Embedded Files
The 50 U.S. states, in alphabetical order, along with each state's flag:
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
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1. The US is big – 3.8 million square miles big
2. It’s the United States of America – remember there are fifty of them
3. Everything’s open 24/7, if you know where to look
4. The country’s national parks are spectacular
The US’s national parks – which cover 84 million acres across every state – can claim many superlatives:
The lowest point in the Western Hemisphere (Death Valley California); the highest point in North America
(Mount McKinley in Denali National Park, Alaska); the longest cave system in the world
(Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky); and the largest gypsum sand dunes in the world (White Sands National Monument, New Mexico).
5. There’s a festival for everything: roadkill, fungus, garlic – you name it
6. Americans are relentlessly friendly
But that can be more a mode of communication than a personality trait. A chirpy “How are you?”
isn’t necessarily meant to be answered. And, the ubiquitous “have a nice day!” is often just another way of saying bye-bye (and perhaps receiving a touch higher tip…).
7. Speaking of tips, Americans give them out generously
Officially: Tipping is absolutely voluntary. Unofficially: 15% to 20% in restaurants is the norm, given that the minimum wage is low, and tipping makes up for this.
8. You can always Supersize It!
Not only does fast food still dominate large tracts of the culinary landscape, but it has given rise to such intellectually stimulating phrases as, “Supersize it!” “Where’s the beef?” and “Do you want fries with that?” When in doubt, say yes. All that said, Americans work out with equal fervor – the US consistently tops the list of countries that exercise the most.
9. But the US also excels at wildly innovative, gourmet cuisine…
San Francisco and New York regularly show up on the top lists for the number of Michelin stars, and celebrity chefs rival Hollywood royalty, with big names like Mario Batali, Wolfgang Puck, Anthony Bourdain and Rachael Ray spawning multimedia empires, with dozens of restaurants, books, TV shows, films and more.
10. New York is not the center of the universe
Unless you’re talking to a New Yorker, in which case it is.
11. Los Angeles is not the center of the universe
Unless you’re talking to an Angeleno, in which case it is.
12. Regional stereotypes abound
The laidback Californian? The “welcome, y’all” Southerner? The headstrong New Yorker? According to a study reported by Time magazine, yes, yes and yes. The study divided the US into three key regions: the New England and the Mid-Atlantic states, which were termed “temperamental and uninhibited;” the South and Midwest, called “friendly and conventional;” and the West Coast, Rocky Mountains and Sun Belt – “relaxed and creative.”
13. Montana has three times as many cows as it does people
The east and west coasts get much of the attention, but the US’s rolling interior encompasses ocean-sized expanses of farmland. In some circles, it’s called “flyover country” for the reasons you’d think.
14. The US doesn’t use the brilliantly logical metric system like the rest of the world
Height is measured in feet; football fields in yards; distances in miles. Though the “use of the metric system has been sanctioned by law in the US since 1866” according to the CIA website, widespread use has been slow, to say the least. The US isn’t entirely alone: two other countries also don’t use the metric system – Myanmar and Liberia.
15. America’s car culture is unrivalled
A quintessential American experience? Throttling down the highway, the wind in your air and the road ribboning behind you. Though the country’s car culture has waned since its heyday in the ‘50s and Mustang-era ‘60s, the car is still the dominant force in transport – and seeps into every facet of culture, including music: Life is a Highway, Route 66, Born to be Wild, Pink Cadillac, and so on.
16. Baseball is America’s pastime
The rest of the world has soccer. America has baseball. During baseball season – April to September – there are few more classic American experiences than cheering on your favorite team (go, Yankees!) under the warm spring sunshine, enjoying a hot dog and beer (or five).
17. Relatively speaking, the US is just a toddler
Native Americans arrived more than a thousand years ago, but the formation of the United States is just a couple of hundred of years old – the US celebrated 239 years on July 4, 2015.
18. The American Dream is still going strong
No, the streets aren’t paved with the gold but the belief in the American Dream? Still going strong (especially if your last name is Rockefeller).
Explore more of the USA with the Rough Guide to the USA. Compare flights, find tours, book hostels and hotels for your trip, and don’t forget to purchase travel insurance before you go.
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
A: Principles of American Democracy
1. What is the supreme law of the land? Question 1 Audio (MP3, 157 KB)
the Constitution
2. What does the Constitution do? Question 2 Audio (MP3, 244 KB)
sets up the government
defines the government
protects basic rights of Americans
3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words? Question 3 Audio (MP3, 237 KB)
We the People
4. What is an amendment? Question 4 Audio (MP3, 236 KB)
a change (to the Constitution)
an addition (to the Constitution)
5. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution? Question 5 Audio (MP3, 182 KB)
the Bill of Rights
6. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?* Question 6 Audio (MP3, 313 KB)
speech
religion
assembly
press
petition the government
7. How many amendments does the Constitution have? Question 7 Audio (MP3, 147 KB)
twenty-seven (27)
8. What did the Declaration of Independence do? Question 8 Audio (MP3, 363 KB)
announced our independence (from Great Britain)
declared our independence (from Great Britain)
said that the United States is free (from Great Britain)
9. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence? Question 9 Audio (MP3, 231 KB)
life
liberty
pursuit of happiness
10. What is freedom of religion? Question 10 Audio (MP3, 175 KB)
You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.
11. What is the economic system in the United States?* Question 11 Audio (MP3, 214 KB)
capitalist economy
market economy
12. What is the “rule of law”? Question 12 Audio (MP3, 330 KB)
Everyone must follow the law.
Leaders must obey the law.
Government must obey the law.
No one is above the law.
B: System of Government
13. Name one branch or part of the government.* Question 13 Audio (MP3, 357 KB)
Congress
legislative
President
executive
the courts
judicial
14. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful? Question 14 Audio (MP3, 238 KB)
checks and balances
separation of powers
15. Who is in charge of the executive branch? Question 15 Audio (MP3, 157 KB)
the President
16. Who makes federal laws? Question 16 Audio (MP3, 283 KB)
Congress
Senate and House (of Representatives)
(U.S. or national) legislature
17. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?* Question 17 Audio (MP3, 188 KB)
the Senate and House (of Representatives)
18. How many U.S. Senators are there? Question 18 Audio (MP3, 150 KB)
one hundred (100)
19. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years? Question 19 Audio (MP3, 162 KB)
six (6)
20. Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?* Question 20 Audio (MP3, 360 KB)
Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents and residents of U.S. territories should answer that D.C. (or the territory where the applicant lives) has no U.S. Senators.]
21. The House of Representatives has how many voting members? Question 21 Audio (MP3, 181 KB)
four hundred thirty-five (435)
22. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years? Question 22 Audio (MP3, 165 KB)
two (2)
23. Name your U.S. Representative. Question 23 Audio (MP3, 423 KB)
Answers will vary. [Residents of territories with nonvoting Delegates or Resident Commissioners may provide the name of that Delegate or Commissioner. Also acceptable is any statement that the territory has no (voting) Representatives in Congress.]
24. Who does a U.S. Senator represent? Question 24 Audio (MP3, 157 KB)
all people of the state
25. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states? Question 25 Audio (MP3, 324 KB)
(because of) the state’s population
(because) they have more people
(because) some states have more people
26. We elect a President for how many years? Question 26 Audio (MP3, 152 KB)
four (4)
27. In what month do we vote for President?* Question 27 Audio (MP3, 157 KB)
November
28. What is the name of the President of the United States now?* Question 28 Audio (MP3, 374 KB)
Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the President of the United States.
29. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now? Question 29 Audio (MP3, 415 KB)
Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Vice President of the United States.
30. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President? Question 30 Audio (MP3, 204 KB)
the Vice President
31. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President? Question 31 Audio (MP3, 233 KB)
the Speaker of the House
32. Who is the Commander in Chief of the military? Question 32 Audio (MP3, 157 KB)
the President
33. Who signs bills to become laws? Question 33 Audio (MP3, 159 KB)
the President
34. Who vetoes bills? Question 34 Audio (MP3, 141 KB)
the President
35. What does the President’s Cabinet do? Question 35 Audio (MP3, 164 KB)
advises the President
36. What are two Cabinet-level positions? Question 36 Audio (MP3, 1.02 MB)
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Defense
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Secretary of Homeland Security
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of State
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Attorney General
Vice President
37. What does the judicial branch do? Question 37 Audio (MP3, 349 KB)
reviews laws
explains laws
resolves disputes (disagreements)
decides if a law goes against the Constitution
38. What is the highest court in the United States? Question 38 Audio (MP3, 159 KB)
the Supreme Court
39. How many justices are on the Supreme Court? Question 39 Audio (MP3, 402 KB)
Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the number of justices on the Supreme Court.
40. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now? Question 40 Audio (MP3, 430 KB)
Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Chief Justice of the United States.
41. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government? Question 41 Audio (MP3, 409 KB)
to print money
to declare war
to create an army
to make treaties
42. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states? Question 42 Audio (MP3, 485 KB)
provide schooling and education
provide protection (police)
provide safety (fire departments)
give a driver’s license
approve zoning and land use
43. Who is the Governor of your state now? Question 43 Audio (MP3, 240 KB)
Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. does not have a Governor.]
44. What is the capital of your state?* Question 44 Audio (MP3, 375 KB)
Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. is not a state and does not have a capital. Residents of U.S. territories should name the capital of the territory.]
45. What are the two major political parties in the United States?* Question 45 Audio (MP3, 190 KB)
Democratic and Republican
46. What is the political party of the President now? Question 46 Audio (MP3, 375 KB)
Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the political party of the President.
47. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now? Question 47 Audio (MP3, 411 KB)
Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
C: Rights and Responsibilities
48. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them. Question 48 Audio (MP3, 468 KB)
Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote).
You don’t have to pay (a poll tax) to vote.
Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.)
A male citizen of any race (can vote).
49. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?* Question 49 Audio (MP3, 265 KB)
serve on a jury
vote in a federal election
50. Name one right only for United States citizens. Question 50 Audio (MP3, 242 KB)
vote in a federal election
run for federal office
51. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States? Question 51 Audio (MP3, 427 KB)
freedom of expression
freedom of speech
freedom of assembly
freedom to petition the government
freedom of religion
the right to bear arms
52. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance? Question 52 Audio (MP3, 238 KB)
the United States
the flag
53. What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen? Question 53 Audio (MP3, 579 KB)
give up loyalty to other countries
defend the Constitution and laws of the United States
obey the laws of the United States
serve in the U.S. military (if needed)
serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed)
be loyal to the United States
54. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?* Question 54 Audio (MP3, 179 KB)
eighteen (18) and older
55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy? Question 55 Audio (MP3, 681 KB)
vote
join a political party
help with a campaign
join a civic group
join a community group
give an elected official your opinion on an issue
call Senators and Representatives
publicly support or oppose an issue or policy
run for office
write to a newspaper
56. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?* Question 56 Audio (MP3, 184 KB)
April 15
57. When must all men register for the Selective Service? Question 57 Audio (MP3, 260 KB)
at age eighteen (18)
between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)
AMERICAN HISTORY
A: Colonial Period and Independence
58. What is one reason colonists came to America? Question 58 Audio (MP3, 391 KB)
freedom
political liberty
religious freedom
economic opportunity
practice their religion
escape persecution
59. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived? Question 59 Audio (MP3, 193 KB)
American Indians
Native Americans
60. What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves? Question 60 Audio (MP3, 220 KB)
Africans
people from Africa
61. Why did the colonists fight the British? Question 61 Audio (MP3, 356 KB)
because of high taxes (taxation without representation)
because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering)
because they didn’t have self-government
62. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? Question 62 Audio (MP3, 150 KB)
(Thomas) Jefferson
63. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted? Question 63 Audio (MP3, 188 KB)
July 4, 1776
64. There were 13 original states. Name three. Question 64 Audio (MP3, 659 KB)
New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Connecticut
New York
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Delaware
Maryland
Virginia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia
65. What happened at the Constitutional Convention? Question 65 Audio (MP3, 244 KB)
The Constitution was written.
The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution.
66. When was the Constitution written? Question 66 Audio (MP3, 158 KB)
1787
67. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers. Question 67 Audio (MP3, 358 KB)
(James) Madison
(Alexander) Hamilton
(John) Jay
Publius
68. What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for? Question 68 Audio (MP3, 440 KB)
U.S. diplomat
oldest member of the Constitutional Convention
first Postmaster General of the United States
writer of “Poor Richard’s Almanac”
started the first free libraries
69. Who is the “Father of Our Country”? Question 69 Audio (MP3, 139 KB)
(George) Washington
70. Who was the first President?* Question 70 Audio (MP3, 141 KB)
(George) Washington
B: 1800s
71. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803? Question 71 Audio (MP3, 253 KB)
the Louisiana Territory
Louisiana
72. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s. Question 72 Audio (MP3, 361 KB)
War of 1812
Mexican-American War
Civil War
Spanish-American War
73. Name the U.S. war between the North and the South. Question 73 Audio (MP3, 241 KB)
the Civil War
the War between the States
74. Name one problem that led to the Civil War. Question 74 Audio (MP3, 273 KB)
slavery
economic reasons
states’ rights
75. What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?* Question 75 Audio (MP3, 360 KB)
freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
saved (or preserved) the Union
led the United States during the Civil War
76. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do? Question 76 Audio (MP3, 387 KB)
freed the slaves
freed slaves in the Confederacy
freed slaves in the Confederate states
freed slaves in most Southern states
77. What did Susan B. Anthony do? Question 77 Audio (MP3, 235 KB)
fought for women’s rights
fought for civil rights
C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information
78. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.* Question 78 Audio (MP3, 383 KB)
World War I
World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
(Persian) Gulf War
79. Who was President during World War I? Question 79 Audio (MP3, 161 KB)
(Woodrow) Wilson
80. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II? Question 80 Audio (MP3, 200 KB)
(Franklin) Roosevelt
81. Who did the United States fight in World War II? Question 81 Audio (MP3, 204 KB)
Japan, Germany, and Italy
82. Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in? Question 82 Audio (MP3, 221 KB)
World War II
83. During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States? Question 83 Audio (MP3, 203 KB)
Communism
84. What movement tried to end racial discrimination? Question 84 Audio (MP3, 173 KB)
civil rights (movement)
85. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?* Question 85 Audio (MP3, 241 KB)
fought for civil rights
worked for equality for all Americans
86. What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States? Question 86 Audio (MP3, 230 KB)
Terrorists attacked the United States.
87. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States. Question 87 Audio (MP3, 1.13 MB)
[USCIS Officers will be supplied with a list of federally recognized American Indian tribes.]
Cherokee
Navajo
Sioux
Chippewa
Choctaw
Pueblo
Apache
Iroquois
Creek
Blackfeet
Seminole
Cheyenne
Arawak
Shawnee
Mohegan
Huron
Oneida
Lakota
Crow
Teton
Hopi
Inuit
INTEGRATED CIVICS
A: Geography
88. Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States. Question 88 Audio (MP3, 230 KB)
Missouri (River)
Mississippi (River)
89. What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States? Question 89 Audio (MP3, 184 KB)
Pacific (Ocean)
90. What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States? Question 90 Audio (MP3, 182 KB)
Atlantic (Ocean)
91. Name one U.S. territory. Question 91 Audio (MP3, 349 KB)
Puerto Rico
U.S. Virgin Islands
American Samoa
Northern Mariana Islands
Guam
92. Name one state that borders Canada. Question 92 Audio (MP3, 624 KB)
Maine
New Hampshire
Vermont
New York
Pennsylvania
Ohio
Michigan
Minnesota
North Dakota
Montana
Idaho
Washington
Alaska
93. Name one state that borders Mexico. Question 93 Audio (MP3, 288 KB)
California
Arizona
New Mexico
Texas
94. What is the capital of the United States?* Question 94 Audio (MP3, 170 KB)
Washington, D.C.
95. Where is the Statue of Liberty?* Question 95 Audio (MP3, 317 KB)
New York (Harbor)
Liberty Island
[Also acceptable are New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson (River).]
B: Symbols
96. Why does the flag have 13 stripes? Question 96 Audio (MP3, 282 KB)
because there were 13 original colonies
because the stripes represent the original colonies
97. Why does the flag have 50 stars?* Question 97 Audio (MP3, 309 KB)
because there is one star for each state
because each star represents a state
because there are 50 states
98. What is the name of the national anthem? Question 98 Audio (MP3, 170 KB)
The Star-Spangled Banner
C: Holidays
99. When do we celebrate Independence Day?* Question 99 Audio (MP3, 220 KB)
July 4
100. Name two national U.S. holidays. Question 100 Audio (MP3, 927 KB)
New Year’s Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Presidents’ Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving
Christmas
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