1-School and college exams in Europe are most usually in “write everything you know” mode.

2-You are clearly talking about some non-bic branded pens.

They were actually updated in mid 90s when they made the cap have a hole in it.

American bics may be made in a different way because here in Spain they are so reliable they are a de facto standard for people taking an exam.

If you really believe that the USA has “100-years tradition of upkeeping democracy against major non-democratic players” you are in delusion.

Exactly!

Most people I know name it after some kind of microorganism 😆

Wikipedia is always updating its content to be more accurate.

In Spain it was “snow”.

Could you link us the article?