PASSAGE 8
New York - The Melting Pot

　　Recently the Department of Planning of New York issued a report which laid bare a full scale of the city. In 1970, 18 percent of the city's population was foreign-born. By 1995, the figure had risen to 33 percent, and another 20 percent were the US-born offsprings of immigrants¹. So immigrants and their children now form a majority of the city's population.
　　Who are these New Yorkers? Why do they come here? Where are they from? (OK, time to drop the "they". I'm one of them). The last question at least is easy to answer: we come from everywhere. In the list of the top 20 source nations of those sending immigrants to New York between 1990 and 1994 are six countries in Asia, five in the Caribbean, four in Latin² America, three in Europe, plus Israel and former Soviet³ Union. And when we immigrants get here we roll up our sleeves. "if you're not ready to work when you get to New York," says a friend of mine, "you'd better hit the road."
　　The mayor⁴ of New York once said, "Immigration continues to shape the unique character and drive the economic engine of New York City." He believes that immigrants are at the heart of what makes New York great. In Europe, by contrast, it is much more common to hear politicians worry about the loss of "unity⁵" that immigration brings to their societies. In the quarter century since 1970, the United Stated admitted about 125 million legal immigrants, and has absorbed them into its social structures with an ease⁶ beyond the imagination of other nations. Since these immigrants are purposeful and hard-working, they will help America to make a fresh start in the next century.

1. The report issued by the Department of Planning of New York
A) put forward ways to control New York's population.
B) concerned itself with the growth of New York's population.
C) studied the structure of New York's population.
D) suggested ways to increase New York's population.

2. According to the second paragraph, which of the following is true of the immigrants in New York?
A) One can not find his place in New York unless he is ready to work.
B) They found life in New York harder than in their own countries.
C) Most of them have difficulty finding⁷ jobs.
D) One can live on welfare if he does not want to work.

3. The mayor of New York considers immigration to be
A) a big problem in the management of the city.
B) a push needed to develop the city.
C) a cause of disintegration⁸ of the city's social structure.
D) an obstacle⁹ to the development of the city.

4. Where are the new New Yorkers from?
A) Asia.
B) Europe.
C) All over the world.
D) Latin America.

5. What is the author's attitude towards immigration to New York?
A) Negative.
B) Worried.
C) Indifferent
D) Positive.

Keys: CABCD