However, the test doesn't really do much good until the term “elite” is restored to it's proper place, which would then probably make the test unnecessary. When education and intelligence (not mutually inclusive) are looked down upon, one test can't solve anything.

One of the biggest problems we have right now is that the intelligent and stupid are grouped and seperated by society. 30 years ago intelligent people did all types of work and generally stayed close to home. Now most, but not all, intelligent people don't do construction, manufacturing, etc. These intelligent people probably provided a dissenting view in the same social class. Thus, the intelligent person's view would be more respected, as it wouldn't seem to come from an “elite.”

On top of that the majority of intelligent people leave small and medium sized towns for cities. The majority of people leaving those towns for the cities are on the intelligent side of the bell curve. Thus, small town America is seeing a brain drain, so they see anyone of intelligence as an “elite.”

I am by no means saying manual labor and small towns only have stupid people. I am only saying that they have fewer smart/intelligent people than they had 30-50 years ago. Thus, we get the current “elite” definition, as this group of people has less exposure to intelligent thought and feels more isolated than before.

I grew up in a family with almost all manual laborers and in a small town, so this isn't the opinion of someone who grew up “elite.”

However, the test doesn't really do much good until the term “elite” is restored to it's proper place, which would then probably make the test unnecessary. When education and intelligence (not mutually inclusive) are looked down upon, one test can't solve anything.

One of the biggest problems we have right now is that the intelligent and stupid are grouped and seperated by society. 30 years ago intelligent people did all types of work and generally stayed close to home. Now most, but not all, intelligent people don't do construction, manufacturing, etc. These intelligent people probably provided a dissenting view in the same social class. Thus, the intelligent person's view would be more respected, as it wouldn't seem to come from an “elite.”

On top of that the majority of intelligent people leave small and medium sized towns for cities. The majority of people leaving those towns for the cities are on the intelligent side of the bell curve. Thus, small town America is seeing a brain drain, so they see anyone of intelligence as an “elite.”

I am by no means saying manual labor and small towns only have stupid people. I am only saying that they have fewer smart/intelligent people than they had 30-50 years ago. Thus, we get the current “elite” definition, as this group of people has less exposure to intelligent thought and feels more isolated than before.

I grew up in a family with almost all manual laborers and in a small town, so this isn't the opinion of someone who grew up “elite.”

I do agree with periodic driving tests. Maybe every ten years for all drivers?

Some observations/comments:
I can just about pass the citizenship test for myCountry, but I'm a fairly well studied individual. I know many people can't. It is ironic that those that are the loudest about requiring these tests for immigrants often can't pass them themselves.

If those US test questions are representative, they definitely display the spirit of America: “Do you habitually try to measure and test everything by quantifying it into irrelevant numbers?” I have this theory that the form of the test is much more important than the content of the test … you're being taught a particular way to think … not so much what to think about, sadly.

It is quite likely that filing the USCIS paperwork is a much bigger challenge than passing the test

We already have a test of ideological purity. It is is called a college degree: conform, follow instructions, and stay in the box, mentally and physically.

Just about anyone who spends 12-13 years in the American public school system will have had most of these questions on a test they took at some point, but they don't necessarily remember any of them now.