How American Are You? A Quiz
One way to measure your “Americanness”
Dear readers,
As I wrap up the loose ends of our summer in America, which was a month too long due to a dog accident, I challenge you to take an honest look at just how American you are.
Here are thirty (not so serious) questions I came up with to help you.
Enjoy!
How often do you say “I have the right to…”?
I have the right not to answer — 1 point
Once a month — 2
Only when I go to court — 3 points
How often do you say “It’s a free country”?
Once a day — 1 point
Once a month — 2 points
Freedom is overrated — 3 points
How often do you say “It’s God’s will”?
Once a day — 1 point
Once a month — 2 points
There’s no God — 3 points
Is it ok to pay $8 for a Starbucks drink?
Why not? — 1 point
No — 2 points
I don’t go to Starbucks — 3 points
How often do you get out of your car to buy food or drink?
Never — 1 point
Sometimes — 2 points
How can you buy food in your car? — 3 points
How many cars do you and your partner own?
More than one — 1 point
One — 2 points
None / I hate cars — 3 points
How often do you let your dog off-leash?
Never, it’s against the Law! — 1 point
In my backyard — 2 points
When it’s safe — 3 points
Do you own a gun?
Yes — 0 points
No — 2 points
Why would I own a gun? — 3 points
Is socialism bad?
Yes, it’s for weak Europeans — 1 point
No — 2 points
Why would it be? — 3 points
Do you think healthcare should be free for all?
No, we’re not socialists (see above) — 1 point
Yes — 2 points
Is it not? — 3 points
Do you watch FOX News?
Yes — 1 point
No — 2 points
Is it a Netflix show? — 3 points
Do you have bumper stickers?
Yes — 1 point
No — 2 points
I don’t have a car — 3 points
Do you have a sign in your yard?
Of course — 1 point
No — 2 points
I don’t have a yard — 3 points
How big is your car?
Tank-sized — 1 point
SUV — 2 points
I Uber — 3 points
How loud is your car?
Loud, baby! — 1 point
Not loud — 2 points
What’s a loud car? — 3 points
Do you need your “personal space”?
Yes, it’s my God-given right — 1 point
It’s good to have — 2 points
Do you mean a closet? — 3 points
Can you name the seven continents off the top of your head?
Canada, Mexico, America? — 1 point
I thought there were five — 2 points
Of course — 3 points
Do you know the difference between the Danish and the Dutch?
Is Dutch also a pastry? — 1 point
They’re in Europe, right? — 2 points
Of course — 3 points
Do you know who the president of France is?
Napoleon? — 1 point
Jean-Luc Godard? — 2 points
Emmanuel Macron — 3 points
What is EU?
Short for Europe? — 1 point
European Union? — 2 points
Economic and political union between European countries — 3 points
What does the UK stand for?
England — 1 point
The United Kingdom — 2 points
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — 3 points
What is the capital of Canada?
Seattle — 1 point
Toronto — 2 points
Ottawa — 3 points
What is Euro?
Didn’t we already talk about that? — 1 point
The continent? — 2 points
A European currency — 3 points
2Would you rather buy packs of canned soda or a Sodastream?
Is Sodastream a new flavor? — 1 point
Canned soda, but I recycle the cans — 2 points
I already have a Sodastream — 3 points
Would you rather buy Nespresso or Keurig?
Neither. I drink “real” drip coffee — 1 point
Keurig — 2 points
What’s a Keurig? — 3 points
Is ketchup a vegetable?
Yes — 1 point
No — 2 points
Is that a joke? — 3 points
Is French fry a vegetable?
Duh — 1 point
Sort of — 2 points
No — 3 points
Do you have more bathrooms than bedrooms?
Yes — 1 point
I wish — 2 points
No! Who would clean all that? — 3 points
Do you have a “bonus room”?
Yes — 1 point
I wish — 2 points
What’s a “bonus room”? — 3 points
How big is your TV?
As big as they come — 1 point
50 inches — 2 points
40 inches — 3 points
29–50 points — You are as American as it gets
50–70 points — You are “average” American
70–90 points — You are probably European
I landed at 75 points which shows I have some work to do in returning to my European roots.
What’s your score?
I live in Denmark and got 69 points.
This one is a real pet peeve of mine. Because we travel so much to London (now live there, I guess) I get to see what dog ownership can be like: most dogs walk without leashes, are allowed on public transport and most of them are very well-behaved (connection?). Coming back to the U.S., it's one of the first things that strikes me. Dogs here are crazy, at least in big cities. They're "anxious", or barking, or biting, or "a rescue". Many people here pull their dogs to the side when others pass because they don't trust their animals to behave. I never once saw that in London where dogs just walk next to their owner, no leash or anything, maybe an occasional treat. As a dog owner, I've been observing this for years and trying to understand what it says about the two societies.