Read this excerpt from Immigrant Kids by Russell
Freedman.
Those who failed to get past both doctors had to undergo a
more thorough medical exam. The others moved on to the
registration clerk, who questioned them with the aid of an
interpreter: What is your name? Your nationality? Your
occupation? Can you read and write? Have you ever been in
prison? How much money do you have with you? Where are
you going?
Some immigrants were so flustered that they could not
answer. They were allowed to sit and rest and try again.