There is one demarcation point to determine whether someone knows South Dakota or not.

It is a simple question. It is not what the state motto is , what year it became a state or who the governor is. It is much more basic than that.

The question is, "What is the capital of South Dakota?" The answer, of course, is Pierre.

But for South Dakotans, the proof is in the pronunciation. Folks not from around these parts most certainly answer by saying "pee-air" and bring a scowl across the brow of many from the Rushmore State.

Of course, locals will answer "peer."

My favorite story of this was one relayed to me by my wife who was on a conference call with several other GE centers from throughout the nation. During a break, it was noted that a question on a quiz show from the previous night had stumped quite a few: "What was the capital of South Dakota?"

They went around the callers and nobody offered up the answer, to which Heidi finally said, "They answered it funny. They said it was "pee-air."

One of the callers admitted he was glad he didn't answer it. He thought it was Bismarck.

Anyway, there are plenty of places online to check out one's information about South Dakota. Following are a few of my favorites.

The price is right

The quiz by sddot.com offers some pretty easy trivia, but it has at least one question - No. 9 - that has been a trivia favorite of mine for years. While the answer is relatively easy to figure out, few folks I've talked to remember or even knew that this person was originally from South Dakota.

The big cheese

Fun Trivia is the home of plenty of quizzes, and the one on South Dakota isn't all bad. Sure, of the 10 questions, none seem to be all that difficult.

But they get big points for question No. 5, which begs the question whether it is illegal in South Dakota to fall asleep on the floor of a cheese factory.

For the birds

If the previous quiz was a bit too easy for your liking, check out this head scratcher on birding in South Dakota.

Certainly, for those that are trained in the art of bird watching, this quiz might seem in the realm of the possible. As for myself, I was in Meatloaf territory - two out of ten ain't bad.

Well, actually, it is.

On target for many South Dakotans

Now this quiz strikes a lot closer to home for many South Dakotans. This offering at about.com focuses on specifics that gun owners in this state likely is a breeze for your average state resident.

The quick quiz on state gun laws - commonly known or otherwise - provided a real test for me. It might be easier for others.

Driving the point home quiz

Among the veritable cornucopia of brain teasing quizzes about South Dakota available in the vast electronic expanse commonly known as the Internet, this quiz offered by Quia may be the most valuable of them all.

The driving education season isn't excessively difficult, so you may not want to use it as a barometer on your chances of passing the actual South Dakota driver's quiz. For example, one of the questions asks: "If you are driving on the interstate and you miss your exit, you should A) proceed to the next exit and turn around or B) stop and back up to your exit.

Now, driving on some parts of I-90 at certain times of the day might seem like B is a potential answer, but rocket science it isn't.

But it does cover enough bases to test the basic driving test questions.