Read the excerpt from Immigrant Kids by Russell Freedman.

About one immigrant out of every five or six was detained for additional examinations or questioning.

The writer Angelo Pellegrini has recalled his own family’s detention at Ellis Island:

"We lived there for three days – Mother and we five children, the youngest of whom was three years old. Because of the rigorous physical examination that we had to submit to, particularly of the eyes, there was this terrible anxiety that one of us might be rejected. And if one of us was, what would the rest of the family do? My sister was indeed momentarily rejected; she had been so ill and had cried so much that her eyes were absolutely bloodshot, and Mother was told, "Well, we can’t let her in.” But fortunately, Mother was an indomitable spirit and finally made them understand that if her child had a few hours’ rest and a little bit to eat she would be all right. In the end we did get through."

According to the passage, some immigrants were detained at Ellis Island for more examinations. How does the quotation from Angelo Pellegrini develop this topic?


question 1: It provides an interesting firsthand experience of an immigrant whose sister was “indeed momentarily rejected” because she had been sick and had bloodshot eyes.

question 2:It provides an interesting firsthand experience of an immigrant who “had a few hours’ rest and a little bite to eat.”

question 3:It provides an interesting firsthand experience of an immigrant whose mother was an “indomitable spirit.”

question 4:It provides an interesting firsthand experience of an immigrant who “did get through” Ellis Island.