U.S. youth flunk world geography quiz
Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 placed ahead of only Mexicans on a quiz given to youth in nine countries.
Only one in seven Americans could find Iraq on a blank world map, and just 17 percent could find Afghanistan. One in 10 were unable to locate the United States.
U.S. test-takers earned a "D" grade on the National Geographic-Roper 2002 Global Geographic Literacy Survey by answering an average of 23 questions correct out of 56. Only Mexico fared worse, at 21. Canada and Great Britain did almost as poorly, while Sweden earned the top score, at 40. No country scored over 42, the cutoff for an "A."
The majority of Americans did know that the Taliban and al-Qaeda were based in Afghanistan. And 81 percent correctly identified the Middle East as the leading region in oil exports.
On the other hand, only 30 percent could find New Jersey on a map.
Worldwide results on the survey were only slightly better than in 1988, according to National Geographic Society.
Columbia students charged in cheating scam
Two Columbia University undergraduates were charged Tuesday with burglary and unlawful duplication of computer material in connection with a scheme to cheat on the Graduate Record Exam.
Bryan Lalictht, 21, and Sasha Bakhru, 22, both of New York, confessed to a plan that reads like a scene from a spy movie.
Bakhru was to take the test on a computer in a private room at the Sylvan Learning Center. He would attach a transmitter to his computer and send images of the test questions to a laptop in a van parked nearby. Laulicht would calculate or look up answers in the van, then radio them to Bakhru, who would be wearing a wireless earpiece.
Bakhru said the two needed over $12,000 worth in equipment to pull off their scheme.
Bakhru was caught Nov. 11 while preparing to take the test by attaching the transmitter to a computer.
Police are investigating whether the two students intended to sell test questions to others.
-- Compiled by Martin Olivier
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