American students ignorant of Britain

LONDON, June 19 (UPI) -- Research by the British Council Saturday suggests many American young people regard Britons as reclusive, arrogant, boring people who whip children.

The findings suggested the intellectual elite of America's youth have very little understanding of Britain's contributions to contemporary arts and sciences, the Scotsman newspaper reported.

David Green, director-general of the British Council, said the findings mean the "U.K.-U.S. special relationship will have to be worked at and not taken for granted. Unless the U.K.'s profile in the U.S. is raised, future generations of leaders are more likely to look across the Pacific than the Atlantic for education and employment opportunities."

Most American students surveyed could not name the four countries that make up the United Kingdom. Some believed the United Kingdom has no sports, while David Beckham, Britain's soccer star, was thought to play baseball, golf, or hockey.

The survey was given to about 4,000 high school and college students.