Q 01/05

A 1998 Supreme Court ruling placed most of Ellis Island in which state, ending a long border feud?

A) New York

B) New Jersey

C) Connecticut

D) Delaware

Answer · why

B) New Jersey

New Jersey was awarded the landfill added since the 1890s, roughly 23 of the island's 27.5 acres. The original patch beneath the main building stayed ...

Q 02/05

Annie Moore, the first immigrant processed at Ellis Island in 1892, had sailed from which country?

A) Scotland

B) Germany

C) Ireland

D) Sweden

Answer · why

C) Ireland

Ireland was home for Annie Moore, who left County Cork with her two younger brothers to join their parents in New York. Memorials to her now stand on ...

Q 03/05

Ellis Island doctors wrote code letters on immigrants' coats, such as H for heart, using what?

A) Chalk

B) Paint

C) Charcoal

D) Crayon

Answer · why

A) Chalk

Chalk let a doctor flag a problem in seconds: L meant lameness, E eyes, K hernia. Some immigrants reportedly wiped the mark off or turned their coats ...

Q 04/05

Which film helped spread the myth that Ellis Island clerks changed immigrants' surnames?

A) Fiddler on the Roof

B) Once Upon a Time in America

C) Gangs of New York

D) The Godfather Part II

Answer · why

D) The Godfather Part II

The Godfather Part II shows an officer registering young Vito Andolini under the name of his village, Corleone. In reality families usually Americaniz...

Q 05/05

For a healthy immigrant with papers in order, how long did Ellis Island inspection usually take?

A) A few hours

B) About two days

C) About two weeks

D) About two months

Answer · why

A) A few hours

A few hours was typical, usually three to five. The pace had to be quick: at the peak, inspectors were clearing about 5,000 people a day.