Read the following excerpt from "Ellis Island" by Barbara Davis-Pyle. They say it's a pot made for melting, But I think it's a kettle for soup. And we are the stew - Thickened with hope. Peppered with fear.

In this excerpt, the poet refers to the idea that:

1) it can be difficult to find one's place in America.

2) people in America really are the same.

3) America is a melting pot of different cultures.

4) there are few cultures in America

The correct answer would be option 1) " It can be difficult to find one's place in America. This is because in the excerpt, the author makes an analogy between soup and the character's feelings, and those feelings are fear and hope, so it can be inferred that it isn't easy fitting in or else the character would not feel fear. Option 2 is not correct because if that were the case then the author would have said that it is a pot made for melting (all equal, not differing to a kettle). Option 3 and 4 are incorrect because the author gives no reference to culture in this excerpt, be they numerous or not.

Answer: B) people in America really are the same.

I think the first option is the best because the author is conveying that America is made up of many cultures that should be coming together as one, but thats not happening. Regardless of that, she's acknowledging that deep inside people seem to be the same as they all hope and fear the same things.