I didn't do very well. The pass mark is 75 per cent or 18 correct answers out of 24. I only got 79 per cent. But that's quite good considering the questions are ridiculously obscure and have little to do with everyday life in Britain.
For example, some of the questions:
- When did the Habeus Corpus Act become law|?
- What was called the Glorious Revolution?
- When was the first Prime Minister in power?
- Who had important ideas about economics during the Enlightenment?
- Which two countries took part in the Battle of Agincourt?
- Does Scotland have its own banknotes?
- Who supported King Charles 1st during the Civil War?
- Where was Anne Boleyn executed?
- Who developed radar?
Oh and just to show me up, Jenny did the test and got 92 per cent. Smartass.
Those do seem like very odd questions for a citizenship test. It would seem more relevant to test, first, understanding of the workings of the political system (what are the functions and powers of the House of Commons, House of Lords, and monarchy, as well as county governments and the local governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland), and recent history which is more directly relevant to present-day conditions, such as World War II and the dissolution of the British Empire. Those are the kinds of things which, I believe, the US citizenship test focuses on. It's hard to see why knowing the location of Anne Boleyn's execution would make anyone a better citizen.
ReplyDeleteIf they want people to show a deeper knowledge of Britain's history and achievements, I would ask people to explain the accomplishments of Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, and Michael Faraday. Not long-ago royalty.
Infidel: "It's hard to see why knowing the location of Anne Boleyn's execution would make anyone a better citizen". Exactly. Some questions about how parliament and the judiciary and local government work would be more to the point. And yes, the accomplishments of some well-known Brits could be included.
DeleteLOL about Jenny! I think our citizenship test is similar with it being primarily about history, government, constitution and bill of rights. I agree that everyday life questions would be more helpful.
ReplyDeleteBijoux: Yes, that sounds similar to our citizenship test. And of course everyone knows the year George Washington was elected as the first US president.
DeleteThe US citizenship test does ask questions about our forms of government but not all the questions are relevant to life today. But, considering how long ago the test was developed, I guess that makes sense.
ReplyDeleteLinda
Linda: Whoever thought these questions represented British culture was way off track.
DeleteMaybe it's like how one thing symbolizes another. Like in the army, where if you clean your rifle it symbolizes that you have also oiled lesser equipment. Maybe the thing is that as you learn obscure stuff, you also learn important stuff that would be adjacent in the history books.
ReplyDeleteSean: That's a bit of a strained argument! I had to learn a lot of obscure stuff at school but I don't think it led me on to more relevant stuff.
DeleteYup, that's a strained argument. Meanwhile, I found the study guide for Canadian citizenship, one that still has Queen Elizabeth—that sort of carelessness is very Canadian! If you have trouble sleeping, here is the guide, complete with a few study questions on page 54. Lots of nice colour photographs.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.canada.ca/content/dam/ircc/migration/ircc/english/pdf/pub/discover.pdf
Sean: Thanks, I'll take a look at that.
DeleteErm... I'll get my coat as if I had to do this test I'd be out on my ear!
ReplyDeleteWhat a silly set of questions. They could ask some more cultural questions couldn't they? Probably more relevant.
Sx
Ms Scarlet: Indeed, some cultural questions would be more relevant. Maybe some questions about Coronation Street, lol
DeleteI would think the questions would be about the governing system, how it works, what rights the people have and how the people and right a system gone rogue. Speaking from the US.......
ReplyDeleteSandra: Yes, some questions about government would be more appropriate. As you say, including questions about people's rights when government gets perverted.
DeleteNick,
ReplyDeleteas it's your birthday today, I wish you all the best. Health, joy and still nice things to discover and maybe a little cake ! If you were our neighbour Saïd would not hesitate a second to bring you one
Hannah
Hannah: Thanks. Yes, I hope there are still plenty of nice things to discover.
DeleteIt figures that a test like that would be hard to pass.
ReplyDeleteMary: I only just passed it myself!
DeleteHappy birthday.
ReplyDeleteAbove, someone mentioned a television show. "Real men," I once light heartedly told my librarian, "real men read Oprah Winfrey's magazine, during the commercials for Coronation Street."
Sean: What on earth is a real man anyway? It's just another stupid gender stereotype.
Delete"It would be more relevant to test the person's knowledge of the health service, childcare, education, transport or any number of things that directly affect people's lives in 2026."
ReplyDeleteI disagree Nick.
People have their whole lives to fret and worry about NHS, expenses and everything else. The sad truth is that my generation and younger kids today have a distressing level of historical ignorance. I think your generation was quite good. A third of teenagers today don't even know W. Churchill was the UK PM during WW2. Most can't name more than 2 or 3 Prime Ministers. I honestly don't think in a generation's time that the word 'Habes Corpus' would mean a thing. In America, loads of school kids have really no idea about the holocaust. Loads have no idea what the battle of Stalingrad is about.
This is a subject I could talk about at length but the teaching (or even appreciation) of history has been on a serious decline for some decades - mostly indifference. We've actively discouraged from diving into history, or it's become so politicised. So many times I'd make a historical reference or mention something that a person should know (e.g. Napolean), and I'd get a quizzical look.
The life of Anne Boleyn is critical to the English Reformation. You might say why bother with the location of her death as a historical fact, after all, what makes that so important. But, on that footing, why bother with any historical facts about her at all? Then, it's one step away from asking why even know the name AB?
If I were running the citizenship test, there would be essays to write. And I would include art history just to really wind people up ! :)
Liam: You make a very good counter-argument. But I think you're really talking about a more comprehensive teaching of history rather than the citizenship test. And I agree that history teaching should include such important things as the holocaust, world war two, slavery, apartheid etc. I don't remember learning anything about Anne Boleyn when I was at school (a private prep school). It's certainly dangerous not giving youngsters detailed lessons about political doctrines like fascism, dictatorship etc when they're likely to be confronted with people like Trump.
ReplyDelete