So multiply the number of "yes" answers by 5, and that's your country's score.

Here's the surprise. While citizens of so-called developed countries pride themselves on their advanced, civilized status, the truth, at least as revealed by this test, is that there's not that much difference among all countries.

To be sure, there's a group of severely challenged countries where poverty is still widespread. Survival needs render many questions on this kind of test at best meaningless and at worst insulting.

But for the rest of us, the differences are just not that great. For example, the United States scores around 100 (out of a possible 215). The deviation from that score, in both developed and developing countries around the world is quite small. Pockets of enlightenment (Holland, for example) might score as low as 80, countries where the rule of law is hardly functioning (China, for example) might score as high as 120.

The sobering lesson for all is clear: no country, no society as the third millennium begins, has any right to a holier than thou attitude.

The encouraging lesson, of course, is this. Imagine yourself in your country 400 years ago and do the test again... Yes, we are making progress, however slowly.

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