I think this is quite common in the US (I'm not intending to insult anyone) as a lot of Americans are quite intrinsic. You always hear the statistic that 30% of Americans couldn't identify Canada on a map.
The US has every type of weather so people don't need to travel abroad to ski/snorkel/surf, etc., which means that some people will never leave the US in their lifetime.
I also like the question - Budapest is the capital of WHAT European country? Shouldn't that be Budapest is the capital of WHICH European country?
Personally I enjoy gaining knowledge, specifically in history, and health/fitness. I hate the current American system, I came out of hs not knowing what a noun was, or pronoun, adverb, etc. I learned all that crap on my own and eventually became a writer because I love it.
There is alot to blame for it, but mostly it falls back to the families and school systems. I believe teachers should still be able to beat the crap out of students who act up. And parents need to bust out the belt more often. Too much lack in the respect department today, and that leads to a lack in learning because they dont care.
only problem is all the cowards who would play the race card all the time like their pappy's taught them to. That law needs to go, since we are all equal, no? America is set up for each person to take advantage of flaws in the laws, or disabilities. Such as fat people getting social security.
Take all that away and make em work for it. You know what if a farmer out in Idaho doesnt know where the capitol of some European country is, who cares, as long as he knows Europe is a country lol.
And I know those 5th graders must be getting taught by Yale professors for some of their questions. We didnt have that kind of crap in 5th grade here, if it wasnt for my own knowledge seeking, I would be a good 40 IQ points lower on the chart.