Test Your Current Events Knowledge w/the Pew News IQ Test

Photo of Noel Sheppard.

Here's some fun for your weekend. Take the Pew News IQ Quiz (h/t NBer DaBird):

To test your knowledge of prominent people and major events in the news, we invite you to take our short quiz. Then see how you did in comparison with 1,003 randomly sampled adults asked the same questions in a recent national survey conducted by the Pew Research Center. [...]

You'll also be able to compare your News IQ with the average scores of men and women; with college graduates as well as those who didn't attend college; with people who are your age as well as with younger and older Americans. Are you more news-savvy than the average American?

Link to the quiz below the fold (photo courtesy Pew):

Have fun NewsBusters. Be sure to tell us how you did.

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Perfect!

12 out of 12!  Wouldn't that be 100th percentile instead of 97th?

Ditto for me! Go figure.

Ditto for me!

Go figure. Must be that "fuzzy math."

Anyway, should have figured that we Newsbusters would be on top of things! 

 

 

I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson

It's the whole statistical

It's the whole statistical thing, 3% of the population scores as high as we did...thus 97% of the population is lower than our knowledge of these subjects.

"An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life." --Robert A. Heinlein, "Beyond This Horizon", 1942

Ten Out Of Twelve

I thought Kosovo was a city, so I voted for Bosnia.  Bad goof.

However, you 12 for 12 posters lucked out on the Dow, or else you follow the market a lot more closely than I do.

Three days ago the Dow was just over 10,800.

That means my wrong answer - "10,000" - would have been the correct answer all day Tuesday and for parts of Friday (last week), Monday, and Wednesday.

The original survey was done in March, when the Dow was well over 12,000, so this question has become exponentially harder in the interim. 

Still, it's always fun to hang out with a bunch of smarty pants, even if I'm not one of you.

Same here. I did see why

Same here. I did see why Obama had so many follwers. Those just above the 50% and lower.

"Forget change, I want improvement!"

interesting answers

Based upon the question breakdown (unsure if the statisitcs are significant yet, based upon sample size) people have no clue who Harry Reid is, which is probably unfortunate for the Las Vegas tourism board who is suffering from his energy policy. Also interesting that with the breathless counting of deaths in Iraq of US service people by the MSM, less than a 1/3 of the respondants could accurately give that "death count". Proof that the economy is the issue de jour since the Dow number is more closely watched.

Excellent poll quizzes. A climate change / global warming quiz would delight me, Noel.

Here's my result

Here's Your Score: You correctly answered 12 of the 12 possible questions along with approximately 3% of the public. You did better than 97% of the general public.

I almost got tripped up on one question.

"An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life." --Robert A. Heinlein, "Beyond This Horizon", 1942

I also

got 97%.  Could have sworn I got all of them right.

Jack Van Nostrand

 

97th percentile ?

I also got 12 out of 12 questions right.

"Boats are safe in the harbor, but that's not what they're made for." -- Maritime quote

11 out of 12...that was

11 out of 12...that was fun...

No to make an excuse (which is exactly what I am doing...heheh) but I wanted to go back and change the answer I got wrong, which I answered to quickly and knew it...it was the first one...

that is all I will say for now in case others want to take it...it would give it away if I said anymore.

also makes one feel good for the day...all those so-called know it alls...on a national average don't know much, college or not....hahahaaa!

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

BT - that is the exact same thing that happened to me

I answered too quick on the Serbia question and new right after I clicked that it was wrong.

So 91 percentile for me also.

Howdy Dee.. I am really

Howdy Dee..

I am really laughing here now reading everyones posts...I intentionally didn't say or imply what the answer was that I missed, other than it was the first question, so others who would take the test wouldn't know the answers before-hand...

...so far everyone is doing just that...

I went too quick with my immediate answer to the first one...knowing I should of had a couple of letters before the correct answer after I already clicked...

Oh well...

It was fun, and a quick test...glad I saw this early on.

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

Dee and bt

I am with you and embarassed I missed the last one...I did know it. But apparently I didn't. :) It was a fun quiz and easy I thought. I

Hi DDC... Yeah it was

Hi DDC...

Yeah it was basically a breeze...what was fun for me was this was posted here right about the time I sat down and settled in... so it started my computer time on NBs with a smile on my face.  

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

bt...as I said above, it

bt...as I said above, it stands to reason that we Newsbusties are a well-informed bunch!

 

I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson

Good afternoon mb... Once

Good afternoon mb...

Once again you are so right!

...that really was fun...I do wished it had politcal party affiliation broken down to for the results.

By the way...Da Bird..thanks for the fun...you and ns both.

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

"I do wished it had

"I do wished it had politcal party affiliation broken down to for the results. "

They did... Democrats - 50% and lower. 

"Forget change, I want improvement!"

Well-informed...

MB,

...despite the lack of education for most of you. A mighty fine bunch of people who were able to pass their GEDs and get online college degrees. I'm impressed! Keep up the good work! Reading is fun! Math and Science is hard. It's best if you stick to the easy things like cooking & cleaning! Your husbands will appreciate it since they bring home the bacon. Did you get dinner started? Nothing is worse than a hungry radical right wing husband with a strap and a hankering to use it on you.

Syrius

 

Stop it Syrius

I thought you were more mature than to post obnoxious crap like this.

 

(sarc on) oops!

candance,

My apologies for not turning the (sarc on) button. I forgot how everyone is sooooo serious on this site. Gosh, I'm sorry to get everyone so upset. Touchy, touchy, touchy!

Syrius

 

*rolls eyes*

That doesn't make sense as a joke and still sounds crass. If I accused you of beating your wife and then said it was a joke I very much doubt you'd find it funny.

Grow up. Seriously.

Sy... What a

Sy...

What a fool.

Either you aren't married, and I can see why...or your wife is busy bringing home the bacon while you play on the PC.

Does she beat ya' good?

Better get that dinner started...

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

Bigtimer...

BT,

-Ouch, that's going to leave a mark.

-Married with kiddies and a wonderful wife. She took a leave of absence to enjoy the best years of our children's lives. It's wonderful. Great upbringing for the kids. I'm sure you were there for your children.

-Playing with the radical right wing on the computer while taking a break at one of my businesses.

-As for the beatings...well...they stop when my morale improves!

-She and I love to cook together...it's wonderful to enjoy a great dinner with a few glasses of fine wine. Tonight's wine selection a 1982 Chateau La Lagune...exceptional!


Syrius

 

Sy... Well if this is all

Sy...

Well if this is all true...then leave out the crap you put here...

Cheers.

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

Tonight's wine selection a

Tonight's wine selection a 1982 Chateau La Lagune.

Is that as good as Two-Buck Chuck?

For this chewing gum crowd...

Up,

...it would be an absolute waste with their McDonald's happy meals. Plus, it's French, way beyond their means, and too refined for a dull palate that's used to a Belgian beer like Budweiser.

FYI-The wine was sooo good with dinner, we opened another one! 

Ta-ta, 

Syrius

 

BT, I got 91st percentile too!

I missed the last year of school I completed.

Jeff Lebowski

www.angrywhitedude.c...

Hi jeff... Well heck it's

Hi jeff...

Well heck it's more fun not being perfect...gives us room to grow...room for improvement...never boring...and all that jazz...

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

I'm the dim bulb here only 91% (one wrong) ..

Only 24% even knew who dingy Reid was , the lowest rating on the test...( BTW i got the reid one correct)..

Liberals62%


IranianUranium

upc... Don't feel

upc...

Don't feel alone...look above your post!

We're both 91% dim bulbs...lol...

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

bt, if i didn't go back and check reid 24 % worstest low rating

I could ah posted before U...Gotta be quick to post here, to be in the running with the big dogs...lol

Liberals62%


IranianUranium

upcountry

I had an advantage on that one since I was born in Nevada...disappointing that reid is a senator in a state I love.

Me too - 11 for 12

I almost answered Kosovo, but thought about it just a bit too long.

11 of 12 dittos

Not bad.

I also scored 12 out of

I also scored 12 out of 12.

It is sad that the average American scored 6 out of 12.  sad, sad.

I did find it amazing that the group age that scored the lowest was the 18-29 or so.  Isn't this the same age group that is supposedly in the tank for Obama?  No wonder, a bunch of ignoramus voting for Obama. 

fut, Yea, sure wish land owners were the only ones able to vote

Now it's, "I'm not a racist, i voted for oooobama".

It felt good so i did it.

High school 30-50% drop out rate.

Opinion over fact.

Liberals62%


IranianUranium

upcountrywater, Yeap!  I

upcountrywater,

Yeap!  I work in education, higher education.  Whenever I begin to criticize Obama, it never fails that some idiot will claim that I am racist for doing so.  Funny enough, they get all confused when I tell them that I am a Latino and that according to Liberals, I can't be a racist since I do not hold any power in the USA. 

The poor professors do not have a clue how to answer.  I love using their warped ideology against them.

but yes, I find it scary that the 18-29 group scored the lowest.  Obama should be proud that the idiots of America are voting for him. 

12 out of 12

I scored better than 97% of the general population.  

10 of 12.

By the way, men rule and women drool.

One Wrong

The Serbia one got me.  I suspected it was Kosovo, but answered

Test Result

Missed the Kosovo query. 91%

83 %, 2 wrong... dow I

83 %, 2 wrong...

dow I was not sure if it was 10K or 12K and Iraq deaths, I said 2K because I do not pay attention to how many soldiers have died in Iraq.  They are people, not numbers.  The average for my gender was 39% and for my age group 4?% for my education level it was low 40's.

Oh well.  They needed about 20-30 more questions. 

"Always remember that you are unique.  Just like everybody else." --despair.com

I certainly agree with you

about your "people not numbers" comment. I guess when I hear the numbers it just sticks in my mind. I see it bothers you also that women were so low, it sure bothers me. I like to think we compete on an equal field in that respect.

That darn Dow Jones got me..

I thought the economy was still in the tank according the the pee stream media?? I should be careful where I get my news from now on...It's NOT my fault!

 

 

The 2ND Amendment exists to secure the rest

Me Too!!! "Always

Me Too!!!

"Always remember that you are unique.  Just like everybody else." --despair.com

Why do I feel like a laboratory rat?

Here's Your Score: You correctly answered 12 of the 12 possible questions along with approximately 3% of the public. You did better than 97% of the general public.

Of course, the only people who are going to post are the people who got them all right. So, let's see who doesn't post ...

Yes, I'm only kidding.

 

No kidding...

Let's just assume, for fun, those that don't post got less than the lowest score posted.

We all just smart

I'd rather assume that all of us here at N/B are a bunch of smart people. You're propably right, though. The ones who got low scores are too embarrassed (or ashamed) to admit it.

KC

do you have VISTA too?

"You can not support the Troops if you do not support their Mission" 

You mean Microsoft Vista?

I do have Vista, on my home computer, but I'm actually on my work computer at the moment, and that's XP SP2. (Vista has some hiccups, they tell me, with SQL Server, and that's my bread and butter.)

Of course, it's occupational prejudice that I assume you mean the name of a current computer operating system. Did I leap too fast there?

KC no you got me

just right,

you had asked why you felt like a lab rat --- well if you're using Vista like me there's your answer  ;^ )

"You can not support the Troops if you do not support their Mission" 

11 of 12

National averages are disturbing.

Good news / bad news

Maybe the good news here is that the public is ignoring the MSM in droves; a more worrisome theory is that the MSM, Hollywood, and our mis-named education system are rotting brains of our citizens.

Really, this test was NOT difficult.

Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat

 

 

Here's Your Score: You

Here's Your Score: You correctly answered 12 of the 12 possible questions along with approximately 3% of the public. You did better than 97% of the general public.

I'm 20 years old and out did 97% of adults in the US.  Must be because I'm attending a county college to save up money and get a huge discount on attending Rutgers lol  

Too bad they did not have a

Too bad they did not have a political party breakdown. 

"Always remember that you are unique.  Just like everybody else." --despair.com

I know Amber

It would be interesting to see how many libs scored well compared to conservies.

google

The only problem with that is they'd probably google the answers. I got all 12 correct! (with no google.)

Libs would need a write in

Libs would need a write in space. "4000, but it's all Bush's fault." "Kosovo, but it's all Bush's fault", "Ben Berneke, but it's all Bush's fault", etc.

 

“it is not the role of this Court to pronounce the Second Amendment extinct.” - Justice Antonin Scalia

Funny you should mention

Funny you should mention that R h B...I was able to add that comment when I took the test and was awarded extra credit placing me in the top 1%.

Jer

Check this out Candance

Enterprisers follow news about government and politics more closely than any other group, and exhibit the most knowledge about world affairs. The Fox News Channel is their primary source of news (46% cite it as a main source) followed by newspapers (42%) radio (31%) and the internet (26%).

 --

This was the survey related to politics.

Sort of blows out the water the false report libs were giving a while back that said that only 15% of Fox News watchers knew what was going in the world compared to 30-40% of Daily Show watchers, or some such nonesense.

 

Because of people like me

It would've immediately occurred to me to sign up as a Democrat and get only 2% right ... since I take it for granted that there are Democrats who would do the same against Republicans.

Also, a web programmer can discover which website each visitor came from. (They all claim not to track that, but many do anyway.) So, if you came to this site from NewsBusters, and they count that as a conservative site, Pew may be able to compile statistics on how each website performed. Now that would be interesting.

Amber - I was thinking the same thing

but it's probably best that they don't because then people would go take it multiple times just to try and up their political sides results. Liberals are King of distorting polls and search engines and stuff like that. Liberals always do that to a much larger degree than conservatives so it would end up making us look bad.

They have a term for what they do that I'm drawing a blank on right now.

Dee

They had a "political profile" on that "Where do you fit in" tab, too.

Fun.

The scary part is, though (at least per the results) is that 19% of the population self-identifies as left wing liberal, doubled in the last ten  years. 

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

 

Blonde - I came out Enterpriser also

and Connector too - that one I was surprised by because I'm anti- cell phone (even though I have and used one) and I've resisted getting an i-pod even though (or maybe because) I'm a music junkie.

Too funny, Dee

I'm anti-cell phone as well.

I long for the day when my secretary knew where I was, for inquiring minds.

Now everyone can find you, and heaven forbid if you don't answer, it offends people.   And people yack away in the most obnoxious way, absolutely everywhere.  Seriously, I've heard people yacking inthe ladies room!

And I'm also with you on the I-pod, too.  I still like CDs (just bought 2 great John Mayer ones this week)....oh, and my mom just bought me Blue Planet, I can't wait to see the open ocean episode again.  

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

 

Yeah Blonde - the whole cell phone thing

is just out of control. I don't like to be interrupted or able to be reached everywhere. People also have no etiquette. I don't know if it's started happening by you, but by me various different stores and businesses have signs that say "we'll be happy to help you once you are off your cell phone" or something to that effect. I think it's great.

I'll always prefer CD's. Some of my favorite songs are ones that never make it to the radio and I'd miss that if I just started buying songs. I also love to look through the artwork and lyrics and see who made quest appearances and stuff. I resisted CD's when they first came out too because Albums had more artwork lyrics and extra stuff and CD's had nothing when they first came out. I know that CD's are probably going to go away but I'll always love the one's I have and be glad that I can look back on them. I still have many of my old albums also. I don't have a turn table anymore, but I like to take them out every once in a while for nostalgia sake. They are like photographs to me.

 

Ladies, I'm with you. I

Ladies, I'm with you. I Hate Cell Phones.

My wife has one. My Granddaughter has one. I threw mine out the window of my truck about 8 months ago and it was the best thing I ever did. I will let people know where I am when I want to, not a moment sooner.

45 Communist Goals for America http://www.nationmakers.com/com_goals.htm

Ct... I refuse to own

Ct...

I refuse to own one...although in my area they would come in handy now and then...of course in my area we can't use one either...lol!

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

bt... That's one of the

bt...

That's one of the reasons I don't like them. Living in the mountains can be challenging when it comes to getting a signal.We have cell towers darn near everywhere but it still doesn't help. My other reason for not liking them.... I listen to a lot of talk radio when I'm in my truck, down at the stables, and at home. When someone calls in the middle of a show I'm intently listening to, I get peeved because it's usually a stupid call. I'm retired now so I don't need to have evryone talk to me at a moments notice.

Sorry for the rant.

45 Communist Goals for America http://www.nationmakers.com/com_goals.htm

It's not a rant Ct... I

It's not a rant Ct...

I feel the same..when Rush comes on I turn the ringer off, if it is important they can leave a message and I will get back to them...unless I am expecting an important call on business or something like that...because invariably that is what happens....some meaningless nothings when you are just getting into a good show you want to enjoy...and you somehow feel obligated...

I've never been much of a phone person anyway.

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

BT and Ct - if my son was older and out of the house

I'd never have mine turned on. He is the only one I want to be able to get a hold of me when ever he needs to. I'd always have one for emergencies though because I drive into the City a lot and all over the place. My friends are spread out all over.

Wow Dee...I had a post to

Wow Dee...I had a post to you on this...it didn't show up here...to weird.

Anyway...it is perfectly understandable for your reasons for having a cell phone...there are times I could of used one too...especially travelling in the winter here...

If I had kids growing up now...in this crazy world...I would if I could...we have no nearby tower that we need in my area...yet, they keep saying there is going to be one...yeah right...it has been years now...

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

That is strange BT

Well I have to run now - does Newsbusters make you late for everything like it does me? It's crazy.

Have a good night.

Yes it does Dee...that is

Yes it does Dee...that is why I try to have all I need done before I sit my butt down, then I do other things towards evening in between...I have been sorry more than once...lol!

You have a good one too!

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

This is getting scary, Dee.

I also have several big crates of albums...remember the remastered master recordings?  We collected those in the early 80's and I have some wonderful ones.

They're manufacturing turntables again, so don't waste that good music by letting it sit in a closet! 

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

 

Blonde - I have a friend who is about 10 years older

than me so his collection is much bigger. He bought one of those things where you can download them to your computer. This friend of mine is wild, he has kept track of Billboards top 10 going back to the 50's or 60's and if you give him a date he can tell you what the top song was on that day off the top of his head. It's freaky. I'm not as much into what was popular but more what I personally loved. Tom Petty, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd. The Stones, Rush, Eric Clapton, AC/DC, Elvis Costello and many others got me through some pretty rough times and I'll always be attached to them.
I didn't take real good care in storing my albums so I'm sure they are warped. Plus now I've replaced many of them with CD's. My husband tries to make me get rid of them all the time and I always refuse. I think I'll have them until I die.

I thought the other tests were fun also,

I am an Enterpriser and Connected But Hassled. I must admit the idea of a blog or website is appealing.

I fit in as an

I fit in as an "Enterpriser"

...and I don't even like Star Trek.

yuk! yuk! 

"An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life." --Robert A. Heinlein, "Beyond This Horizon", 1942

Funny, Dr. Love!

Imagine that.  I'd bet 95% of us here are Enterprisers. 

Beam me up, Scotty. 

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

 

But I'm Still Humble

You correctly answered 12 of the 12 possible questions

Yay for me! :-)

 

"They're both doofuses!" --Mark Levin (speaking of Obama and McCain)

War Fatalaties

I thought the headline "Knowledge of Iraq War Fatalaties Plummets" was very telling.

 Since troop deaths are down to near pre-war levels, the number hasn't changed much over the past six months. The news doesn't remind us on a daily basis, they can't do so without reminding people that it is successful over there.

 I stupidly said near 5,000 myself, thinking that things had gone up over time, but as mentioned above the number hasn't changed much in a long time.

Also, I found it interesting that women and younger kids were the least informed - ie; Obama Voters. 

got em all right

If you get them all correct they give you a 97% to say that you are in the top 3% of those who answered.

I also got them all right. So much for right wingers being uneducated.

97%. Not bad.

97%. Not bad.

Pew Poll

!2 for 12

Top 3%????? Then I recalled the answers to a question asked on the street. What document does the phrase "from each according to their ability, to each according to their need" come from. The two most popular answers were the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

The correct answer is:

The Barack of Obama's bible- i.e. "The Communist Manifesto".  

 

"The future is not set.  There is no fate but what we make for ourselves."

michaelyon-online.com

I also answered every question correctly

I scored in the 97th percentile, which means I got more answers correct than 97% of everybody who took the quiz. Since I got them all right, I'm claiming a score of 100%.

I too, blew the Yugoslavia ?

And I should know better, I have a friend who was originally from Split.

Now, there are two other interesting "typology" quizes at that site (on the same tab as this one)....politcal and techno.

I'm an Enterpriser, and a Connector (top techie was an omnivore, which I thought humorous).

Fun link, NS. 

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

 

me too blonde

They said I'm an enterpriser too.

Gotcha...  got them all. 

Gotcha...  got them all.  The Yugo thing was easy.  Only two possibilities and one was already independent.

 

That's why I said "Yugo"

So as not to give it away.

Stupid of me to botch that one. 

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive