Preparing for the English Test
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
4 INTRODUCTION 6 VOCABULARY WRITING PRACTICE 10 VOCABULARY PRACTICE 23 WRITING SENTENCES
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INTRODUCTION There are three components of the English test: speaking, reading, writing. According to the law, an applicant must demonstrate: “an understanding of the English language, including an ability to read, write, and speak... simple words and phrases... in ordinary usage in the English language...” This means that to be eligible for naturalization, you must be able to read, write, and speak basic English. You are required to pass each of the three components of the English test with the exception of applicants who qualify as: 50 years of age or older AND a permanent resident for at least 20 years at the time of filing the Application for Naturalization, Form N–400; 55 years of age or older AND a permanent resident for at least 15 years at the time of filing the Application for Naturalization, Form N–400; or, any person who is unable to demonstrate an understanding of English because of a medically determinable physical and/or medical impairment as determined by an approved Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, Forms N–648.
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Speaking Portion You ability to speak English will be determined by the USCIS Officer from your answers to questions normally asked during the eligibility interview on the Application for Naturalization, Form N–400. Reading Portion Each reading test administered to you will contain no more than three (3) sentences. You must read one (1) out of three (3) sentences correctly to demonstrate an ability to read in English. To help you prepare, USCIS released a reading vocabulary list found in this book. The content focuses on civics and history topics. Writing Portion Each writing test administered to you will contain no more than three (3) sentences. You must write one (1) out of three (3) sentences correctly in order to demonstrate an ability to write in English.
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VOCABULARY WORDS PEOPLE Abraham Lincoln [ey-bruh-ham, -huh m] [ling-kuh n] George Washington [jawrj] [wosh-ing-tuh n] Adams [ad-uh mz]
PLACES
Washington, D.C. [wosh-ing-tuh n] [dee] [see]
CIVICS American Flag [uh-mer-i-kuh n] [flag]
America [ad-uh mz]
Bill of Rights [bil] [uhv] [rahyts]
United States [yoo-nahy-tid] [steyt]
capital [kap-i-tl]
U.S. [yoo] [es]
citizen [sit-uh-zuh n, -suh n]
Alaska [uh-las-kuh]
city [sit-ee]
California [kal-uh-fawrn-yuh]
Congress [n. kong-gris; v. kuh n-gres, kuh ng-]
Canada [kuh n-yah-duh]
country [kuhn-tree]
Delaware [kuh n-yah-duh, -yad-uh] Mexico [kuh n-yah-duh, -yad-uh]
Father of Our Country [fah-th er] [uhv] [ouuh r] [kuhn-tree]
New York City [noo, nyoo] [yawrk] [sit-ee]
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Washington [wosh-ing-tuh n]
government [guhv-ern-muh nt, er-muh nt] President [prez-i-duh nt]
right [rahyt]
Labor Day [ley-ber] [dey]
Senators [sen-uh-ter] state/states [steyt] [steyts]
Columbus Day [kuh-luhm-buh s] [dey]
White House [hwahyt, wahyt] [n., adj. hous; v. houz]
Months
American Indians [uh-mer-i-kuh n] [in-dee-uh n] Civil War [siv-uh l] [wawr] flag [flag] free [free] freedom of speech [free-duh m] [uhv] [speech]
Holidays
Thanksgiving [thangks-giv-ing]
February [feb-roo-er-ee, feb-yoo] May [mey] June [joon] July [joo-lahy, juh-lahy] September [sep-tem-ber] October [ok-toh-ber]
Presidents’ Day [prez-i-duh nt] [dey]
November [noh-vem-ber]
Memorial Day [muh-mawr-ee-uh l, -mohr-] [dey]
Question words
Flag Day [flag] [dey] Independence Day [in-di-pen-duh ns] [dey]
How [hou] What [hwuht, hwot, wuht, wot; unstressed hwuh t, wuh t]
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When [hwen, wen; unstressed hwuh n, wuh n] Where [hwair, wair] Who [hoo] Why [hwahy, wahy]
VERBS can [kan] come [kuhm] do/does [doo]/ [dohz] elects [ih-lekt] have/has [hav]/ [haz] is/are/was/be [iz]/ [ahr]/ [wuhz]/ [bee] lives/lived [lahyvz]/ [lahyvd, livd] meet [meet] name [meet]
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pay [pey] vote [voht] want [wont, wawnt]
OTHER (FUNCTION) a [ey] for [fawr; unstressed fer] here [heer] in [in] of [uhv] on [on, awn] the [th uh] to [tuh] we [wee] and [uh nd]
during [doo r-ing, dyoo r-]
fifty/50 [fif-tee]
OTHER (CONTENT)
one hundred/100 [wuhn] [huhn-drid]
colors [kuhl-er] dollar bill [dol-er] [bil] first [furst] largest [lahrj est]
red [red] taxes [taks] white [hwahyt, wahyt]
many [men-ee] most [mohst] north [nawrth] one [wuhn] people [pee-puh l] second [sek-uh nd] south [n., adj., adv. south; v. south, south] blue [bloo]
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WRITING PRACTICE: VOCABULARY Use the following to practice writing all of the vocabulary words.
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PEOPLE Abraham Lincoln George Washington Adams
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PLACES America United States U.S. Alaska California Canada Delaware Mexico New York City United States Washington Washington, D.C.
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CIVICS American Flag Bill of Rights capital citizen city Congress country Father of Our Country government President right Senators state/states White House American Indians Civil War flag free freedom of speech
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Holidays Presidents’ Day Memorial Day Flag Day Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Thanksgiving
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Months February May June July September October November
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Question words How What When Where Who Why
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VERBS can come do/does elects have/has is/are/was/be lives/lived meet name pay vote want
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OTHER (FUNCTION) a for here in of on the to we and during
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OTHER (CONTENT) colors dollar bill first largest many most north one people second south blue fifty/50 one hundred/100 red taxes white
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WRITING PRACTICE: SENTENCES The following are possible sentences that you may be asked to write out during the writing portion. Practice reading and writing them.
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“The President lives in the White House.�
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“Washington is the Father of Our Country.”
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“We elect the President in November.”
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“The capital of the United States is Washington D.C.”
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“The flag is red, white and blue.”
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The following audio CD contains all the information in this book. Use it to prepare for your Naturalization test.
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