How does using a quotation add credibility to a writer’s ideas?

it makes the writing much more exciting and interesting.
it provides a contrast to the writer’s point of view.
it allows readers to put themselves in the writer’s place.
it strengthens a writer’s ideas and proves them more believable.

read this excerpt from immigrant kids, by russell freedman.

now the examinations began. first the immigrants were examined by two doctors of the united states health service. one doctor looked for physical and mental abnormalities. when a case aroused suspicion, the immigrant received a chalk mark on the right shoulder for further inspection: l for lameness, h for heart, x for mental defects, and so on.

the second doctor watched for contagious and infectious diseases. he looked especially for infections of the scalp and at the eyelids for symptoms of trachoma, a blinding disease. since trachoma caused more than half of all medical detentions, this doctor was greatly feared. he stood directly in the immigrant's path. with a swift movement, he would grab the immigrant's eyelid, pull it up, and peer beneath it. if all was well, the immigrant was passed on.

which detail best supports the idea that only immigrants with good health were allowed entrance into the united states?

one doctor drew chalk marks on immigrants with health problems.
the two doctors worked for the united states health service.
an h mark on an immigrant meant he or she had heart problems.
trachoma is a blinding and very contagious eye disease.

choose the sentence fragment.

most of them show up every day.
the house on the corner is empty.
walked home from school yesterday.
frankie and joe kept it for a long time.

which would add the most credibility to a book about children’s immigration experiences?

a quotation from a brother and a sister who immigrated to the united states from ireland as children.
a quotation from a young woman whose great-grandmother immigrated from russia.
a quotation from a children’s doctor who performed health exams at ellis island.
a quotation from a professor who studies immigration at a university.

in the "ellis island oral history project" excerpt, paul moschella compares eating his first sandwich to eating a

meal.
piece of cake.
bunch of sheep.
suitcase.

which question might a reader ask to get a better understanding of paul moschella's experience on ellis island as described in the "ellis island oral history project" excerpt?

does he like ham and cheese?
what did he expect to eat for lunch?
did he have to pay for the sandwich?
was he surprised that he liked the sandwich?

read the sentences from the "ellis island oral history project" excerpt.

and they'd hear that music coming out, you know, they'd call us "foreigners" and things like that because of that music. and i used to go home and tell my mother, "shut it off," or "stop that music. everybody thinks we're . ." and that i distinctly remember because we didn't want to, and i love that music now myself but at that time, you know, they always think you're, they always looked upon you as being not native, you know.

which information would the reader most likely want to know after reading this account from armen jermakian?

why his mother played armenian and turkish music
if acting like a native was important to him
when he learned to love armenian and turkish music
why people called him a "foreigner"

read the excerpt from immigrant kids, by russell freedman.

men, women, and children were packed into dark, foul-smelling compartments. they slept in narrow bunks stacked three high. they had no showers, no lounges, and no dining rooms. food served from huge kettles was dished into dinner pails provided by the steamship company. because steerage conditions were crowded and uncomfortable, passengers spent as much time as possible up on deck.

the voyage was an ordeal, but it was worth it. they were on their way to america.

what concrete detail would most improve the excerpt?

information on why the voyage was an ordeal
information on why being in america was worth the ordeal
details about how many people immigrated to america by steamship
details about how long the voyage to america took