How much do you really know?

by David Grand
July 2, 2008

In lieu of writing a column, I thought I offer a brain teaser, which I labeled an Independence Day Quiz, being as how the nation's birthday is in two days.
It consists of 13 actual questions on the test that thousands of people take each year to gain citizenship, which requires a passing score of 80 percent.
So lets see how you'd do (Answers at bottom—don't sneak a peek at 'em.)

1. What do the stripes on the flag represent?
     a) The thirteen original colonies
     b) Number of people who signed the Declaration of Independence
     c) The number of battles fought for Independence
   
   
2. How many changes or amendments are there to the Constitution?
   a) 23   b) 19   c) 27
   
   
3. Who becomes president if both the president and vice president should die?
   a) Secretary of State
   b) Attorney General
   c) Speaker of the House of Representatives
   
   
4. In what year was the Constitution written?
   a) 1776   b) 1771   c) 1787
   
   
5. What did Susan B. Anthony do?
   a) Sewed the first American flag
   b) Fought for women's rights
   c) Was the first woman to vote in the United States
   
   
6. How many Supreme Court Justices are there?
   a) 9   b) 12   c) 13
   
   
7. Which of the following rights is guaranteed by the first amendment?
   a) Right to bear arms
   b) Right to vote
   c) Freedom of religion
   d) All of the above
   
   
8. Who has the right to declare war?
   a) President
   b) Congress
   c) Secretary of Defense
   d) Joint Chiefs
   
   
9. How many full terms may a U.S. Senator serve?
   a) 1   b) 2   c) 4   d) no term limits
   
   
10. How many years is a full term for a Representative?
    a) 1   b) 2   c) 4   d) 6
    
    
11. What is the official language of the United States?
    a) None    b) Latin    c) Esperanto    d) English
    
    
12. Why did the Pilgrims come to America?
    a) To establish a trade route with India
    b) To set up fur trade with the Natives
    c) To establish a new nation
    d) To find religious freedom
    
    
13. How many presidents were assassinated while in office?
    a) 1   b) 2   c) 4   d) 6

Don't feel bad if you failed the test; for so, too, did a supposed 96 percent of High School seniors and 50 percent of all individuals over the age of 50.
(Answers: 1-a  2-c  3-c  4-c  5-b  6-a  7-c  8-b  9-d  10-b  11-a  12-d  13-c)