For instance, in location some countries, the map numbers are somewhat ambiguous. Sweden's number and Norway's are distinguishable, but not because either is particularly enclosed by its country alone - only 16% in the US got it right. Israel's is in the eastern Med, with a tiny line to the sliver of country itself on a whole world map - only 21% in the US got it right. The Pacific Ocean is split by the projection and labeled with the number 30 twice - most still got it right.
There was also a clear difference between factual information questions and media hype questions. Populations of countries stumped the kiddies. Europeans got a question about El Nino very wrong, undoubtedly answering "global warming". A question about how common AIDs is in different continents obviously has Africa for its correct answer, and most got it right; the definition used to diagnose it is looser there. A question about the Taliban and Al Quada does not leave room for one to believe Al Quada is really centered in Saudi Arabia.
What did they get right? Own and neighboring countries on the map, oil in the mideast, AIDs, Pacific ocean, read "west" on a map, lower "grades" but still majorities found great powers, Taliban (but not Kashmir), Christianity as the most common religion.
My diagnosis is that nobody is teaching factual geography, certainly not with numbers, and instead the respondants are getting all of their information from media hype, especially recent media hype, PC hot buttons, party lines. Political parties and modern ideologies get through with their megaphones. There is no factual data on the receiving end, beyond the most basic, with which to filter or make informed judgments about the resulting "issues".
Or, more briefly, if it isn't on TV it does not exist...
Can you provide a link to the test? I searched Forbes but I haven't found it so far. I want my family to take the test. Since we range in age from 7 to 45, this should be a decent test for a Midwestern family.
Of course, homeschooling our children, at least through 8th grade, means that we will blow the curve. Oh well, maybe my youngest daughter will miss a question to keep the people that Forbes tested from feeling too bad.