Could You Pass the Naturalization Test to Become a Citizen?

On July 4, 2014, President Obama hosted a naturalization ceremony for members of the military and their spouses. These are people who signed up to serve in our military and then became citizens. The roster included 15 active duty service members, two veterans, one reservist, and seven military spouses. http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/04/politics/military-citizenship/index.html 

For a first hand account of what it is like to prepare to become an American citizen, I recommend this article by Moni Basu http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/01/living/moni-basu-american-citizenship/index.html

So, do you think you could pass the test? Here is a practice test with 25 questions that you can take on-line: http://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/quiz/learners/study-test/study-materials-civics-test/naturalization-self-test-1

I challenge the reader to take the quiz. As it says in the introduction, "The actual civics test is NOT a multiple choice test. The civics test is an oral test. During your naturalization interview, you will be asked up to 10 questions from the list of 100 questions. You must answer 6 out of 10 questions correctly to pass the civics portion of the naturalization test." 

I took the quiz and missed one question out of the 25. I should not have missed that one. The point that I am hoping to make is that many of us take for granted what it means to be a citizen of the United States of America. Maybe we had a civics class in high school, but, for many of us that was awhile ago. 

I found the text on citizenship rights and responsibilities to be quite moving. This is on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website: "Citizenship is the common thread that connects all Americans. We are a nation bound not by race or religion, but by the shared values of freedom, liberty, and equality. Throughout our history, the United States has welcomed newcomers from all over the world. The contributions of immigrants have helped shape and define the country we know today. More than 200 years after our founding, naturalized citizens are still an important part of our democracy"
.http://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learners/citizenship-rights-and-responsibilities It then goes on to list some of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship:

Rights

Responsibilities

Freedom to express yourself. Freedom to worship as you wish. Right to a prompt, fair trial by jury. Right to vote in elections for public officials. Right to apply for federal employment requiring U.S. citizenship. Right to run for elected office. Freedom to pursue “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Support and defend the Constitution. Stay informed of the issues affecting your community. Participate in the democratic process. Respect and obey federal, state, and local laws. Respect the rights, beliefs, and opinions of others. Participate in your local community. Pay income and other taxes honestly, and on time, to federal, state, and local authorities. Serve on a jury when called upon. Defend the country if the need should arise.