Being a lover of history and geography started for me when I was no more than seven or eight years old.  I loved map reading and studied the world map for years and even copied it twice by hand.  I was like a gigantic sponge when it came to learning anything new on those two subjects.  I loved reading about this country and the people who helped create it.

I find these days that attempting to converse about our history is difficult. People either lack the knowledge entirely or what they do know is incorrect. It seems that academia spends more time teaching them what might be wrong with this country than what is good.  I’ll go so far as to say that many of our younger citizens couldn’t even pass the citizenship test that all immigrants are required to pass if they wish to become an American citizen. A number of years ago I recall some sort of half-assed poll that indicated that our own children couldn’t find the United States on a world map.  I found that shocking then but I’m afraid the situation hasn’t improved much.

I’m going to post something today which may be a total waste of time.  I thought maybe a short and intense American Geography Trivia quiz might be just the thing.  Some of you will know every answer, some will know most, and some will be totally stumped.  Where do you think you’ll score?  Let’s see.

* * *

1.  Two states bill themselves as the “Sunshine State. Can you name?

2.  What US city is almost the same latitude as Mexico City?

3.  What U.S. canyon is the deepest gorge on the North American continent?

4.  What are the numbers of the three interstate highways that run coast-to-coast?

5.  How many official time zones are there in the United States – including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa?

6.  What for state capitals are named after cities in England to Mark

7.  What city is more than 2 1/2 times the size of Rhode Island and is America’s largest in area?

8.  What is the only place below sea level in the United States that is not located in the California desert? Hint: it’s a major city.

9.  How many states were created in part or in their entirety from the Louisiana Territory, purchased from France in 1803?

10. What was the name of the first permanent settlement in Kentucky, established in 1775 by frontiersman Daniel Boone?

* * *

I  get to brag a little today after taking this quiz. I scored seven correct answers out of ten and amazed myself. As always, the correct answers will be posted tomorrow along with a limerick or two and a dirty joke if  I can find a good one.