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New US citizenship test.

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  • 01-12-2006 1:32pm
    #1
    Hobbes
    Registered Users Posts: 21,264 ✭✭✭✭


    Story is here..

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6197422.stm

    TBH I don't know what all the moaning is about. A friend of mine got US citizenship some years back and she told me that the exam was much harder then what they were suggesting. She had to name all the local senators and other officials as well as answer questions on the history of the area she was living in.


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    #2
    sceptre
    Registered Users Posts: 19,608 ✭✭✭✭sceptre


    Hobbes wrote:
    She had to name all the local senators
    Both of them? Good lord.
    Prospective citizens will, for example, be asked to explain the conditions which led to the US civil war - unlike the current test in which they simply have to answer that it freed the slaves.
    It's not that often that a BBC news article reminds me of The Simpsons but...
    Much Apu About Nothing episode wrote:
    Proctor: All right, here's your last question. What was the cause of the Civil War?
    Apu: Actually, there were numerous causes. Aside from the obvious schism between the abolitionists and the anti-abolitionists, there were economic factors, both domestic and inter--
    Proctor: Wait, wait... just say slavery.
    Apu: Slavery it is, sir.
    That specific part of the new test is almost certainly a step forward then.


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    #3
    Sand
    Registered Users Posts: 12,588 ✭✭✭✭Sand


    The article notes the main concern immigrant groups have - with very poor english skills it will be much harder to layout complex answers [what caused the civil war], than just to write down "Slavery".

    The solution seems to be to improve their english - The US doesnt have an official language iirc, but english is the language of government and the majority so if they havent got a good command of english theyre screwed anyway.

    I was going to say it will be something that will be an issue for us here in Ireland [poor english skills amongst immigrants], but it is already.


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    #4
    RedPlanet
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,691 ✭✭✭RedPlanet


    Is that even the correct answer? (Slavery)
    Surely the answer is Seccession.


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    #5
    Victor
    Registered Users Posts: 78,421 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    In places, Spanish (El Paso & New Mexico) and English are the ´official´ languages. However, as I understand it one of the tests for immigration is ability to speak English, to prevent immigrants being exploited.
    RedPlanet wrote:
    Is that even the correct answer? (Slavery)
    Surely the answer is Seccession.
    Ah, thats being technical. :)


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    #6
    Hobbes
    Registered Users Posts: 21,264 ✭✭✭✭Hobbes


    sceptre wrote:
    Both of them? Good lord.

    and the local mayor, and the previous senators and previous mayor as I recall. As well as the street of city halls location and other stuff like that.

    I'm surprised they didn't ask her what was on top of the weathervane of Faunil Hall.


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    #7
    Essey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 76 ✭✭Essey


    Hobbes wrote:
    and the local mayor, and the previous senators and previous mayor as I recall. As well as the street of city halls location and other stuff like that.

    Only current political figures - unless they were presidents. One would hope that if one wanted citizenship to a particular state and possibly intended to vote there - one should at least know who the incumbents - should one not??


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