Symbols and Holidays: United States citizenship test questions
Practice questions for the United States citizenship test.
Last checked against the official sources:
20 free sample questions
Answer each one in your head, then open the answer to see why it is right.
1.Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
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Accepted answers: (Because there were) 13 original colonies; (Because the stripes) represent the original colonies
The flag has 13 red and white stripes. They represent the 13 original colonies. (Study guide, chapter 12.)
From the official guide: “(Because there were) 13 original colonies” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
2.Name three national U.S. holidays.
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Accepted answers: New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; Presidents Day (Washington’s Birthday); Memorial Day; Juneteenth; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving Day; Christmas Day
You need to name three. The study guide lists eleven national holidays, among them New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. (Study guide, chapter 12.)
From the official guide: “New Year’s Day” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
3.Who wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner”?
- Abraham Lincoln
- Francis Scott Key
- Thomas Jefferson
- Benjamin Franklin
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Answer: Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key wrote it about seeing the American flag after a battle during the War of 1812. It is the national anthem.
From the official guide: “The Star-Spangled Banner was written by Francis Scott Key.” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
4.Which country gave the Statue of Liberty to the United States, in 1886?
- Spain
- Canada
- France
- Great Britain
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Answer: France
France gave the statue as a symbol of friendship. It has become a symbol of freedom and democracy.
From the official guide: “In 1886, France gave the statue to the United States as a symbol of friendship.” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
5.What is Veterans Day?
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Accepted answers: A holiday to honor people in the (U.S.) military; A holiday to honor people who have served (in the U.S. military)
Veterans Day, on November 11, honors everyone who has served in the U.S. Armed Forces. It began as Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I on November 11, 1918. (Study guide, chapter 12.)
From the official guide: “A holiday to honor people in the (U.S.) military” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
6.What is Memorial Day?
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Answer: A holiday to honor soldiers who died in military service
Memorial Day, the last Monday in May, honors the men and women who died in service to the United States. It was first called Decoration Day, from the custom of decorating graves. (Study guide, chapter 12.)
From the official guide: “A holiday to honor soldiers who died in military service” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
7.The Nation’s first motto was “E Pluribus Unum.” What does that mean?
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Accepted answers: Out of many, one; We all become one
The official answer is “Out of many, one”, or “We all become one”. The study guide's chapter on symbols does not cover the motto. (From the official list of answers.)
From the official guide: “Out of many, one” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
8.What is the capital of the United States?
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Answer: Washington, D.C.
The capital is Washington, D.C., named after George Washington. D.C. stands for District of Columbia, and it is not part of any state. (Study guide, chapter 6.)
From the official guide: “Washington, D.C.” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
9.On the American flag, what is red a symbol for?
- Purity
- Justice
- Bravery
- Liberty
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Answer: Bravery
Each color of the flag has a meaning. Red stands for bravery, white for purity and blue for justice.
From the official guide: “Red is a symbol for bravery.” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
10.Where is the Statue of Liberty?
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Accepted answers: New York (Harbor); Liberty Island [Also acceptable are New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson (River).]
The Statue of Liberty stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. France gave it to the United States in 1886 as a symbol of friendship. (Study guide, chapter 12.)
From the official guide: “New York (Harbor)” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
11.What do the letters “D.C.” in Washington, D.C., stand for?
- Democratic Capital
- Dominion Capital
- District of Columbia
- District of Congress
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Answer: District of Columbia
The capital is named after George Washington. It is a district controlled by the federal government, between Maryland and Virginia, and is not part of any state.
From the official guide: “These letters mean “District of Columbia.”” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
12.Why does the flag have 50 stars?
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Accepted answers: (Because there is) one star for each state; (Because) each star represents a state; (Because there are) 50 states
There are 50 stars on the flag, one for each state. Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959. (Study guide, chapter 12.)
From the official guide: “(Because there is) one star for each state” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
13.What is the name of the national anthem?
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Answer: The Star-Spangled Banner
The national anthem is “The Star-Spangled Banner”. Francis Scott Key wrote it about seeing the American flag after a battle in the War of 1812. (Study guide, chapter 12.)
From the official guide: “The Star-Spangled Banner” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
14.What is Independence Day?
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Accepted answers: A holiday to celebrate U.S. independence (from Britain); The country’s birthday
Independence Day, the Fourth of July, celebrates the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the nation. The Declaration was adopted on July 4, 1776. (Study guide, chapter 12.)
From the official guide: “A holiday to celebrate U.S. independence (from Britain)” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
15.What does Thanksgiving celebrate?
- The signing of the Constitution
- The first meeting of Congress
- The end of the Revolutionary War
- A harvest meal shared by Native Americans and English colonists in 1621
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Answer: A harvest meal shared by Native Americans and English colonists in 1621
Thanksgiving is on the fourth Thursday in November. It recalls a harvest feast in 1621 in what became Massachusetts.
From the official guide: “Thanksgiving celebrates a harvest meal shared by Native Americans and English colonists in 1621.” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
16.On which day is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebrated?
- The third Monday in February
- The last Monday in May
- The third Monday in January
- January 1
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Answer: The third Monday in January
The holiday honors the life and work of the civil rights leader. It falls on the third Monday in January each year.
From the official guide: “The third Monday in January is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
17.What was Veterans Day originally called?
- Armistice Day
- Victory Day
- Flag Day
- Decoration Day
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Answer: Armistice Day
It first marked the end of World War I on November 11, 1918. In 1954 Congress renamed it Veterans Day to honor everyone who has served.
From the official guide: “Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
18.On the American flag, what is blue a symbol for?
- The oceans
- Bravery
- Justice
- Purity
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Answer: Justice
Red stands for bravery and white for purity. Blue is the symbol for justice.
From the official guide: “Blue is a symbol for justice.” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
19.What was Ellis Island?
- An immigration station in New York Harbor
- A naval base
- A fort from the Revolutionary War
- The first capital of the United States
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Answer: An immigration station in New York Harbor
Ellis Island began receiving immigrants in 1892. Over the next 62 years more than 12 million people arrived through it.
From the official guide: “Ellis Island was an immigration station in New York Harbor.” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
20.What was Memorial Day originally called?
- Remembrance Day
- Decoration Day
- Armistice Day
- Union Day
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Answer: Decoration Day
The name came from decorating graves with flowers, wreaths and flags. The day became widely observed soon after the Civil War.
From the official guide: “Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
4 more Symbols and Holidays questions, with explanations and spaced review, are waiting in Swornly.
Study for the United States testThe test
Naturalization civics test (2025)
20 questions, 12 to pass
Common questions
- How can I practice Symbols and Holidays questions for the United States citizenship test?
- Swornly has 24 checked practice questions on Symbols and Holidays. The sample on this page is free, with the answers explained; the rest are in the app.
- How many questions are on the United States citizenship test?
- The Naturalization civics test (2025) has 20 questions, drawn from a pool of 128.
- What score do you need to pass the United States citizenship test?
- To pass the Naturalization civics test (2025) you need 12 correct answers out of 20 (60%).
- What language is the United States citizenship test in?
- The test is taken in English.
- Where do these practice questions come from?
- Each question is written from the official study material, checked against it by a reviewer, and linked to its source. They are for practice: the questions you are asked on the day may be worded differently.
- Is Swornly an official government website?
- No. Swornly is an independent study app and is not affiliated with any government. To book the test or check the rules that apply to you, use the official website. Official source
To book the test or check the rules that apply to you, use the official website linked above. Swornly is an independent study app and is not affiliated with any government.