What Was Ellis Island?

Who had to come through Ellis Island before getting to the United States?

• A. business people

• B. immigrants

• C. New Yorkers

What does the author describe in the last paragraph of the article?

• A. things that immigrants used to see at the immigration museum on Ellis Island

• B. the way that immigrants lived when they first came to the United States

• C. things that you can see or do at the immigration museum on Ellis Island today

Some immigrants were upset when they were not allowed to enter the United States. What evidence in the article supports this statement?

• A. "Many people who entered the United States through Ellis Island nicknamed it 'The Island of Hope.'"

• B. "Some people were turned away. They gave Ellis Island another, sadder nickname: 'The Island of Tears.'"

• C. "From 1892 to 1924, more than twelve million immigrants came through Ellis Island."

What is one reason why some people probably called Ellis Island "The Island of Hope?"

• A. because they hoped they could live on Ellis Island for a long time

• B. because they hoped they would be allowed to enter the United States

• C. because they hoped they would find a way back to their home countries

What is the main idea of this article?

• A. Ellis Island has a museum that tells people today about immigration.

• B. Ellis Island was once the first stop for immigrants coming to the United States.

• C. You can use a computer to see if anyone in your family came through Ellis Island.

Read these sentences from the first part of the article. "Maybe someone related to you moved to America long ago. That person might have arrived at Ellis Island. It is an island in New York City's harbor. Long ago, Ellis Island was the first stop in the United States for many newcomers." Why might the author have mentioned that someone related to you might have moved to America long ago?

• A. to find out how your family came to America

• B. to give you an idea for an important research project

• C. to get you interested in learning about how people came to America

Choose the answer that best completes this sentence. Many immigrants came through Ellis Island, _____ not everyone was allowed into the United States.

• A. so

• B. because

• C. but

Why did some people call Ellis Island "The Island of Tears?"