The Great American Citizenship Quiz: Can You Pass Your Own Country’s Citizenship Test?

by Solomon M. Skolnick

Do you know as much about American history and government as an immigrant seeking U. S. citizenship? Each of them has to know the answers to 100 basic questions about America's history and government―many of which American citizens themselves don't even know. This little book contains all the questions and answers along with fascinating facts and information about each of them that illuminate our democracy. You'll know the answers and much more after reading The Great American Citizenship Quiz.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Michael]

An often interesting book. Most US citizens should be able to answer these questions, although I missed one. The questions and answers are interspersed with factoids, some trivial and some not (Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner are descended from the first passengers on the Mayflower-definitely trivial, but interesting).

I have read that the state of Oklahoma will require that its public school teachers pass the citizenship test--great! About time that more Americans know as much as the immigrants who desperately want to become citizens and can pass this test.

Any hope that our elected officials be required to pass the test before taking office? Probably not, but if we could get this as another amendment to the Constitution, maybe we wouldn't have a member of Congress who thinks that the three branches of government are the executive, Senate, and House.

3.75

[Ice]

Most readers have probably never seen the test on U.S. history given to new immigrants attempting to gain citizenship each year. This test-or one version of it-is reproduced here for those itching to see if they would make the cut as American citizens.

The 91-question quiz will probably be stress-free for most people drilled in high school on the significance of the Electoral College. It kicks off breezily with, "What is the name of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to America?" But a few questions might make readers strain to recall their history lessons, especially the ones that demand amendment names and numbers. Some of the questions are intriguing simply because their wording is so ambiguous (i.e., "Who helped the Pilgrims in America?").

Others seem oddly subjective: "What is the most important right granted to U.S. Citizens?" But it is this overall arbitrariness that makes the quiz a stimulating read. Throughout the test, background history fills in the spaces between the questions, but seemingly little attempt is made by Skolnick, author of Simple Gifts: The Shaker Song and a contributor to the New York Times, to lighten up the tone of the book. While the title could be a fun trivia gift, the supplementary information is given in bland textbook style with endless lists of names and dates, making it seem more like a study guide.

[William]

Abysmal. Chock full of errors, some the fault of the of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services that formulated the test (for example, slavery, economic reasons and states' rights are listed as causes of the Civil War.) Some are the fault of the author who intersperses background information with the answers. For instance, he states that the French presented the US with the Statue of Liberty in 1884 on page 48, but in the intervening 20 pages 2 years are tacked on. He declares that Ralph Bunche was the first American to receive the Nobel Peace Prize ignoring Teddy Roosevelt (the actual first), the Quakers and 9 others.

[Nancy]

Every one who lives in America should be able to answer every question in this book. If immigrants are required to take a test for citizenship, those born into this privilege should too!

[Ayelet]

Filled with random information about our country and its history - quick read but fun.

[Tori]

I enjoyed this quick read, but the way that the book is arranged makes it hard not to see the answers as you try to answer the questions.