Health Checks Open Response

This passage explains the medical inspections immigrants faced at Ellis Island. Upon arrival, immigrants went through a quick “six-second exam,” where doctors looked for signs of illness. Some were then sent to longer exams to check for diseases like tuberculosis or eye infections. While most passed and continued their journey, a small percentage were held back or even sent home. These inspections helped ensure that immigrants entering the U.S. were healthy enough to live and work.

Reading about medical inspections strengthens students’ nonfiction reading comprehension. They learn to identify details, such as steps in a process and the outcomes for immigrants. Vocabulary like “inspection,” “contagious,” and “tuberculosis” deepens word knowledge and academic language. It also encourages empathy by helping students understand the struggles immigrants faced. This type of passage improves critical thinking, reading fluency, and the ability to analyze informational text.