Quiz reveals Europe's knowledge gap

BBC News ^ | 6-24-2002

[Cagey]

Poles have come out top of a test of Europe's general knowledge - streaking ahead of the Danes and Italians, despite not yet being members of the European Union.

Britain and Portugal do worst - only getting around half of the 20 questions on the EU, European history, geography and culture correct.

 Click here to take the test

People from 19 European countries were questioned in the survey, carried out by Reader's Digest to gauge the level of common European knowledge.

Top of the class

Poland

Denmark

Italy

Could do better

Portugal

UK

Slovakia

But some basics about the European Union stumped many of the 3,800 people questioned.

Overall, only 52% knew that Romano Prodi was President of the European Commission.

However, people from the countries lining up to join the EU in the next few years did much better on that question than people from countries which are already EU members.

Bob Low, Reader's Digest European Bureau Chief, said it was no surprise the Poles, who got three-quarters of the questions right on average, had done so well.

This all but confirms what people have often said: Britons are less than enthusiastic Europeans

Reader's Digest Editor-in-Chief Katherine Walker

"I think the Poles are very interested in the EU because they want to join in 2004, and I think for a long time they've looked to Europe as a bastion of freedom and liberty," he said.

UK respondents had their worst showing on EU-related questions .

Their best rating was for the question, "Who first formulated the theory of gravity?" which 97% of people knew was their fellow countryman Sir Isaac Newton.

"This all but confirms what people have often said: Britons are less than enthusiastic Europeans," said Reader's Digest Editor-in-Chief Katherine Walker.

[Billthedrill]

I tied the Poles. I missed the one on the airspeed of the swallow...

[Shermy]

European or African?

[beckett]

I got all eight right on the first shot in about 10 seconds. The test was not too challenging.

[Cagey]

I missed two and I've been banished to Siberia.

[CaptRon]

despite not yet being members of the European Union.

Is this the new benchmard for intelligence in Europe, being a memeber of the EU?

[aardvark1]

Laden or unladen?

[Intimidator]

I got all eight right on the first shot in about 10 seconds. The test was not too challenging

Well give you a cookie.

[Gumlegs]

Just as long as it's not bin Laden.

[Redcloak]

I got five. But then again, I don't care where Nokia phones are made, who's the most populous EU nation, or who is or isn't a member of the EU. Who wrote Hansel and Gretel is a far more important question than any of those!!

[Gumlegs]

Strictly speaking, the brothers Grimm didn't write Hansel & Gretel, they wrote it down.

[Snuffington]

I missed the one on the airspeed of the swallow...

Not your fault. They never mentioned whether it was an African or a European swallow.

[Paleo Conservative]

European or African?

I don't know.

[Prolix]

I would like to add the following relevant question to the test:

How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

[Slainte]

I got all eight. But I was educated in the public schools, and a state university with a serious party reputation.

I'm not sure what went wrong. I still can't spell worth a darn though, and that's something...

[dfwgator]

I just hope the Poles are smart enough not to get suckered into joining the EU.

[dfwgator]

I shudder to think how most Americans would do on this test.

[RightWhale]

I shudder to think how most Americans would do on this test.

7 of 8, neither knowing nor caring which countries are in the EU.

[Slainte]

Norway opted to not join the EU because of their North Sea oil revenue. They determined that joining would be a net loss for them. Too bad the rest of Europe wasn't as bright.

[RightWhale]

Although taken for Norwegian in spite of not having red hair, and even though RW's ancestors left Norway 1000 years ago to invade settle in England, RW considers himself Flemish. Also, European entanglements have done little good for Norway.