Perhaps reading about comps of US students vs foreigners, applicants out of high school or college, stories of gen knowledge tests in USA etc would enlighten.
There used to be a segment on Jay Leno where he interviewed random people in LA tourist etc areas with simple questions about people, leaders, happenings, history etc.

Get hold of some high school students and ask them who is the Prime Minister of UK, India, France etc, who is the US V P ? What is the capital of France, Russia, China, India, Bulgaria, etc.
When asked where is Havana a lot them answered it was in Miami ! Try it.....