Definitions
What is the simplest definition of literacy?
The ability to read and write.
Which linguist criticized the Census Bureau's definition of literacy?
Shirley Brice Heath.
What landmark act was passed in 1964, prohibiting racial discrimination?
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
In what decade did microcomputers first appear in U.S. classrooms?
The 80s
Which U.S. president signed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act in 1975?
President Gerald Ford
How did the U.S. Census Bureau define literacy in the 1980 Census?
The ability to read and write a simple message in any language.
What type of inequalities does the conventional perspective on literacy fail to reveal?
Social and educational inequalities among different population groups.
What year did the “I Have a Dream” speech occur, and who delivered it?
1963, delivered by Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
When was the World Wide Web (WWW) invented?
The 90s
What significant terrorist event took place on September 11, 2001?
The attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon
Which group of scholars challenged the Census Bureau's definition of literacy?
Scholars and policymakers, including linguist Shirley Brice Heath.
Which populations in the U.S. have different literacy levels?
African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans, immigrants, and poor people from all backgrounds.
What major event in 1969 marked the beginning of the gay rights movement?
The Stonewall Rebellion in New York City.
What was Google’s role in the 2006 Chinese government censorship controversy?
Google complied with the Chinese government by censoring activist websites.
What U.S. Act was passed in response to 9/11, aiming to enhance law enforcement powers?
The USA Patriot Act.
What was one major flaw in the Census Bureau's method for determining literacy rates?
It relied on written questionnaires and telephone interviews, which are ineffective for reaching the illiterate and poor.
Why is relying on a simple literacy definition problematic according to critics?
It obscures differences in literacy levels and ignores deeper social and educational inequalities.
What educational law was passed in 1972, ensuring gender equality in education?
Title IX of the Educational Amendments.
Which social media platforms were founded in the 2000s?
Facebook, Twitter, and Uber
Which U.S. president was elected in 2008, becoming the first African American to hold office?
President Barack Obama.
What question remains unanswered about literacy in the U.S., despite Census Bureau data?
What level of literacy U.S. adults actually possess, beyond basic reading and writing abilities.
How does the Census Bureau’s definition obscure social and educational inequalities?
By claiming that nearly everyone is literate, it ignores varying literacy levels that affect social and economic outcomes for different groups.
What 1983 report sparked a "back to basics" movement in U.S. education?
A Nation at Risk by the Presidential Commission on Excellence in Education.
In what year did the iPhone become widely available?
2007
What was the controversy surrounding the 2016 U.S. election regarding Russian interference?
Russian cyberattacks were accused of influencing the outcome of the election.