10 questions, including the Federalist Papers one everybody gets wrong

Government officials celebrated Independence Day by welcoming approximately 11,000 new citizens to the US during the July 4th holiday week.

Some 195 naturalization ceremonies have been organized between June 23 and July 5 by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). That’s double the 5,500 welcomed to the country in the same week last year.

But before being granted citizenship, all applicants must pass a two-part test. In the first part they must demonstrate an understanding of English.

In the second, they must correctly answer six out of 10 civic questions.

The oral exam is multiple choice and examiners pick ten from a pool of 100 questions available for test takers to study prior to the exam.

 

Can YOU pass the US citizenship test?

What is one reason colonists came to America?

Colonists came to America for at least six reasons: freedom, political liberty, religious freedom, economic opportunity, the right to practice their religion, and escape persecution.

Any of these six reasons would be a correct answer on the test.

Who is the ‘Father of Our Country?’

The ‘Father of Our Country’ is George Washington – a founding father and the first President of the United States.

He also served as president of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, which drafted the Constitution of the United States.

Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States

The Missouri River is the longest and it travels for over 2,300 miles before it joins the Mississippi.

The Mississippi River also travels for over 2,300 miles from its source at Lake Itasca through the center of the continental US to the Gulf of Mexico.

One of these two rivers will be marked corrected on the test.

Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

The 13 stripes on the American flag represent the original US colonies.

They are New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

Name one branch or part of the government

The six branches featured on the practice test are congress, legislative, President, executive, the courts, and judicial.

Applicants will only need to write one of these six possible answers to have this question marked correct on their test.

Where is the Statue of Liberty?

The Statue of Liberty, a gift from France to the US, is on Liberty Island in New York Harbor.

The statue can also be seen from various areas in New Jersey.

The USCIS will accept New York, New York Harbor, Liberty Island, New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson River as a correct answer.

When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?

A US citizen has until April 15 to send in federal income tax forms during tax season.

Name one writer of the Federalist Papers

The Federalist papers are a series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay supporting the Constitution and a strong federal government. Any one of these names would result in a correct answer.

What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?

Five rights or freedoms protected by the First Amendment are speech, religion, assembly, press, and petitioning the government.

Any of these six rights or freedoms will be marked correct.

What year was the Constitution written?

The Constitution of the United States was written in 1787.

Its first three words, ‘We The People,’ affirm that the US government exists to serve its citizens.

Written by Emma Saletta for The Daily Mail ~ July 4, 2024