I N S P I R AT I O N 2

Hello New York!

E
1 Reading

llis Island is in New York harbour, near the Statue of Liberty. Between
This is part of the diary of an
1892 and 1954 more than 12 million immigrants entered the United immigrant called Helen
States through Ellis Island. Usually immigrants stayed on Ellis Island for a Meinwald. She arrived in New
few hours. They answered some questions and a doctor made sure they York in 1920 when she was 14
were healthy. But sometimes immigrants stayed on the island for up to a years old.
year if they were sick.

14th March
6th March Today I feel much better. Father say
s we
and to all
We said goodbye to Poland today are nearly there. He talked to me
about our
arents can’t
my friends and family. My grandp new lives in America. Aunt and Un
cle Cohen live
come with us. I feel very sad. there already. They have a house
with two
living in
bedrooms. I am very excited about
9th March America.
and it’s
It is my third day on the boat now
and I share a
horrid. Mother, Father, Lawrence 17th March
t. It’s very
bunk bed in the bottom of the boa Today was a great day. Mother was
walking
s everybody
crowded and I can’t sleep. Why doe on deck when she first saw the Sta
tue of
worried
want to go to the USA! Mother is Liberty. She ran to find Lawrence
and me. It
left.
because we don’t have much food was like a party on the boat. Everyb
ody was
delighted to
singing and dancing – we were all
12th March be in America.
father to
I felt very seasick today. I asked
t into the sea.
throw me over the side of the boa 20th March
ce was
The sea was very rough and Lawren My aunt and uncle came to take us
to their
frightened. I feel terrible. us. I feel
home They were very pleased to see
Ellis Island
very free and happy. We stayed on
journey is over
for three days, but now the awful
and my new life is about to start.

Answer the questions.

1 How many immigrants came through Ellis 4 Who did she travel to America with?
Island into the USA? 5 Did she have a good journey?
2 How long did the immigrants stay on Ellis 6 How long did she stay on Ellis Island for?
Island? 7 Was she happy to be in America?
3 Where was Helen Meinwald from? 8 Did she miss Poland?

(page 1 of 2)

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 I N S P I R AT I O N 2

Hello New York!

2 Vocabulary 3 Writing
Put the adjectives in the right box. Here is some information about another
awful terrible happy horrid delighted immigrant who came to America through Ellis
excited worried frightened pleased Island. Imagine you are this person and write
a letter to your family back home telling them
about your journey and your new life. You
positive negative
may want to answer some of these questions:
___________________________ ___________________________ How was the journey?
___________________________ ___________________________ Did you meet anyone on the boat?
___________________________
How did you feel about going to America?
___________________________
How did you feel about leaving your mother and
___________________________ ___________________________
sisters behind?
___________________________ ___________________________ How long did you stay on Ellis Island for?
How did you feel when you saw your father?

Name: George Cholakians

Which three negative words mean the same?

Age when arrived in USA: 16

How would you feel if you saw a ghost?

Country of birth: Armenia

How do you feel before an important test?

Year arrived in America: 1921

Which two words mean the same as happy?

Journey time: 14 days

How do you feel on your birthday?

Reason for immigration: to be with his father

Who did he travel with: nobody
Who did he leave behind: mother and two sisters

12th August 1921

Dear Mother,
I am writing to you with father sitting next to me. I am
in America and very happy to be here…

(page 2 of 2)

This page has been downloaded from www.macmillanenglish.com/inspiration

It is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages. Copyright © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2005.