Final answer:
In the context of the provided text, 'yearnings' refers to the immigrants' desires and longings for a better life in terms of prosperity, success, and upward mobility, commonly associated with the 'American Dream'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word yearnings in the context of paragraph 3 of the story "America's shifting view of immigration" likely refers to desires and longings. These yearnings encompass the immigrants' deep-seated aspirations for a better life, characterized by the opportunity for prosperity, success, and upward social mobility, which is often referred to as the American Dream. It can be inferred that the immigrants' yearnings stem from the belief that through hard work and perseverance, they could improve their lives and the lives of their descendants, despite starting from positions of economic disadvantage.