Passing the Tests at Ellis Island

Passing the Tests at Ellis Island

Passing the Tests at Ellis Island
Reading Level

	edHelper's suggested reading level:	grades 4 to 6
	Flesch-Kincaid grade level:	5.23

Vocabulary

	challenging words:		diphtheria, immigration, eyelid, medical, magnificent, hotdogs, scalp, dreams, tests, rough, posted, fail, member, often, several, become
	content words:		New York Harbor, Ellis Island, York Harbor, United States, Edward Corsi, Registry Room, One Russian, Santa Claus, New York City

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Passing the Tests at Ellis Island
By Colleen Messina

¹     Immigrants to America were greeted by the magnificent Statue of Liberty holding her torch high above the New York Harbor. She symbolized their hopes and dreams. Immigrants felt joy, relief, fear, and excitement as they realized that their long ocean trip was over. They were also scared of what would happen on Ellis Island.

²     Ellis Island was the immigration center in New York Harbor. At least 12 million people passed through Ellis Island on their way to America. All of them had to be examined by legal inspectors and doctors. These tests determined whether they could enter the United States right away. Would they be poked and prodded? Would they understand the questions? Would a member of their family fail the tests? Some people were detained on the island for different reasons. And others had the worst news of all if they did not pass the tests: they had to go back home.

³     One little boy remembers thinking that Ellis Island could not be a good place because his mother cried when she saw it. She was afraid that her family would be sent back to Italy. This little boy was Edward Corsi. He grew up to become Commissioner of Ellis Island. He tried to do a good job because he knew how hard it was for the immigrants. He knew every test because he had gone through them himself.

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