Historians tend to tell the same joke when they are describing history education in America. It's the one __61__ the teacher standing in the schoolroom door __62__ goodbye to students for the summer and calling __63__ them. “By the way, we won World War II.”

The problem with the joke, of course, is that it’s __64__ funny. The recent surveys on __65__ illiteracy are beginning to numb(令人震惊): nearly one third of American 17-year-olds cannot even   66  which countries the United States __67__ against in that war. One third have no __68__ when the Declaration of Independence was __69__. One third thought Columbus reached the New World after 1750. Two thirds cannot correctly __70__ the Civil War between 1850 and 1900. __71__ when they get the answers right, some are __72__ guessing.

Unlike math or science, ignorance of history cannot be __73__ connected to loss of international __74__. But it does affect our future __75__ a democratic nation and as individuals.

The __76__ news is that there is growing agreement __77__ what is wrong with the __78__ of history and what needs to be __79__ to fix it. The steps are tentative  __80__ yet to be felt in most classrooms.

61. A. about                B. in                      C. for               D. by

62. A. shaking               B. waving              C. nodding         D. speaking

63. A. in                      B. after                 C. for            D. up

64. A. rarely                 B. so                    C. too            D. not

65. A. historical            B. educational          C. cultural         D. political

66. A. distinguish      B. acknowledge      C. identify         D. convey

67. A. defeated            B. attacked            C. fought