The test.

Each week I talk to new Americans, some who are now citizens and some who are still working to get through the process . But all of them mentioned one part of the process that I had to look into. The test.

On October 1, 2008, a new citizenship test went into effect "in the interest of creating a more standardized, fair, and meaningful naturalization process," according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Regardless of the changes, the test involves a great deal of history and government questions. It goes with no surprise that there are a number of study resources and tools out there from videos, software, study guides and Web sites to study for the test.

This video goes through the new test questions.



Other resources are also available including sample test questions on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Web site. They also offer printable flashcards to study for the exam.

United States Immigration Support offers a Test Study Guide that you can download or order to prepare for the test. They also offer a list of the old questions and new questions for the exam.

How would you do?
Sample questions from the United States Immigration Support Web site:
1. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
2. What did Susan B. Anthony do?
3. What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
4. There were 13 original states. Name three.
5. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?

After looking at all of the resources and possible test questions, I would be willing to bet that the people who were not born with U.S. citizenship know more about our history and government than most of us born here. It is too bad that we take for granted what some people spend years of their lives trying so hard to get.