# US Civics test - how well can YOU do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 1, 2011, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-civics-test-how-well-can-you-do/584023 "2011-06-01T23:56:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![BigDadWolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@BigDadWolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigDadWolf)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-civics-test-how-well-can-you-do/584023/61 "2011-06-02T13:21:17Z")
31/33 - I missed the “If taxes equal government spending” and the “Name one right or freedom guaranteed by the first amendment” questions both of which I like to think I would have gotten correct if I had taken my time. No doubt some of the questions were slanted. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-civics-test-how-well-can-you-do/584023/62 "2011-06-02T13:32:38Z")
> [@BigBadWolf](#): > > …both of which I like to think I would have gotten correct if I had taken my time. I know that was my problem. For some reason, I read Puritans and thought Quakers, and didn’t stop to think it through. This quiz was particularly easy relative to some other similar quizzes I’ve seen recently, largely because taking a moment to consider the alternative answers ruled most of them out right away. I’m somehow disappointed that so many people are missing the of, by and for the people quote, especially in my household. We’ve seen the animatronic Lincoln at the wax museum in Gettysburg many times, but my wife and kids still blew that one. Poor Abe, but then again, he did predict that the world would “little note nor long remember” what he said there! ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-civics-test-how-well-can-you-do/584023/63 "2011-06-02T13:50:37Z")
1. I missed the one about government by the people, for the people, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-civics-test-how-well-can-you-do/584023/64 "2011-06-02T13:55:43Z")
33/33. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-civics-test-how-well-can-you-do/584023/65 "2011-06-02T14:20:03Z")
100%. I learned the answer to the question about the Anti-Federalists from some research I did for a post on the SDMB. Educators got 55%? I shudder for the fate of our students. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-civics-test-how-well-can-you-do/584023/66 "2011-06-02T14:33:32Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > I know that was my problem. For some reason, I read Puritans and thought Quakers, and didn’t stop to think it through. > > This quiz was particularly easy relative to some other similar quizzes I’ve seen recently, largely because taking a moment to consider the alternative answers ruled most of them out right away. > > I’m somehow disappointed that so many people are missing the of, by and for the people quote, especially in my household. We’ve seen the animatronic Lincoln at the wax museum in Gettysburg many times, but my wife and kids still blew that one. Poor Abe, but then again, he did predict that the world would “little note nor long remember” what he said there! I knew that one because so many movies have little kids dressed in beards saying that speech. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-civics-test-how-well-can-you-do/584023/67 "2011-06-02T14:38:35Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Keep in mind you’re talking to **Oakminster**. WTF is that supposed to mean? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-civics-test-how-well-can-you-do/584023/68 "2011-06-02T15:09:39Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > 32/33, 96.97%. The question I missed: > > ``` > * > > Question: A flood-control levee (or National Defense) is considered a public good because: > Your Answer: government pays for its construction, not citizens > Correct Answer: a resident can benefit from it without directly paying for it > > ``` > > :rolleyes: I was robbed! But not all government projects are public goods. If Congress builds itself a new office building, it’s not intended for the public’s use. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-civics-test-how-well-can-you-do/584023/69 "2011-06-02T15:13:45Z")
I was surprised by the number of questions about economics on what is supposed to be a test of knowledge about government. Maybe there should have been a question on Lochner v NY. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-civics-test-how-well-can-you-do/584023/70 "2011-06-02T15:27:33Z")
I missed three. In my defense, I did the test very quickly and didn’t read too carefully. ---
**Author:** ![Pixel\_Dent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Pixel\_Dent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixel_Dent)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-civics-test-how-well-can-you-do/584023/71 "2011-06-02T15:42:16Z")
100%. There were a couple I thought were odd for a civics test. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-civics-test-how-well-can-you-do/584023/72 "2011-06-02T15:47:39Z")
Would be interesting to see an average score by country (e.g. do Canadians know the Americans better than the Americans know themselves)! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-civics-test-how-well-can-you-do/584023/73 "2011-06-02T15:49:17Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > But not all government projects are public goods. If Congress builds itself a new office building, it’s not intended for the public’s use. In addition, a privately-funded project can be a public good. For example, a corporation might build a levee to protect its factory, which also protects the town next to the factory. The levee is still a public good, even though the government did not fund it. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-civics-test-how-well-can-you-do/584023/74 "2011-06-02T15:52:36Z")
87.88 (four wrong) I missed the Gettysburg address one. :smack: I also missed the Greek Philosopher question, the question on a country specializing (for exports), and the Puritans. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-civics-test-how-well-can-you-do/584023/75 "2011-06-02T16:06:16Z")
27/33 or 81.82%. I should have done better, because on at least three of them I thought for a second and almost picked the correct answer. And the sun was in my eyes. ---
**Author:** ![D18](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@D18](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D18)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-civics-test-how-well-can-you-do/584023/76 "2011-06-02T16:12:53Z")
Another Canuck here who didn’t do bad - 29/33. ---
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-civics-test-how-well-can-you-do/584023/77 "2011-06-02T16:19:21Z")
32 out of 33. I can’t believe I missed the one I did, complete brain fart there. I’d tell you which one but it’s too embarrasing. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-civics-test-how-well-can-you-do/584023/78 "2011-06-02T16:32:57Z")
I got 81.82% ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-civics-test-how-well-can-you-do/584023/79 "2011-06-02T16:43:22Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I was surprised by the number of questions about economics on what is supposed to be a test of knowledge about government. > > Maybe there should have been a question on Lochner v NY. :eek::eek: I was surprised as well. I was surprised to see the economics portion as well. I missed the public goods question but got the rest of them right. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-civics-test-how-well-can-you-do/584023/80 "2011-06-02T16:47:10Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > 32 out of 33. I missed the one about the Lincoln/Douglas debates. Same here, on both counts. I thought some of the economics questions were pretty esoteric. Not many people know what the Fed does, and fewer still know _how_ it does what it does. And the proper answer to the 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?” depends on a great deal of interpretation. Which of our recessions have been “severe,” for instance? How many of those were back in the 19th century, when there was very little the Federal government _could_ do about recessions, and do we count those in determining which course the Federal government “most often followed”? Hell, how do we count even the Federal government’s response to the _current_ recession? Initially, we increased spending and cut taxes; now the GOP wants to cut both spending and taxes, and is likely to get its way. Do we give half-credit to both in our tally? IOW, I’d love to know how they determined their answer to this question. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-civics-test-how-well-can-you-do/584023.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-civics-test-how-well-can-you-do/584023.md?page=5)