Heading towards my own citizenship test five years ago, I bought a copy of Barron’s How to Prepare for the U.S. Citizenship Test, which I see is still in print. My 2000 copy–I still have it–has 228 pages, and includes an excellent summary of U.S. civics, that would not be out of place in a high school classroom. (Section headings: Our Government; The Constitution–A Law for All Seasons; Reading Practice; How the Bill of Rights Protects Americans; The Federal Government–Form and Structure; State and Local Governments; The Declararion of Independence; The American Flag; The Final Test.) There is lots of advice on form-filling, English reading and writing practice, information about the interview and the Oath of Citizenship, and lots of useful Appendices (American English–Idiomatic Expressions… Pronunciation Practice… National Holidays… A Look at American History…) There are 28 “Charts and Illustrations,” showing things like the structure of the executive branch and the Liberty Bell.
It’s a very handy book to have–I often use it for reference. If it’s not impertinent to say so, I think a lot of native citizens might find it useful.
Requiring an aspiring citizen to work through 228 pages of information about his new country does not seem to me unnecessarily demanding.
