Read: 'The country has 50 states.' What does 'country' mean in this sentence?

COUNTRY is on the USCIS CIVICS VOCABULARY list. In the political sense, a COUNTRY is a NATION — an independent political community with a defined territory and government. The UNITED STATES is a COUNTRY with 50 STATES. Sample reading test sentences: 'The country has 50 states.' 'America is a country.' 'We live in a country.' Note: the word 'country' can have multiple meanings in English: (1) NATION (the political/civic meaning, used on the test); (2) RURAL AREAS (countryside, as opposed to cities — e.g., 'They live in the country'); (3) A STYLE OF MUSIC (country music — uniquely American, originated in the rural South). On the USCIS reading test, 'country' always refers to a NATION. Other vocabulary in this category: NATION (similar meaning to country); STATE (a political subdivision OR an entire nation in some contexts, but on the USCIS test usually refers to one of the 50 U.S. states). Examples of countries in North America: United States, Canada, Mexico. The U.S. became an independent country on JULY 4, 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was adopted.