Survey Says- 'Those stupid Brits'

Groucho Marx once had a a radio quiz program. For the contestant who missed
the first question, Marx gave them an opportunity to win something, with the
question " Who is buried in Grant's Tomb?" Occasionally someone missed.
A recent poll in the U.S. showed that 5% of the people polled did not know
who the president of the United States is. ( One might question where and
how the poll was given). In the middle ages, most people lived quiet lives
on the outskirts of activity, and had no idea what was going on in the
world. For some, things have not changed. ( One might question if, for many
people, there is any real reason that they should know who is president.)
rjf


"Go Fig" wrote in message
...
More than two-thirds -- 67 percent -- did not know the year World War II
ended. Another 64 percent did not know which country the French Alps
were
located in.

jay
Sun, Jan 4, 2004





The Washington Times
www.washingtontimes.com
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Brits can't find Chicago, Dallas in geography test
By Jennifer Harper
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published January 4, 2004
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Oh, those "stupid Yanks," those "stupid Americans."
We've taken a drubbing for a while now in press reports that paint
Americans as dim bulbs with big mouths, big cars and lousy foreign
policy.
The threads of this ongoing America-bashing include differences over the
war on terrorism and resentment of American culture in general and
President
Bush in particular.
Anti-American sentiment grew so piquant in Britain that Lord Carey of
Clifton -- the former Archbishop of Canterbury -- called for an end to
it
while praising the "wonderful innocence and independence" of Americans,
the
London Times reported Nov. 24.
But a new survey reveals that the duh factor is not confined to these
shores, Jessica Simpson notwithstanding. The British are not exactly the
sharpest tools in the drawer themselves.
Sixty-five percent of Brits could not figure out which U.S. city served
as the setting for the hit musical "Chicago," according to a survey of
1,000
British adults released yesterday by the London-based broadcast network
Channel 4.
Such geographical shortcomings are not limited to musicals.
Another 57 percent could not quite figure out which city was the setting
for the famous American TV series "Dallas," while 66 percent could not
identify the setting for "Streets of London," a tune by balladeer Roger
Whittaker.
Things also were a little hazy for the British on the European
continent.
The survey found that 70 percent could not identify the host city for
the
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
More than two-thirds -- 67 percent -- did not know the year World War II
ended. Another 64 percent did not know which country the French Alps
were
located in.
The complete survey will be featured in tomorrow's broadcast of "Beat
the
Nation," a daily British quiz show that claims to be Britain's "fairest"
by
pretesting all questions on 1,000 persons, then ranking them for
difficulty.
The survey was conducted by YouGov, a London-based market research
group.
To be fair, the British are not the only folks who are geographically
challenged.
In its own survey of 300 persons between ages 18 and 24 released in
November 2002, America's own National Geographic Society found that 87
percent could not point out Iraq on a world map. Three out of 10 could
not
find the Pacific Ocean.
The young Americans ranked second to last in the poll, able to identify
only seven of 16 countries in a map quiz. Swedes ranked first,
identifying 13
of 16, with Germans and Italians next, at a dozen each.
"Someone once said that war is God's way of teaching geography.
Apparently, war or even the threat of war cannot adequately teach it,"
National Geographic President John Fahey said at the time.
"More American young people can tell you where an island on the
'Survivor' television series is than can identify Afghanistan or Iraq,"
he
added.
That poll has been quoted repeatedly by a gleeful global press since its
release.
At least one British official agrees that his countrymen, well, can use
some smarts.
Former Chief Inspector of Schools Chris Woodhead told the BBC on Friday
that "most Brits are not bright enough for university."
The British government would like at least half of those between 18 and
30 to get a degree -- up from the 2 percent who went to college in the
years
following World War II.
"I don't think that 50 percent of people are actually able to study an
academically demanding degree," Mr. Woodhead said.

Copyright © 2004 News World Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

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--

Legend insists that as he finished his abject...
Galileo muttered under his breath: "Nevertheless, it does move."

Bob Fusillo wrote:

Groucho Marx once had a a radio quiz program. For the contestant who missed
the first question, Marx gave them an opportunity to win something, with the
question " Who is buried in Grant's Tomb?" Occasionally someone missed.

Another one of those great ironies: this is actually a trick question,
which Groucho didn't seem to appreciate either. The correct answer is,
'President AND MRS. Grant'.

cheers,

Henry

Henry wrote:

Bob Fusillo wrote:

Groucho Marx once had a a radio quiz program. For the contestant who missed
the first question, Marx gave them an opportunity to win something, with the
question " Who is buried in Grant's Tomb?" Occasionally someone missed.

Another one of those great ironies: this is actually a trick question,
which Groucho didn't seem to appreciate either. The correct answer is,
'President AND MRS. Grant'.

cheers,

Henry

Trick answer #2: nobody is "buried," President and Mrs. Grant
are entombed in an above-ground tomb.