But memory decay seems to set in rapidly. Many results appear to point to a progressive breakdown in the transmission of historical and cultural facts between the six generations questioned for the survey. This group came top answering 19 of the 40 questions. People over 65, whose education began when rote learning was more common, scored well on some answers but came top on only six. Young adults were top on five questions - all about pop culture or the internet.
Parents have a responsibility to share information within the home.
Television and radio have a role to play, too. That is why I am so passionate about the importance of maintaining public service broadcasting. She emphasised that the curriculum covered many of the gaps revealed by the survey. The government had rejected calls for dates and the culture of earlier centuries to be cut back. But the school system did score a triumph in knowledge of Shakespearean tragedies.