Question 73

About 35 million immigrants were taken in over the 100 years leading up to 1915.

The extract states that over the course of the century preceding 1915, the United States welcomed approximately 35 million immigrants, highlighting the significant influx of people during this period.

A) Probably about 1 million

This option is incorrect because the extract clearly indicates that during the first two decades of the 20th century, there were as many as one million new immigrants per year, which does not support the claim of only one million immigrants over 100 years.

B) About 35 million

This is the correct answer as the extract explicitly states that the United States took in about 35 million immigrants over the 100 years leading up to 1915, illustrating the vast scale of immigration during that time.

C) 8.4 million

This option is incorrect. The figure of 8.4 million refers to the total population of the United States by 1815, not the number of immigrants during the 100 years leading up to 1915, which was significantly higher.

D) About 4 million

This option is also incorrect. The number 4 million corresponds to the population counted in the first census of the United States in 1790, not the immigrant count over the specified century.

Conclusion

The correct answer of about 35 million immigrants reflects the extensive immigration trends in the United States from the early 1800s to 1915, as noted in the extract. All other options fail to align with the historical data provided, either referencing the wrong time frame or incorrect population figures, thereby reinforcing the significance of immigration during this transformative period in American history.