After you read

1. Getting the message

A. On each blank line, write the letter of the phrase that correctly completes each sentence.

1. John F. Kennedy wrote A Nation of Immigrants _______

1. after he became president

2. before he became president

2. Americans speak English because ________.

1. the first Europeans to explore the area were English

2. the majority of the American colonists were English

3. The U.S. today has ________.

1. more Hispanics than African-Americans

2. more African-Americans than Hispanics

4. Puerto Rico is ___________ .

1. an American state

2. a U.S. commonwealth

5. The U.S. is compared to a salad bowl because __________

1. immigrants tend to forget their past

2. immigrants tend to keep many traditions from their native country

B. Answer these questions in small groups and then on a separate piece of paper. Write complete sentences.

1. What did British immigrants give to the U.S.?

2. What three main situations have brought immigrants to the U.S.?

3. What are two main points that this chapter makes about American immigration?

2. Building your vocabulary

A. These are the 15 key vocabulary words for this chapter. They are boldfaced in the reading. Pronounce these words after your teacher and discuss their meaning.

alien flee permanent

ancestry foreign persecution

bilingual immigrant refugee

double motive restriction

expire oppression visa

B. Complete these sentences with some of the key vocabulary words. Make the nouns plural if necessary, and put each verb into the correct tense and form.

1. Refugees come to the U.S. after they ________ from their native country because of religious or political persecution.

2. People who leave their native land and come to live in the U.S. are called ______ or resident _________ .

3. A passport is issued by a traveler's native country. A(n) _____ is issued by the country the traveler wishes to enter.

4. Travelers should leave the country before their visa ________ .

5. ________ are people who come to the U.S. for protection and safety. If they returned to their native country, their lives might be in danger.

6. Two words that refer to cruel treatment of a group of people are _______ and __________ .

7. From 1920 to 1970, the population of the U.S. increased from 100 million to 200 million. In other words, the population ____________ .

8. One common reason or _______ for coming to the U.S. is to earn more money.

9. At some ethnic festivals, food and handmade items representing many _______ countries are sold.

10. A person who can speak two languages is __________ .

3. Understanding idioms and expressions

Use the following expressions to complete the sentences.

from time to time old country

great leap population explosion

land of opportunity salad bowl

melting pot standard of living

1. An immigrant's homeland is sometimes referred to as the ________ .

2. Because the U.S. is a nation made up of people from many different countries, it has been called a(n) ________ or a(n) _________ .

3. The number of people living in the U.S. increased a great deal in a short time.

This was called a(n) _______ .

4. To attract Europeans to the U.S., the country was advertised as a(n) _________ , where workers could find good jobs.

5. Many immigrants come to the U.S. to get higher-paying jobs so that they and

their families can have a higher _______ .

6. _________ means something happens occasionally and repeatedly.

7. When conditions were bad in some European countries, many people moved to the U.S. American immigration took a(n) ______ .