I've heard similar stories, but all of the regulation surrounding citizenship is not so homogeneous between towns, cantons, etc.

So some cantons might only require a basic understanding while others grill you like this. It'll be a few years before I discover how it is in St. Gallen. :)

Based on the commune/canton residency restrictions in St. Gallen for naturalizing, I can't imagine they'd love to see people completing the process. :/