English and Language Usage · 4 min read
Vocabulary Building · How the Test Works
Civics words appear in the reading test, the writing test, the civics test, and the officer's questions about your application. Learn each word's meaning as well as its spelling and pronunciation.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Constitution | ThesupremelawoftheUnitedStates;itsetsupthegovernmentandprotectsbasicrights |
| Amendment | AchangeoradditiontotheConstitution;thereare27amendments |
| BillofRights | Thefirsttenamendments whichprotectindividualfreedoms , |
| Congress | Thelegislativebranchofthefederalgovernment;itmakesfederallaws |
| Senate | OnepartofCongress;eachstatehastwosenators |
| HouseofRepresentatives | TheotherpartofCongress;eachstate'snumberofrepresentativesdependsonitspopulation |
| President | Theheadoftheexecutivebranch;enforceslawsandisCommanderinChief |
| SupremeCourt | ThehighestcourtintheUnitedStates;itdecideswhattheConstitutionmeans |
| Cabinet | AdviserstothePresidentwholeadtheexecutivedepartments |
| Federal | Relatingtothenationalgovernment;federallawsapplyineverystate |
| State | Oneofthe50politicalunitsoftheUnitedStates eachwithitsowngovernmentandlaws , |
Rights,Responsibilities,Andhistoryterms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Citizen | Apersonwhoowesloyaltytoacountryandisentitledtoitsprotection |
| Naturalization | TheprocessbywhichapersonbornoutsidetheUnitedStatesbecomesaUS citizen . . |
| Right | Afreedomorprotectionguaranteedbylaw |
| Responsibility | Adutyacitizenowestothecountryandcommunity |
| Vote | Tomakeanofficialchoiceinanelection |
| Jury | Agroupofcitizenswhodecideacourtcase |
| Colony | Aterritoryruledbyanothercountry;the13coloniesbecamethefirststates |
| Revolution | Theoverthrowofagovernment;theAmericanRevolutionwonindependencefromBritain |
| Independence | Freedomfromoutsidecontrol;theDeclarationofIndependenceannouncedit |
| FoundingFathers | Theleaderswhocreatedthenation suchasWashington Jefferson Franklin andMadison , , , , |
| CivilWar Slavery | ThewarbetweentheNorthernandSouthernstates(1861–1865) Owningpeopleasproperty;endedbythe13thAmendment |
Geographyandcitizenship-Processterms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Border | Alineseparatingtwocountriesorstates;CanadaisnorthandMexicoissouthoftheUnitedStates |
| Capital | Thecitywhereagovernmentislocated;Washington DC isthenationalcapital , . . |
| Ocean | TheAtlanticOceanisontheEastCoast;thePacificOceanisontheWestCoast |
| River | TheMissouriandtheMississippiarethetwolongestriversintheUnitedStates |
| Territory | AnareaunderUS controlthatisnotastate suchasPuertoRicoorGuam . . , |
| Application | Aformalrequest;FormN-400istheApplicationforNaturalization |
| Interview | ThemeetingwithaUSCISofficerwhereeligibilityisreviewedandthetestsaregiven |
| Oath | Aformalpromise;newcitizenstaketheOathofAllegiance |
| Permanentresident | AnoncitizenallowedtolivepermanentlyintheUnitedStates(agreencardholder) |
| Eligibility | Meetingalltherequirementsfornaturalization |
Vocabulary in Context
| TheConstitutionsetsupthreebranchesofgovernment . | CongresspassesbillsthatthePresidentsignsorvetoes . | |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenshavetherighttovoteinfederalelections . | TheSupremeCourtdecidesifalawgoesagainstthe Constitution . | |
| AmendmentschangeoraddtotheConstitution . | TheBillofRightsprotectsfreedomofspeech . | |
| Washington DC isthecapitaloftheUnitedStates , . . . | TheAmericanRevolutionwonindependencefromBritain . |
The Reading Test
- Sentence 1
➜
➜
➜
Read it aloud. Correct: you pass.
Given only if sentence 1 was not
A final chance to read one
One correct reading passes the
read correctly
sentence correctly
reading test
You pass when you read the sentence without long pauses and without leaving out or replacing content words, so that its meaning is clear. Small pronunciation differences, an accent, or skipping a short function word usually do not cause a failure if the meaning stays the same. Reading that changes or loses the meaning, or that stops for long stretches, does not pass.
The Official Reading Vocabulary
USCIS builds the reading sentences from this list. Practice reading every word aloud until you know it on sight.
| Category | Words |
|---|---|
| People | AbrahamLincoln GeorgeWashington , |
| Civics | Americanflag BillofRights capital citizen city Congress country FatherofOurCountry government , , , , , , , , , |
| President right Senators state/states WhiteHouse , , , , | |
| Places | America UnitedStates US , , . . |
| Holidays | Presidents'Day MemorialDay FlagDay IndependenceDay LaborDay ColumbusDay Thanksgiving , , , , , , |
| Questionwords | How What When Where Who Why , , , , , |
| Verbs | can come do/does elects have/has is/are/was/be lives/lived meet name pay vote want , , , , , , , , , , , |
| Other(function) | a for here in of on the to we , , , , , , , , |
| Other(content) | colors dollarbill first largest many most north one people second south , , , , , , , , , , |
Practice Reading Sentences
These sentences use the reading vocabulary in the style of the test. Read each one aloud at a steady pace, then answer it: the writing test often asks you to write the matching answer.
| WhowasthefirstPresident? George Washington was the first President . | WheredoesthePresidentlive? The President lives in the White House . | |
|---|---|---|
| WhoelectsCongress? ThepeopleelectCongress . | WhatisthecapitaloftheUnitedStates? Washington DC isthecapitaloftheUnitedStates , . . . | |
| WhenisIndependenceDay? Independence Day is in July. | WhatarethecolorsoftheAmericanflag? The American flag is red white and blue , , . | |
| WhydopeoplecometoAmerica? PeoplecometoAmericatobefree . | Whoisonthedollarbill? Washingtonisonthedollarbill . | |
| Whatisthelargeststate? Alaskaisthelargeststate . | WhatcountryisnorthoftheUnitedStates? CanadaisnorthoftheUnitedStates . | |
| WhenisThanksgiving? Thanksgiving is in November . | HowmanySenatorsdoeseachstatehave? Each state has two (2) Senators . | |
| WhowasAbrahamLincoln? Lincoln was the President during the Civil War . | Whatdocitizenshavetherighttodo? Citizens have the right to vote . | |
| WhenisMemorialDay? Memorial Day is in May. | Whocanvote? Citizens can vote . |
Strategies for the Reading Test
Look at the whole sentence first
Take a second to scan the sentence before you begin, so you know where it ends and which words are names.
Read at a steady, natural pace
Reading too fast causes skipped words; very slow, word-by-word reading with long pauses can suggest difficulty.
Say every content word clearly
Names, verbs, and civics terms carry the meaning. Officers listen for word recognition, not a perfect accent.
Sound out an unfamiliar word
Break it into syllables and apply the phonics rules above rather than stopping or guessing a different word.
Read for meaning
Think about what the sentence asks. Understanding it helps you read it naturally, with rising or falling tone at the end.
Building Reading Fluency
Fluency combines accuracy, speed, and expression, and it grows through short daily practice. Read aloud for at least 15 minutes a day, starting with the practice sentences and the 128 civics questions in Section 7. Reread familiar sentences until they sound natural, record yourself and listen for skipped or changed words, and practice with a partner who can follow along on the page.
You read one of up to three sentences aloud; one correct
An accent is acceptable; practice the names Lincoln,
reading passes.
Washington, and Congress until they are automatic.
Sentences use the official reading vocabulary: civics words,
Most reading sentences are questions; let your voice rise or
holidays, question words, and places.
fall naturally at the question mark.
Meaning must be clear: no long pauses, no dropped or
Read aloud daily; the civics questions in Section 7 are
substituted content words.
excellent reading practice.
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