US Citizenship Test: Geography Questions and Answers Explained

All of the geography questions with acceptable answers

• Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States. The Missouri River or the Mississippi River. Either one is correct.
• What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States? The Pacific Ocean.
• What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States? The Atlantic Ocean.
• Name one U.S. territory. Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, or Guam.
• Name one state that borders Canada. Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, or Alaska.
• Name one state that borders Mexico. California, Arizona, New Mexico, or Texas.
• What is the capital of the United States? Washington, D.C.
• Where is the Statue of Liberty? New York Harbor or Liberty Island. New Jersey, “near New York City,” and “on the Hudson River” are also accepted.

The easiest way to remember the borders

For Mexico, remember the four states from west to east along the southern border: California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas. Applicants who live in one of these states should simply answer with their own state. For Canada, the northern border runs from Washington in the west to Maine in the east; if you live anywhere near the northern border, use your own state. If not, pick one easy name and stick with it. “New York” and “Washington” are popular choices because they are also familiar words from other questions, but be careful not to say “Washington, D.C.,” which is the capital, not a state.

Rivers and oceans

The Mississippi flows from Minnesota south to the Gulf of Mexico at New Orleans; the Missouri begins in Montana and joins the Mississippi near St. Louis. Because both are accepted, learn the one that is easier for you to pronounce. For the oceans, picture a map of the United States: the Pacific is on the left (west) and the Atlantic is on the right (east). California and Washington touch the Pacific; New York and Florida touch the Atlantic.

Territories

A territory is a place governed by the United States that is not a state. Puerto Rico is the most common answer because it is the largest and the best known. Residents of the territories are U.S. citizens (or, in American Samoa, U.S. nationals), and the territories send non-voting delegates to Congress. You only need to name one.

How these questions appear in the English test

Several geography words are on the official reading and writing vocabulary lists: “Alaska,” “California,” “Canada,” “Delaware,” “Mexico,” “New York City,” “United States,” “Washington,” and “Washington, D.C.” A writing sentence such as “Mexico is south of the United States” or “Alaska is the largest state” is typical, so learning the spellings while you study geography saves time.

Last reviewed and expanded by the USCitizenTestPractice Editorial Team in September 2026, based on the USCIS Policy Manual, the official 2025 civics test materials, and current USCIS fee and form instructions. This is an independent study resource, not legal advice.