9 48 Ethnic and cultural diversity The history of Ellis Island a) Highlight the conjunctions, time expressions, etc. typically used with tenses expressing past meaning. For over 60 years, Ellis Island was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. From 1892 to 1924, it was America’s largest and most active immigration station, where over twelve million immigrants were processed. It has been estimated that close to 40 per cent of all current US citizens can trace at least one of their ancestors back to Ellis Island. On average, the inspection process took approximately three to seven hours. For the vast majority of immigrants, Ellis Island was an “Island of Hope” – the first stop on their way to new opportunities and experiences in America. For some, though, it became the “Island of Tears” – a place where families were separated and individuals were denied entry into the country. Ellis Island opened to the public in 1976. Today, visitors can tour the Ellis Island Immigration Museum in the restored Main Arrivals Hall and trace their ancestors through millions of immigrant arrival records made available to the public in 2001. In this way, Ellis Island remains a central destination for millions of Americans seeking a glimpse into the past of their country, and, in many cases, into their own family’s history. b) Complete the second part of the text with the correct past forms of the verbs given. When Ellis Island opened 1 (open), a great change 2 (take) place in immigration to the United States. More and more immigrants 3 (pour) in from southern and eastern Europe due to war, drought, famine and religious persecution. All 4 (have) hopes for greater opportunity in the New World. After an exhausting sea voyage, the immigrants 5 (tag) with information from the ship’s registry and 6 (pass) through long lines for medical and legal inspections to determine if they 7 (be) fit for entry into the United States. Those who 8 (refuse) entry to the United States 9 (have) to remain on the island. Legal detainees 10 (get) the chance to have their case reviewed a few days later. People who 11 (detain) for medical reasons 12 (care) for at the island’s hospital or 13 (keep) in quarantine. Eventually, a Board of Special Inquiry 14 (decide) whether to allow them into the United States. After they 15 (pass) medical and legal inspections, the immigrants 16 (arrive) at the top of another staircase at the other end of the Great Hall. At the bottom of the stairs 17 (be) a post office, a ticketing office for the railways, an office to exchange money from their home country for US dollars, and social workers to help the immigrants who 18 (need) assistance. An area on the first floor of the building 19 (become) known as “the kissing post”. It 20 (get) that nickname because there family and friends 21 (wait) for their loved ones. 4 Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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