentage point.

He is English and lives in Birmingham. :>)

#5.1 Tom Francis on 2011-07-02 12:34 (Reply)

Another Canuck here. I scored 75.76 for the sort of old farts side. I am 72.

#5.2 Bob Devine on 2011-07-02 15:11 (Reply)

Another Canuk reaches a passing grade, 81%

Not bad for a red-neck from the backwoods of Nova Scotia, who quit school after Grade 10 in 1977.

For the record, I did actually go get a High School GED in 2005, but it was pretty short on US politics, lol.

#5.2.1 mitchel44 on 2011-07-03 10:55 (Reply)

32 out of 33, and yes, I voted against Obama.

#6 John on 2011-07-02 12:38 (Reply)

Same here, 32/33, 96.97%, but missed the last question.

#6.1 inthehills on 2011-07-02 13:40 (Reply)

also got 32 of 33 missing the last question, guessed correctly on a few others.

#6.1.1 grant1863 on 2011-07-03 01:11 (Reply)

30 out of 33 (91%)
agree with Rick- these should not be difficult questions. most shocking were the results published at the end- fewer than 50% even got a basic question like the Three Branches of Government right!

#7 neuromon on 2011-07-02 12:50 (Reply)

"You answered 32 out of 33 correctly — 96.97 %"

Age 57, learned all of this from 1) high school when high school meant something, 2) intelligent parents interested in educating their children, 3) inquisitive reading.

#8 Phil in Englewood on 2011-07-02 12:54 (Reply)

76%

#9 debbie on 2011-07-02 12:54 (Reply)

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

It seemed pretty straightforward to me, too; not sure why the political class seemed to have such difficulty with it.

#10 Ken Mitchell on 2011-07-02 12:54 (Reply)

You answered 32 out of 33 correctly — 96.97 %

The last one was the only one that got me.

#11 Dangerous Dean on 2011-07-02 12:55 (Reply)

I'm on the same page as Dangerous Dean. So ready to finish the test I gave the last question short shrift. Not upset with 32 of 33 though.

#12 BlogDog on 2011-07-02 13:00 (Reply)

31 out of 33 correctly — 93.94 %
Free markets typically secure more economic prosperity than government’s centralized planning because:
Your Answer: property rights and contracts are best enforced by the market system
Correct Answer: the price system utilizes more local knowledge of means and ends (this one seemed to me to be a gobbledegook answer. Such is life)

If taxes equal government spending, then:
Your Answer: government debt is zero (didn't feel right, but I fell for it anyway)
Correct Answer: tax per person equals government spending per person on average

I'm 62. Still work. Went to a mix of Catholic (k-8) and public schools.

Read a lot, some books, lots of blogs reflecting my opinion and worldview (Hah!).

Like Fox news (except for that knucklehead Hannity, and that weirdo Shep Smith, and their unending, unnecessary coverage of crap like this Anthony trial, dead blondes in the Caribbean, etc.

#13 Dan. on 2011-07-02 13:02 (Reply)

30 out of 33. Not bad for a Canadian.

#14 Jay on 2011-07-02 13:02 (Reply)

30 out of 33.

Outscoring college educators is not surprising. If you could see what I see on a daily basis, you would understand.

#15 Mike (Link) on 2011-07-02 13:04 (Reply)

31 out of 33-93.94%

I missed the "of, by, and for the People" and the "government debt" question.

#16 Rob on 2011-07-02 13:08 (Reply)

You answered 32 out of 33 correctly — 96.97 %

Yep, I skimmed the last question too.

D'oh!

#17 Mr. Bingley (Link) on 2011-07-02 13:10 (Reply)

I got a 32/33. One dumb error.

#18 BD on 2011-07-02 13:14 (Reply)

32/33

Me too. Can I blame my son who was pestering me at the time?

#18.1 DrTorch on 2011-07-02 13:20 (Reply)

Three "wrong" - of which I would dispute one* and perhaps a second.

- - -
* "If taxes equal government spending, then ... tax per person equals government spending per person on average"
Maybe, if businesses are defined as persons (which admittedly for some purposes they are) AND human_people routinely think of businesses that way. I answered "government debt is zero" as that seems to make more sense - if I spend as much as I receive, but no more (or less). I [should] have zero debt.
- - -
"Question: Which of the following fiscal policy combinations has the federal government most often followed to stimulate economic activity when the economy is in a severe recession?

Your Answer: increasing both taxes and spending

Correct Answer: decreasing taxes and increasing spending"

Well... the "correct" answer may be what should be done, but just when did it actually happen? Yes, decreasing taxes a la Reagan allowed increased spending as revenues increased, but it was done to allow more non government spending. That it had been predicted to, and did, result in more government revenue which was inevitably spent is not really why it was done. Much more what is done is what is going on today, just as before - raise/add taxes/fines/penalties so spending can be increased (or at least not cut).

#19 John A on 2011-07-02 13:26 (Reply)

I missed those two, too and I had the same issues with them John A did. 47 yrs. old.

#19.1 weaver on 2011-07-02 18:27 (Reply)

I missed those too- and agree with your arguments.

#19.2 amanda on 2011-07-02 19:18 (Reply)

government debt is zero would be only half right - as long as the budget was in balance at all times. Since that isn't implied in the question, it can't be the correct answer, because it could be that the budget is balanced, but there was some debt from previous unbalanced budgets. So the answer, to be correct, should be "government is not in deficit or surplus".
The answer they provided IS correct, since the "on average" part is very forgiving.

On your second complaint, you are misreading the answer. It states "most often employed" not "what should be done". So the answer is, again, correct. Typically, the government has lowered taxes and raised spending. In fact, proper Keynesian economics would push for lower taxes OR increased spending. But preferably NOT BOTH. However, it has been PROVEN that lower taxes is more effective in kick starting the economy, thereby putting the budget back in balance.

Oh, by the way, Keynes believed that the debt should be paid down once the economy was purring again. Funny how the politicians missed that part.

#19.3 Rick on 2011-07-02 22:34 (Reply)

"You answered 31 out of 33 correctly — 93.94 %"

Government SHOULD be decreasing both taxes AND spending, dang it. Government debt, patooie.

#20 fiftyville on 2011-07-02 13:28 (Reply)

I missed those same two questions - also 31 of 33.

There is an element of opinion in these two. The correct response to a recession is Harding's - cut expenses AND taxes but the course mostly followed - by FDR, Hoover, and Obama - is increase BOTH.

The best answer on taxes equals gov't spending is no ADDITIONAL debt - which the "incorrect" answer hints at but is not in the proper tense.

EVERY Citizen should make 80% before they can vote!

#20.1 Whitehall on 2011-07-02 16:05 (Reply)

It looks like I'm tied for the worst of us Maggie's Farmers: 30/33. I missed the fiscal policies used to spur the economy. I was thinking about after WWII when spending & taxes were decreased and caused a huge boom. I guess we're not always that smart! The other two I missed were about levees and the Puritans.
How could College Educators be so stupid - oh! that's right. Most of them are a bunch of lefties!

#21 mudbug on 2011-07-02 13:29 (Reply)

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

Lots of 32/33. I'm waiting to see if anyone aced it.

#22 Smokey (Link) on 2011-07-02 13:39 (Reply)

33 of 33. I'm 59.

#23 Randy on 2011-07-02 14:04 (Reply)

76%, and I'm not even an American so my knowledge of American history is severely limited.
With that knowledge, probably would have been over 90%.

#24 J.T. Wenting on 2011-07-02 14:32 (Reply)

This college educator got 32/33. Wasn't ready to spend the time on the final trick question. :(

The people that put this quiz up--Intercollegiate Studies Institute--do good work helping undergraduates find alternatives to the progressive orthodoxy on campus. As a member myself, I heartily recommend you look into it and perhaps join.

#25 Rubashov on 2011-07-02 14:38 (Reply)

30 out of 33. I'm 55, 4 year college degree, accounting major, corporate exec. OH... and I am a flyfisherman. (I like beer too).

However, I know I would flunk a similar test questioning the names of the reality stars on Jersey Shore, Houswives of you name it and the Food Network.

#26 Mike P. on 2011-07-02 14:58 (Reply)

30 out of 33 and I misread one of the questions (FIRST amendment, not any amendment) Plus I'm sans coffee today.

It scares me that educators (at any level) performed so poorly. I don't think there's too much bias in the questions; just an expectation for something more than rote memorization.

#27 amanda on 2011-07-02 14:59 (Reply)

College educators scored that low [55%] ? And those of us who scored higher than college educators and also have little respect for the politically correct pap generated by same college educators are considered anti-intellectuals?

More material for The Onion.

31 of 33.

#28 Gringo on 2011-07-02 15:00 (Reply)

30 out of 33. I'm 55, 4 year college degree, accounting major, corporate exec. OH... and I am a flyfisherman.

I like beer too.

However, I know I would flunk a similar test questioning the names of the reality stars on Jersey Shore, Houswives of you name it and the Food Network.

#29 Mike P. on 2011-07-02 15:01 (Reply)

33/33 here. 46 yrs old, no college degree. I truly doubt their claim that college professors got 55% right.

#30 Tom A (Link) on 2011-07-02 15:57 (Reply)

32/33

#31 feeblemind on 2011-07-02 16:10 (Reply)

100% right. I guess I quit being a college educator early enough.

I did not know that the Federal Reserve was normally involved in fiscal policy, buying/selling government securities. I am not even sure "fiscal" is the right term for that.

I thought they had stayed out of that until Dim Ben devised the recent QEs.

I hesitated a bit on a couple of economics questions and over what was most important in the Lincoln/Douglas debates.

#32 KTWO on 2011-07-02 16:10 (Reply)

The Fed isn't supposed to be involved with public securities (bonds, stocks, etc.), but actually Greenspan started purchasing those....even though they technically will NEVER admit it (and part of the reason they don't ever want to be audited, which would expose their Ponzi scheme).

However, the purchase of government bonds and other government securities is how they keep interest rates low - and has been part of Fed policy for a LOOONG time.

Bernanke's neat new trick is purchasing lots of worthless paper, issuing cash to those who were holding them, thereby increasing their reserves, and holding on to the toxic stuff until the market "comes back". Hence all the talk of the economy recovering, in an attempt to talk it up and get people borrowing and buying again.....and then they could sell this stuff back to the banks and other entities who were holding them. HA!

He also effectively monetized the debt by having banks purchase Treasuries with the explicit agreement that the Fed would buy them back shortly, part of their expanded open market operations, or POMOs.

#32.1 Rick on 2011-07-02 22:25 (Reply)

31 of 33... 93.94% here.

Age 67, BA with Officers' School in Navy and one year of grad school in... philosophy. Voted for McCain and will NOT be voting for O'Bozo come 2012!

Love riding my Harley... how about a test on them, geography, western U.S.?

#33 PeterGunn on 2011-07-02 16:12 (Reply)

What would American politics be like if people had to pass a simple civics test to vote? After all, immigrants have to do that.

Imagine the screams from the Left.

#34 The B on 2011-07-02 16:18 (Reply)

Their heads would explode!

One can dream, right?

#34.1 Big___Al on 2011-07-02 18:02 (Reply)

You answered 32 out of 33 correctly — 96.97 %

I too missed: "If taxes equal government spending, then ..."

51, MS in CompSci, Gun Nut, Goldwing rider

#35 Mike on 2011-07-02 16:21 (Reply)

93.94% - Incorrect Answers
Question: Which of the following fiscal policy combinations has the federal government most often followed to stimulate economic activity when the economy is in a severe recession?
Your Answer: decreasing both taxes and spending
Correct Answer: decreasing taxes and increasing spending
.
Question: The Puritans:
Your Answer: were Catholic missionaries escaping religious persecution
Correct Answer: stressed the sinfulness of all humanity..

#36 Guy on 2011-07-02 16:25 (Reply)

81.82% correct...not bad for a Canuck eh?

#37 Rich on 2011-07-02 16:30 (Reply)

32/33

51 years old.

And grrr, what is up with that last question?! Got me too.

#38 Big___Al on 2011-07-02 16:32 (Reply)

32/33-missed the last one as well-have been repeatedly told not to rush and read all of the answers before answering. On well.....
age-64.

#39 MikeinAppalachia on 2011-07-02 16:49 (Reply)

31/33

50 Years old.

Tat last one didn't make much sense to me either.

#40 rbm411 on 2011-07-02 17:16 (Reply)

32 out of 33. Not bad for being up all night and delivering babies....I think I need to go to bed now

#41 storkdoc on 2011-07-02 18:06 (Reply)

32/33, very simple stuff. Age 58. Nothing special. Disappointed that so many did so poorly, but not surprised. Of course Maggie's readers did well, no surprise there.

#42 lenf on 2011-07-02 18:18 (Reply)

30 of 33...not great. But, I had been relaxing with a few beers. I missed the ""If taxes equal government spending, then ... tax per person equals government spending per person on average" question, the Roe v Wade question, (hurried, and didn't think) and the
"If taxes equal government spending, then:" question. I spend 20 years in the military, still work for the govt, and have an engineering degree.

#43 Mark on 2011-07-02 18:57 (Reply)

Phil in Englewood: Ditto on the score, on the age, and on the reasons for the score.

The last question was a goofy one, period. If the first choice had read "Government deficit is zero" then it would have made more sense.

#44 jhc on 2011-07-02 19:28 (Reply)

31 out of 33, 63 year old carpenter and lover of the USA

#45 bill on 2011-07-02 19:41 (Reply)

33 out of 33, which I think puts me at the top of the Canadian contingent.

#46 Bill Whittaker on 2011-07-02 21:13 (Reply)

"You answered 31 out of 33 correctly — 93.94 %"

#47 Mystery Meat on 2011-07-02 22:40 (Reply)

31/33 @ 56. How can you not...awww forget it.

Missed the Lincoln/Douglas questions and the government debt question.

If I read the survey results correctly, there are a whole lot of politicians that are dumber than I thought...and I didn't think that was possible.

#48 Browndog on 2011-07-02 23:07 (Reply)

You answered 33 out of 33 correctly — 100.00 %

Age 59, some collage, no degree. Three of the questions reminded me of why I always liked multiple guess tests.

55% for collage educators just floors me. I would guess that only a small percentage of the sample deal professionally with civics and history. A large percentage of the rest do not read history for pleasure so never encounter the semi-obscure facts of history.

#49 mike g on 2011-07-03 01:25 (Reply)

32/33, aged 37. Like others, I'm not sure the "recession" question was right.

#50 Jack Diederich on 2011-07-03 06:28 (Reply)

29 outta 33 for 87.9% and I'm 53.....I am a US citizen, so I guess I'm the dummy here.

#51 Vichris on 2011-07-03 15:31 (Reply)

30 out of 33 correct.

Rather embarrassed at the wrong answers, but I definitely scored above the college educators. Married, white, female, age 35, stay-at-home(schooling)-mom, only finished 2 years of a 4-year degree. Every single miss was one where I second-guessed myself and shouldn't have. Lesson learned!

#52 writermom4 on 2011-07-03 21:27 (Reply)

32/33. The fiscal policy followed to get out of a recession one. What the government does do vs. what it should do is an open question - seems to me that they generally raise both, even though they shouldn't.

B.S. Biology, M.S. Biochemistry. The sciences and engineering teach you that yes, there is such a thing as right and wrong. It doesn't matter how many oppressed minorities you hire or what environmental impact statements you file, if you use the wrong steel or the wrong design the bridge falls down.

#53 RonF on 2011-07-05 10:36 (Reply)

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Saturday, July 2. 2011

Fun summer game #3: Civic Literacy Quiz