New Citizen Test: More "Why" Than "What"

As reported by USA Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services unveiled on Thursday a set of new questions to be asked of prospective citizens. The changes are an attempt to shift from memorization to understanding; instead of "What are the three branches of U.S. government?" the new test asks "Why do we have three branches of government?" Says Emilio Gonzalez, directory of the U.S.C.I.S, "The goal is to make it more meaningful." In contrast, a few immigration groups, like the Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights, feel the questions should be revised: "Our main concern is the level of difficulty."

Reaction has been varied. Some feel the test is still too memorization-heavy: "They are still rote memorization questions with one correct answer. ... What we need is an open-ended test," says Debbie Schlussel. On the other hand, others are afraid that the test is too subjective and costly, like wtweldon from Texas Common Sense: "[T]here will not be simple right and wrong answers. ... Then there is the cost [$6.5 million]..."

In large part, however, bloggers and pundits welcome the changes. Says Simon from Stubborn Facts, "For the most part, the new list is manifestly better than the existing questions."