As a teacher for many years, I turn to objective comparisons when making a difficult choice. I therefore propose that Sarah Palin and Joe Biden take a short quiz without prior instruction and share the results with the American voters.

Using a blank world map, I would ask them to label as many countries as possible in a defined time period, and to identify the language and religion of each labeled country.

Then, I’d ask them to write (and for extra credit, pronounce) the name of the current political leaders of those nations. Here they may accept help from George W. Bush.

I’d also ask the candidates to provide a brief statement of current and/or recent U.S. diplomatic relations with those nations. And I’d ask what foreign languages Palin and Biden can read and/or speak.

Margaret A. Bailey

Hampden