Do you have what it takes to become a citizen?
When immigrants want to become Americans, they must take a civics test as part of their naturalization interview before a Citizenship and Immigration Services (INS) officer. The questions are usually selected from a list of 100 sample questions that prospective citizens can look at ahead of the interview (though the examiner is not limited to those questions). Some are easy, some are not. We have picked some of the more difficult ones
NOTES: The INS plans to revise its list of questions in 2008 (a pilot program is using these new questions at selected INS sites). Also, the questions in the test below are as asked on the official United States Immigration and Naturalization Services Web site. Candidates are not given multiple choices in the naturalization interview, which is conducted orally.
Take the test.
I'm not an immigrant, but I took the test anyway. My score - 90%.
85-100%: Welcome to the United States! (And, truth be told, you know more about this great land than most Americans.)
I'm already here, but thanks for the welcome.
Blame or thank Doug.
65% - but then I have a most unconstitutional mind!
ReplyDelete95%. I missed the one about the form required for applying for citizenship. I would, wouldn't I?
ReplyDeleteIT
I scored 95%. I flubbed the question about which form to fill out for citizenship application.
ReplyDeleteI doubt most Americans could pass this. Most of my students (the non-immigrant ones anyway) could not pass this test. They've never heard of the First World War. They've all heard of the SECOND World War, but astonishingly, it never occurred to them that there was a First. "August 1914," "Somme Valley," "Verdun,""11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" mean nothing to them.
I sometimes wonder if my little "Art History for Dummies" class is the only history they've ever had.
Ignorance or laziness? I'm not sure. In my darker moments, I sometimes think we have the President we deserve, as intellectually lazy, parochial, and incurious as the rest of us.
100%!! I winged it on the citizenship application and lucked out!
ReplyDeleteps re "Joys of non-citizenship", I just learned that in order to renew my SC driver's license, which expires in six weeks' time, I must produce my SS card and my immigrant's "Green Card". Problem is that I must produce a Green Card with fingerprints. I have not left the US in over 30 years and have a 1971 "no fingerprint" Green Card. What do you reckon my chances are of getting a replacement card from the Feds, complete with fingerprints, in a six week period?
ReplyDeleteSuspect that cabs, walking, and the kindness of others will be in order for a while!
I scored 95%. I also admit that I only got a couple of them thanks to the process of elimination. Had it been a fill-in-the-blanks test rather than multiple choice, I suspect I doubt I would've passed.
ReplyDelete-- Jarred.
I missed the citizenship form question and one I should not have missed - the trial by jury in the Constitution - because I was thinking habeas corpus as I was reading trial by jury.
ReplyDeleteLapin, in six weeks? Perhaps, if there's local office, they might help speed things up for you. Then again, they may not.
Ignorance or laziness? I'm not sure. In my darker moments, I sometimes think we have the President we deserve, as intellectually lazy, parochial, and incurious as the rest of us.
That same thought crosses my mind on occasion.
95%--with IT and Counterlight, I guessed wrong on the INS form.
ReplyDelete95 % here too. I guessed wrong on the naturalization form--but then again, why would I need to know that one?
ReplyDeleteAs for the rest, having 12 years of experience as a social studies writer / editor does have its advantages.
100% ... and I guessed on the application form question, but then again I was a history major in college.
ReplyDeleteThese questions were very basic ... and were covered in our 9th grade civics class which was mandatory for graduation.
The fact that most born-and-bred US citizens couldn't answer them is more disturbing than i care to really dwell on.
95%, but I was clueless as to what form to fill out to apply for US citizenship.
ReplyDeleteTruth be told, I've always been a History/Civics nerd.
Worst comes to it Mimi, our Representative is the House Majority Whip. There again, furriners don't vote, do they?
ReplyDelete95% - missed the INS form.
ReplyDeleteI'm a good guesser and got the form right as well as all the others. But I'm old enough to have experienced and excellent public education.
ReplyDelete95 percent--guessed wrong on the INS form.
ReplyDeleteI'm not an U S History nerd, but I taught it to undergraduates.
ReplyDelete95%
ReplyDeleteIt would be form N-400. I had to go and guess that form N-200 was th correct one. Next time I'll know.
Lapin: you gotta go travel. the world has changed a lot in 30 years.