They are akin to language requirements – except that the language here is a civic, not a national one, which in the best case allows new citizens to voice their concerns with perfect political grammar. Tests might also make the passage to citizenship meaningful, a ritual similar to the solemn swearing of an oath of allegiance, which can be integrated as a major event into the story of one’s life (to be sure, some will always dismiss such ceremonies as political kitsch).
这样一来，入籍测试不仅不是专制，甚至还可以赋予一种权力，前提是移民们通过测试了解到参与的权利和机遇。这与语言规定有些类似，不同之处在于这里谈论的是公民而不是国家语言，这种语言在理想情况下能让新公民用完美的政治语言表达自己的忧虑。测试还能让入籍过程显得更有意义，这是一种类似于效忠誓言的庄严宣誓，这样的场合会成为入籍者终生难忘的重大事件（当然，有些人总会认为这样的仪式在政治上俗不可耐。）