The Public's News IQ Percentable to identify... Edward Snowden (from photo)* Fed's primary policy res ponsibility (Monetary) States allowing gay ma rriage (on map)* What's the Common Core (School Curriculum standards) More women than men graduate college Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (from a set of four photos)* Egypt highlighted on map of Middle East* % of congressional seats held by women (about 20%) Country in population pyramid (Nigeria)* What is Google Glass? (computer you can wear) Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo (from photo)*
A substantial majority of Americans (77%) are able to correctly identify Edward Snowden from a photograph of the former government contractor who leaked classified information about the NSA. Nearly as many (74%) know that the Federal Reserve is primarily responsible for monetary policy and not tax, trade or energy policy.
Other questions are more challenging. The most difficult question on the quiz asks respondents to identify the trend in the stock market since 2008 from four charts. Just (21%) correctly select the chart showing a steep drop in the Dow from 2008 to 2009, followed by a gradual and steady recovery.
Another question presents the pictures and names of four Supreme Court justices and asks respondents to identify the justice who has most often been the court’s swing vote in recent years; just 28% select the picture of Justice Anthony Kennedy. Previous news quizzes also have shown that the public is not knowledgeable about the Supreme Court and its members
The Public's News IQ  | Percentable to identify...  | Edward Snowden (from photo)*  | 77%  | Fed's primary policy res ponsibility (Monetary)  | 73  | States allowing gay ma rriage (on map)*  | 57  | What's the Common Core (School Curriculum standards)  | 56  | More women than men graduate college  | 55  | Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (from a set of four photos)*  | 52  | Egypt highlighted on map of Middle East*  | 49  | % of congressional seats held by women (about 20%)  | 47  | Country in population pyramid (Nigeria)*  | 42  | What is Google Glass? (computer you can wear)  | 42  | Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo (from photo)*  | 34  | Supreme Court's swing vote (Kennedy)*  | 28  | Level of Dow Jones 2008 2013 (from set of four charts)  | 21  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER Aug. 7-14, 2013 respondents  | Indicates visual question Aug. forwhich respondents were  | shown images 