Thursday, January 26, 2006

NewsTrack - New U.S. citizenship test planned / United Press International, 22 Jan 2006

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060122-113553-9626r
"The federal government is planning to change the U.S. citizenship test to reflect better the understanding of government by immigrants. Gone will be the questions: What color are the stars on our flag? (white); How many representatives are in Congress? (435); Who becomes president if the president and the vice president should die? (the speaker of the House of Representatives); Who wrote 'The Star-Spangled Banner?' (Francis Scott Key); Which U.S. citizenship and immigration form is used to apply to become a naturalized citizen? (Form N-400).
Instead, government officials want to ask immigrants about freedom of speech and religion and democratic concepts. However, some fear the teat might become too difficult and will demand better English skills than the current test requires." [Snippet]