In all three lunches, students were given a survey to determine if they could pass the mock U.S. Citizenship Test that reflects some of the questions that people from other countries are required to pass before they can officially become citizens of the United States of America. Although these questions may seem fairly simple, almost half of all students who filled out the survey answered at least one question wrong. Here are the questions and wrong answers from Loy Norrix High School students:

1) What is the name of the current Vice President of the United States?
Paul Ryan, Steve Jobs, Fidel Castro, Al Gore, Barack Obama, Arnold Schwarzenegger, IDK

2) Where is Michigan’s capital located?
Detroit, Philadelphia, Grand Rapids

3) Where is the White House located?
North Carolina, Ohio, Alaska, Washington State, Canada

4) Name one state that borders Mexico:
Delaware, Brazil, El Paso

5) Bonus Question: How many states make up the U.S.?
51, 49, 56

One student’s survey said, “There are 50 states but there should be 51 because of Puerto Rico.” While there were a few out-of-the-box wrong responses, the most frequent incorrect answer consisted of the misconception that there are 51 states in the USA.
Other countries around the world pride themselves with their extensive geographical knowledge of every continent, while American students struggle to count the stars on their own nation’s flag.
People claim they are “Proud to be an American” and yet think that 51 states make up the USA. Students around the world envelope themselves in multiple cultures whereas Americans fail to even learn their own.

Answers:
1) Joe Biden
2) Lansing
3) Washington D.C.
4) California, Arizona, New Mexico, or Texas
5) 50