Ellis Island Question and Answer Quiz

Read the sentences from the "Ellis Island Oral History Project" excerpt.

When we got on the Rotterdam, we had a field day. One, I was never on ship before and it was absolutely, I was awed by it. It was overwhelming. All the people and boarding the ship, it was all a brand new experience.

Which detail would best help a reader determine that one central idea of the excerpt relates to experiencing something for the first time?

• I was awed by it.

• It was overwhelming.

• we had a field day.

• I was never on ship before.

Read the sentences from the Ellis Island Oral History Project excerpt.

"Steerage was one huge place. It was the lowest deck. The stench, it was the summer, in August, the humidity, the heat, having no air conditioning, having cooling facilities, it was very hot, compounded by the fact that there must have been anywhere from two to three hundred people in that huge cavernous area. The body smells, the body odors, the lack of sanitation, the lack of any kind of facilities, washing, there was no such thing as washing or bathing."

Which set of details would best help a reader determine the central idea of the sentences?

• “it was the summer,” “in August,” “the humidity”

• “one huge place,” “having cooling facilities,” “huge cavernous area”

• “stench,” “body smells,” “no such thing as washing”

• “the lowest deck,” “huge cavernous area,” “washing or bathing”

Read the paragraph from the Ellis Island Oral History Project excerpt.

"Over the years, the project has grown to include approximately 2000 interviews. The interviews include people from dozens of countries, former Immigration and Public Health Service employees, military personnel stationed at Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty as well as people detained at Ellis Island during World War II until it closed in 1954."

What is one central idea of the paragraph?

• The interview project has become larger than anyone expected.

• The interviews represent a wide range of viewpoints.

• Some people were allowed to give interviews when they were at work.

• It has been difficult to get interviews from former immigrants.

Read the sentences from the Ellis Island Oral History Project excerpt.

"However when I started school in Chicago, where I grew up, needless to say, first of all, I couldn't speak a word of English, and I was the only child in the school that couldn't speak English. And (she laughs) it wasn't too happy the first couple of years but my mama said, "Take heart because some day you're going to be able to speak two languages and all the ones that were teasing you will speak only one." And it was true."

What is one central idea of the sentences?

• Chicago's teachers did a good job of teaching English.

• It took about two years to learn to speak English.

• Learning English was important.

• Some immigrants lived in Chicago.

Read the sentences from the Ellis Island Oral History Project excerpt.

"I turned seven after we got here and here children were starting at the age of five in kindergarten, so at age seven they put me in the first grade, which was kind of dumb because I didn't know the language and, I didn't know "yes" and "no." That's how bad it was. I just sat there and every time the teacher even looked at me I would start to cry because I was afraid she was going to say something and I didn't know what, what she was saying."

What is one central idea of the sentences?

• It can be difficult to be different.

• Some people do dumb things.

• Anyone can do well in first grade.

• It is okay to be yourself.

Read the sentences from the Ellis Island Oral History Project excerpt.

"But, being children, I guess, had its advantages, in this case because we always tried to get out of there. We tried to go, get out of the steerage, get out of the babble of voices, get out of the heat and the stench and get on the main deck. We all were permitted to stay there for a little while but we were constantly chased."

What one word could describe the central idea of the sentences?

• strength

• escape

• regret

• fairness

Read the sentences from the Ellis Island Oral History Project excerpt.

But there was one little girl that I'll never forget and when it was recess time I didn't know why everybody got up and went out of the classroom. But this one little girl came and put her arm around my shoulder, didn't say anything, she just took me outside, stayed with me during recess, and when recess was over she brought me back to my seat in school. And then, that girl, I'll never forget her. But, uh, it was very hard not knowing the language and getting started in school.

"What one word could describe the central idea of the sentences?

• fear

• enjoyment

• worry

• friendship

Read the sentences from the Ellis Island Oral History Project excerpt.

"And they'd hear that music coming out, you know, they'd call us "foreigners" and things like that because of that music. And I used to go home and tell my mother, "Shut it off," or "Stop that music. Everybody thinks we're . . ." and that I distinctly remember because we didn't want to, and I love that music now myself but at that time, you know, they always think you're, they always looked upon you as being not native, you know."

Which information would the reader most likely want to know after reading this account from Armen Jermakian?

• why people called him a "foreigner"

• if acting like a native was important to him

• when he learned to love Armenian and Turkish music

• why his mother played Armenian and Turkish music

Read the following excerpt from Instruction Part 2 section of the Ellis Island: Asking Questions Guided Notes:

"You might want to ask yourself a _______ now. Remember, it helps you to better ___________ a text if you ask yourself a question."

Which two words should go into the blank spaces?

• understand , question

• question , read

• question , understand

• problem , get

Read the sentences from the Ellis Island Oral History Project excerpt.

"Oh, I, it was so beautiful to see her. Ten years I didn't see her. I mean, she looked different, and I was so grown up. I was only eight years old when she left and then I was eighteen. I was young lady. Well, I came and she was hugging me. We both cry."

What is the central idea of the sentences?

• It is not easy to avoid those closest to us.

• Time does not affect one's overall appearance.

• Reunions awaken memories and emotions.

• It is possible to remember childhood events.