PoliticsPoliticsamericanThe Average American

How 'American' Are You? Let This Quiz Be The Judge.

Are you American, or American't? Wait, what?
Todd Van Luling & Amanda Scherker
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When you see a survey proclaiming that a "majority of Americans" do this or that, how often does it accurately describe you? Sometimes, these findings are used to paint a picture of the "average American," a term tossed around in Fox News specials, presidential stump speeches and everywhere in between. But what does it actually mean, and are you one of them?

While no study or figure can truly define one's overall American-ness, we've cobbled together a short checklist of characteristics that describe the majority of the country's residents on a wide range of issues. Some are political, some are personal, some are flat out random. Take the quiz below and find out just how much you have in common with your fellow compatriots. Then, check the answer key at the bottom to find out how we got your score.

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Find out what made you less American in the answer key!

Answer Key - How "American" Are You?
Answer Key(01 of14)
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Don't Cheat!!!!
Question 1(02 of14)
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Most Americans believe in love at first sight.According to a 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair poll from 2013, a full 56 percent of Americans believe in love at first sight, while the number is even higher among Americans who are married or in relationships. Aww.
Question 2(03 of14)
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Most Americans would rather not hear the thoughts of the opposite sex.According to results from 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair Poll taken earlier this year, 58 percent of Americans would rather not hear the thoughts of the opposite sex, while 40 percent said they'd love to possess that superpower. (While it's interesting to note what most Americans do (or don't) want to know about what's going on in the heads of their potential love interests, we'd prefer a less heteronormative poll next time!)
Question 3(04 of14)
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Most Americans drink alcohol.An estimated 65 percent of Americans say they find occasion to drink alcohol, according to a survey taken by Gallup. The poll also found that Americans consume an average of four drinks a week.
Question 4(05 of14)
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Most Americans would rather divulge their weight then their checking account balance.About 63 percent of Americans would rather reveal their real weight than their checking account balance. Among men, a full 68 percent would rather reveal their weight, as compared to 58 percent of women.
Question 5(06 of14)
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Most Americans have eaten fast food recently.Indeed, an estimated 80 percent of Americans report eating at fast food restaurants at least monthly, and just over half say they eat fast food every week, according to a Gallup poll. We're not enjoying our Big Macs guilt-free though -- Indeed, 76 percent of those surveyed think that fast food is "not too good" or "not good at all for you."
Question 6(07 of14)
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Most Americans feel negatively about our current Congress.A full 83 percent of Americans surveyed this month say that they disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job, according to a Gallup poll. According to their poll, taken monthly since 1974, there hasn't been a 50 percent approval rating or higher since June of 2003.
Question 7(08 of14)
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Most Americans think it is appropriate for parents to spank their children in certain situations.About 81 percent of American adults believe it is sometimes appropriate for parents to spank their children, according to a poll taken by Harris Interactive in late 2013. Additionally, 86 percent of those surveyed say they themselves were spanked by their parents as a child.
Question 8(09 of14)
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Most Americans believe in miracles. An estimated 72 percent of Americans say that they believe in miracles, according to a Harris Poll from late 2013. Another 13 percent say they aren't sure, while 15 percent say they do not believe.
Question 9(10 of14)
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Most Americans like their neighbors.An estimated 67 percent of Americans say they like their neighbors, according to a Trulia Neighbor Survey from 2013, even though only 53 percent of Americans actually know their neighbors' names.
Question 10(11 of14)
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Most Americans believe that technology is going to improve their lives.Optimism is in vogue, with 59 percent of Americans saying they're optimistic that future technological and scientific changes are going to make life in the future better, according to a survey taken by Pew Research Center and Smithsonian magazine. Just 30 percent say that those changes will make the future worse.
Question 11(12 of14)
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Most Americans think weed should be legalized.Most Americans now support legalizing weed, according to a Pew Research Center Poll from early this year. An estimated 54 percent of those surveyed think marijuana should be legalized, while 42 percent do not. Additionally, 69 percent of Americans surveyed said they believe alcohol use has a more adverse effect on a person's health than marijuana use.
Question 12(13 of14)
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Most Americans are satisfied with their lives.According to a survey taken by Gallup in late 2013, 79 percent of Americans say they are satisfied with their personal lives. That said, Americans aren't so pleased with the grand 'ole U.S.A.: Just 23 percent surveyed said they were satisfied with the state of the nation.
Question 13(14 of14)
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Most Americans do not consider themselves to be hipsters.Indeed, according to a poll done by Public Policy Polling in 2013, 77 percent of Americans do not consider themselves a hipster, while 13 percent are not sure. Just 10 percent of Americans say they are hipsters (which probably means they're not).

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