2008 civics test — practice test 5

The last of five practice tests on the official USCIS 2008 civics bank. With the four before it, this one completes coverage of every question in that bank whose answer does not change — 90 of the 100.

It opens with the federal system, set out as a contrast: two questions side by side, one asking for a power that belongs to the federal government and the next for a power that belongs to the states. Printing money, declaring war, creating an army, making treaties — federal. Driving licences, schooling, police and fire protection, zoning — state. The two questions deliberately share each other's options, because the boundary is easier to hold as a line than as two separate lists, and a rule of thumb falls out of it: anything to do with war, money or other countries is federal; anything you deal with at a local office is not.

Two dates follow that exist in no other part of the bank: 15 April for federal income tax forms, and eighteen as the age at which all men must register for the Selective Service. Neither is really a civics fact — both are practical obligations, and both are asked because they are part of what living in the country involves.

Then the section the newer 2025 test dropped entirely. A state that borders Mexico, where there are only four right answers — California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas — and the wrong options are states that get close without touching. The capital. The Statue of Liberty, where the official bank accepts New York Harbor, Liberty Island, New Jersey, near New York City, or the Hudson, because the island sits in water bordered by two states. And an American Indian tribe, where the wrong answers are peoples of Mexico and South America rather than of the United States.

The test finishes on the symbols and holidays: fifty stars for fifty states, The Star-Spangled Banner, 4 July, and Juneteenth among the national holidays. These are the questions most people already half-know, which makes them the cheapest marks in the bank — worth getting to the point where you answer them without pausing, so the time and nerve go on the harder ones.

The questions and accepted answers come from the official USCIS bank, a work of the United States government. The practice format, the wrong options and the explanations are Zestly's own.

• Sort powers into federal-only and state-only, and apply the rule that war, money and foreign affairs are always federal
• Give the two practical dates the bank asks for: the tax deadline and the Selective Service registration age
• Name a state bordering Mexico, a U.S. territory's neighbour questions, and where the Statue of Liberty stands
• Name an American Indian tribe from the official list rather than a people of Central or South America
• Answer the symbols and holidays questions without hesitating — stars, stripes, anthem, 4 July, Juneteenth
• Identify the two major political parties and the highest court in the country

From the official USCIS 2008 civics question bank: "Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government? — to print money; to declare war; to create an army; to make treaties." "Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states? — provide schooling and education; provide protection (police); provide safety (fire departments); give a driver's license; approve zoning and land use." "What are the two major political parties in the United States? — Democratic and Republican." "When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms? — April 15." "When must all men register for the Selective Service? — at age eighteen (18); between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)." "Name one state that borders Mexico. — California; Arizona; New Mexico; Texas." "Where is the Statue of Liberty? — New York (Harbor); Liberty Island."