Reading: Important Words
We practice a lot of information about civics and the N400. But, the reading test is much easier.
The reading test does not have many difficult words. The reading test usually is a question. You only have to read the question. You don’t have to answer it!
The reading test only has these words:
- Question words:
- What
- When
- Where
- Who
- Why
- How
- Actions (Verbs)
- can
- come
- do
- does
- elects
- has
- have
- is
- are
- was
- be
- lives
- lived
- meet
- name
- pay
- vote
- want
- People and places
- we
- Abraham Lincoln
- George Washington
- America
- United States
- U.S.
- Holidays
- Presidents’ Day
- Memorial Day
- Flag Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Columbus Day
- Thanksgiving
- Civics information
- American flag
- Bill of Rights
- capital
- citizen
- city
- Congress
- country
- Father of our Country
- government
- President
- right
- senators
- state
- states
- White House
- Other information
- colors
- dollar bill
- first
- largest
- many
- most
- north
- one
- people
- second
- south
- Grammar words
- a
- for
- here
- in
- of
- on
- the
- to
You can also see the words and print them out in this one page list:
How do I practice?
You can practice by reading English, learning words, and practicing a little bit every day. We always practice reading in class!
You can practice citizenship reading tests with these examples:
You can read more about Oregon news in easy English at ESOL News Oregon, by Tim Krause, a teacher at PCC. You can find a lot of old stories, too!
Each news story has practice with important vocabulary and ideas. Also, look for this symbol 🔊, and you can listen to the news story, too!
Here are some example questions the officer may ask you to read:
- How many states are in the United States?
- What is the capital of the United States?
- What are the colors of the flag?
- What is on the flag of the United States?
- Who is on the dollar bill?
- Who is the father of our country?
- Who was the second president?
- Who was president during the Civil War?
- What was the first capital?
- What was the first state?
- What state has the most people?
- What is the largest state?
- What country is north of the United States?
- What country is south of the United States?
- Who lived here first?
- Who elects congress?
- What does congress do?
- How many senators do we have?
- Where does congress meet?
- When do we vote for president?
- Where does the president live?
- Where is the White House?
- Why do people come here?
- Why do people come here?
- What is one right from the bill of rights?
- When is Presidents’ Day?
- When is Flag Day?
- When is Memorial Day?
- When is Independence Day?
- When is Labor Day?
- When is Columbus Day?
- When is Thanksgiving?
- What do we have to pay the government?
- Who can vote?
- Why do people want to become citizens?