Most young Americans can't find Iraq on map
WASHINGTON - Young Americans may soon have to fight a war in Iraq, but most of them cannot even find that country on a map, the National Geographic Society said on Wednesday.
The society survey found that only about one in seven - or 13 per cent - of Americans between the age of 18 and 24, the prime age for soldiers, could find Iraq.
The score was the same for Iran, an Iraqi neighbour.
Although the majority - 58 per cent - of the young Americans surveyed knew that the Taleban and Al-Qaeda were based in Afghanistan, only 17 per cent could find that country on a world map.
A US-led force attacked the Taleban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan in October last year, and President George W. Bush has said he is prepared to use force to rid Iraq of any chemical, nuclear or biological weapons programmes.
Thirty-four per cent of young Americans knew that the island used on last season's Survivor television show was located in the South Pacific, but only 30 per cent could locate the state of New Jersey on a map. The Survivor show's location was the Marquesas Islands in the eastern South Pacific.
The survey had 56 geography and current events questions put to young people in nine countries.
The surveyed Americans got a 'D', with an average of 23 correct answers. Mexico ranked last with an average score of 21, just three points from a failing grade. Topping the scoring was Sweden, with an average of 40, followed by Germany and Italy, each with 38.
None of the countries got an 'A', which required average scores of 42 correct answers or better on the 56 questions.
In the world map test, Swedes could find an average of 13 of the 16 countries. Germans and Italians were next with an average of 12 each.
Only 71 per cent of the surveyed Americans could locate the Pacific Ocean on the map.
Worldwide, three in 10 of those surveyed could not locate the ocean correctly.
'If our young people can't find places on a map and lack awareness of current events, how can they understand the world's cultural, economic and natural resource issues that confront us?' said Mr John Fahey, president of the National Geographic Society.
National Geographic was convening an international panel of policy makers and business and media leaders to find ways to improve geography education and to encourage interest in world affairs, the society said. --AP
source: http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/world/ ... 08,00.html?
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WASHINGTON - Young Americans may soon have to fight a war in Iraq, but most of them cannot even find that country on a map, the National Geographic Society said on Wednesday.
The society survey found that only about one in seven - or 13 per cent - of Americans between the age of 18 and 24, the prime age for soldiers, could find Iraq.
The score was the same for Iran, an Iraqi neighbour.
Although the majority - 58 per cent - of the young Americans surveyed knew that the Taleban and Al-Qaeda were based in Afghanistan, only 17 per cent could find that country on a world map.
A US-led force attacked the Taleban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan in October last year, and President George W. Bush has said he is prepared to use force to rid Iraq of any chemical, nuclear or biological weapons programmes.
Thirty-four per cent of young Americans knew that the island used on last season's Survivor television show was located in the South Pacific, but only 30 per cent could locate the state of New Jersey on a map. The Survivor show's location was the Marquesas Islands in the eastern South Pacific.
The survey had 56 geography and current events questions put to young people in nine countries.
The surveyed Americans got a 'D', with an average of 23 correct answers. Mexico ranked last with an average score of 21, just three points from a failing grade. Topping the scoring was Sweden, with an average of 40, followed by Germany and Italy, each with 38.
None of the countries got an 'A', which required average scores of 42 correct answers or better on the 56 questions.
In the world map test, Swedes could find an average of 13 of the 16 countries. Germans and Italians were next with an average of 12 each.
Only 71 per cent of the surveyed Americans could locate the Pacific Ocean on the map.
Worldwide, three in 10 of those surveyed could not locate the ocean correctly.
'If our young people can't find places on a map and lack awareness of current events, how can they understand the world's cultural, economic and natural resource issues that confront us?' said Mr John Fahey, president of the National Geographic Society.
National Geographic was convening an international panel of policy makers and business and media leaders to find ways to improve geography education and to encourage interest in world affairs, the society said. --AP
source: http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/world/ ... 08,00.html?
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