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Making the rounds is National Geographic's GeoSurvey, which asks 20 multiple-choice questions about world geography. It's gotten notice for how poorly Americans aged 18-24 fare with the rest of the world. Which is hardly news. What interests me more is a trend I've seen among people I know, many of whom who miss the same telling question. Go take the quiz and then click "More" to read what I'm talking about.
Many people I know miss the Most Popular Religion question, guessing Hindu or Islam. I'm guessing it's because the over-educated folks I know would consider it crass to say something so seemingly culturo-centric as "Christianity," so they guess themselves out of the right answer. It's funny that this is one question where Americans did okay, coming in 4th out of the 9 countries. Probably because culturo-centrism made sense in this case.
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Comments:
COMMENT #1
Fun test. I answered Hindu to the religion question. I have learned in the past that questions like that were usually meant to "teach me a lesson" by smashing my world view. Guess it worked...
Posted by Jonathan @ 11/22/2002 04:50 PM PST [link to this comment]
COMMENT #2
I had Christianity 4th bethind budhisim, hinduism, and islam. Shows what I know. That was the only question I missed. I am still amazed at the poor understanding of the world around them that the participants showed.
Posted by vanderwal @ 11/22/2002 08:00 PM PST [link to this comment]
COMMENT #3
I am not very interested in comparing myself to a cross section of 18-24 year-olds who are not standing in line at 8-MILE. I want to go up against Bill Gates, Stephen Hawkings and George Lucas. And if I outscore them I want their money. If they beat me, they can have mine.
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Posted by BJMe @ 11/22/2002 10:10 PM PST [link to this comment]
COMMENT #4
This is the one I missed, too. According to http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mreligio.html, Christians (all types) 1.9b
atheists 1.7b
Muslims 1.12b
Hindus .8b
Buddhists .3b where b=1x10**12 (European billion)
Posted by Mark Bernstein @ 11/23/2002 08:29 AM PST [link to this comment]
COMMENT #5
Only got one question wrong and it was the religion one. I had to think between Christianity and Islam, but answered Islam. I bought the hype, man!
Posted by Spidra Webster @ 11/23/2002 05:32 PM PST [link to this comment]
COMMENT #6
I am not very interested in comparing myself to a cross section of rich white dudes like Bill Gates, Stephen Hawkings and George Lucas. I want to go up against Gandhi, Buddha and King Solomon. And if I outscore them I want their wisdom. If they beat me, they can have mine.
Posted by not BJme @ 11/23/2002 10:20 PM PST [link to this comment]
COMMENT #7
I got them all correct except for the religion question as well - but am I the only one daft enough to have selected Buddhism?!
Posted by Anne @ 11/25/2002 08:09 AM PST [link to this comment]
COMMENT #8
I was raised a Catholick, but, yes, I failed in the same question. I guessed Islam. Heh.
Posted by Javier Candeira @ 11/25/2002 03:40 PM PST [link to this comment]
COMMENT #9
Only 89% of people from USA could properly identify their own country on the world map. [sarcasm]
I guess it's because the USA is such a small country.
[/sarcasm]
Posted by MadMan @ 11/26/2002 11:50 AM PST [link to this comment]
COMMENT #10
No. You aren't the only one.
Posted by James @ 11/26/2002 07:44 PM PST [link to this comment]
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