I’m a retired mass media professor. In my Media and Society class, I used to start off every semester with a quiz like this, but I’d also include pop culture questions. Every semester it was the same result: Students scored highly on pop culture (How many Spice Girls are there? What company’s slogan is “Just Do It?” etc.).
However, on basic governmental and history questions, only about 25-30% could provide correct answers:
What country attacked Pearl Harbor?
Where is Pearl Harbor?
How many Senators does each state have?
Who is the current Vice President?
Who is our governor?
How many stars are on the US flag?
This was a 300-level gen-ed class filled with mostly juniors and seniors from a variety of majors.
Believe this or not.
I was once asked who was the first President of the United States.
I answered that there were several before George Washington.
Would have to go and look to bring the names up though.
The guy acted kind of shocked.
If you asked which Presidents owned slaves - they would know. Anything that trashes our country is taught.