<b>By DAVIS FOLSOM</b>

If there’s one aspect of becoming a U.S. citizen that it seems everyone at least believes they are familiar with, it’s “the test.”

As one recently naturalized citizen described it, the Customs and Immigration Service officer “randomly drew 10 questions from the civics test bank and slowly read them to me.”<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

“Who was the first President of the United States? What oceans are on the east coast and west coast of the United States? What did President Lincoln do? Who is your Congressional Representative?”<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

“I knew I had to answer six out of the 10 questions correctly, and when I got the first six , that part of the citizenship exam was over.”<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>This questioning, along with answering questions about their application (N-400 form) confirms applicants’ ability to understand and communicate in English.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

The test bank includes 100 questions about American history, geography, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and our principles and system of government.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

When someone with Permanent Immigrant Status (Green Card) applies for American citizenship, they are given a book with information about our country, much more than just the 100 test questions. As citizenship tutors, my wife and I often found ourselves explaining why the questions were important and adding background information for our students. Sometimes we overwhelmed our clients and occasionally we had to find answers to their questions.

The questions are available online at www.uscis.gov. Click on Citizenship and then Naturalization test.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

At www.civicsquestions.com, the site asks for your zip code and then adjusts some of the answers to the correspond to your state and Congressional District.

Immigrants applying for U.S. citizenship are given only two chances to pass the test. If they fail the first time, they must return to the USCIS office and complete another interview 60-90 days later.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

If they fail the second time, they are required to re-apply and pay an additional $725 application fee.

One study found that 64 percent of American citizens would fail the test but the USCIS reported that 91 percent of applicants pass this part of the Citizenship exam.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

From a New York Times article, what follows is a list of the 10 toughest questions. Of course, applicants must answer the questions orally, not in a multiple-choice format.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

Take the test. If you want to take the quiz under the same conditions as Citizenship applicants, have someone read the questions to you without providing the choices.

<b>10 Questions from the<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></b>

<b>U.S. Citizenship Test</b>

<b>Which of these is something Benjamin Franklin is known for?</b>

He was the first person to sign the Constitution

He discovered electricity

He was our nation’s first postmaster general

He was our nation’s second president

<b>How many amendments does the Constitution have?</b>

14

21

25

27

<b>Who was President during World War I?</b>

Woodrow Wilson

Warren Harding

Calvin Coolidge

Franklin D. Roosevelt

<b>Which statement correctly describes the “rule of law”?</b>

The law is what the president says it is

The people who enforce the laws do not have to follow them

No one is above the law

Judges can rewrite laws they disagree with

<b>Under the Constitution, which of these powers does not belong to the federal government?</b>

Ratify amendments to the Constitution

Print money

Declare war

Make treaties with foreign powers

<b>We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?</b>

Four years

Six years

Eight years

Two years

<b>Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?</b>

John G. Roberts Jr.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

William P. Barr

Brett M. Kavanaugh

<b>The House of Representatives has how many voting members?</b>

100

435

535

538

<b>The Federalist Papers supported passage if the U.S. Constitution. Which of these men was not one of the authors?</b>

James Madison

Alexander Hamilton

John Jay

John Adams

<b>When was the Constitution written?</b>

1492

1776

1787

1865

<b>Answers:</b> 1. C; 2. D; 3. A; 4. C; 5. A; 6. B; 7. A; 8. B; 9. D; 10.C.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>