European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 28, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse Thursday july 28, 1988 the stars and stripes Page 9 3 of 4 americans flunk geography test Over half could t find Brian France on a map Washington a three out 9f four americans who took a geographic literacy test could t locate the persian Gulf most had no idea of the . Population and Many were lost when i came to finding Britain France or Japan. The test conducted this Spring by the Gallup organization ranked american sixth in geographic literacy compared with their counterparts in eight other countries. Of Young adults in All nine countries americans scored last. What was most alarming was not Only that Young americans did worse than All other 18 to 24-year-Olds, but that they were the Only ones in that age group among nine countries who did worse than the oldest group tested the National geographic society s president Gilbert m. Grosvenor said wednesday. A separate Gallup Survey of a Large Sample of americans found c9mparable ignorance of geography but High aware Ness of environmental issues. Almost Al were aware of the global Ozone problem and More than two thirds knew of the acid rain problem in North America. The International Survey commissioned by the geographic society tested 10,820 adults in Canada France Italy Japan Mexico Sweden the United kingdom the United states and West Germany. Those surveyed were asked to locate 13 selected countries Centra America the Pacific Ocean and the per Sian Gulf on an unmarked world map. Out of a possible score of 16, the americans ranked sixth with an average of 8.6, on Par with the British 8.5 but significantly better than Only the italians 7.6 and mexicans 7.4. Top Hono Swent to the swedes 11.6 and West Ger mans 11.2followed by the japanese 9.7french 9.3 and canadians 9.2. America s youth received a score of6.9, the lowest Mark of All youth tested and All other . Age , 75 percent of americans placed the persian Gulf in the red sea the Mediterranean the Black sea or the Indian percent did not know where Central America is located. One third identified Vietnam and less than half the americans were Able to identify Brit Ain France South Africa and Japan. In a multiple Choice question 57 per cent of americans tested did not know the current . Population. Most participants in Sweden Japan and Canada chose the Correct Range from a Field of four 150 to 300 million. In addition to the International quiz Amore comprehensive Battery of 81 questions including a world map test was administered to 1,611 americans. The results which Gallup senior study director Jeffrey s. Friedman says can be projected to the . Population at Large include not More than half of adult Ameri cans know that the sandinista and con tras Are fighting in Nicaragua. Some put the warring groups in Iran Lebanon or Afghanistan. Only 15 percent could identify mex Ico City As the world s largest City. About one third could name four of the 16 nato member countries another third failed to name any and 16 per cent of those questioned conferred membership on the soviet Union. Fifty percent failed to name an members of the Warsaw pact 20 percent could name four and More than one in 10 made the United states a member. Fifty five percent identified South Africa As the nation where apartheid is an official policy. Americans generally did better on environmental questions with nearly 95 percent knowing that damage to the Ozone layer would have worldwide effect 73 percent knowing wind patterns were responsible for spreading the nuclear fallout from chernobyl and 68 per cent identifying acid rain As a particular problem in North America. While nearly 70 per cent of americans tested agreed that the ability to read map is a necessity in today s world More than a third could not pick out the westernmost City on a simple map the Survey results with those from . Adults 41 years ago today s Ameri cans scored about the same when asked to locate 12 countries in Europe eight in South America and 10 . States on a map. Again today s 18 to 24-year-oldsscored lower than their Post world War ii counterparts. Up a project looking for backers the taxpayers Money. Instead new plans revealed by former Trade and Industry minister Kenneth Clark Ethis shark like Model of a revolutionary space plane represents a dream that has t quite come True for Britain. The government is cutting off funds for devel now Britain s health Secretary Call for the space Ture involving two British companies Rolls Royce pc and British aerospace pc and not yet announced foreign partners. It s estimated that the Cost m it 1 a Durwill ai1c 13 millin Ull Lullua Lul us tvs Utt ahm Uwi o us us Ovva Emu a 7 a 1
