Question

The author uses the phrase "the Promised Land" to describe how California appeared to Dust Bowl migrants. What does this phrase reveal about the problems and hopes of the migrants based on the text?

A) The migrants saw California as a land of opportunities and prosperity.
B) The migrants believed that California would solve all their problems.
C) The migrants had low expectations about California.
D) The migrants thought California was a barren and inhospitable place.

Answer 1

The phrase "the Promised Land" reveals that the migrants saw California as a land of opportunities and prosperity. However, the reality was more difficult than expected.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phrase "the Promised Land" as used by the author reveals that the migrants saw California as a land of opportunities and prosperity (option A). The text mentions that the migrants believed in the land of opportunity, but the reality of urban life in the United States was more difficult than expected (Figure 25.3). The new arrivals faced challenges such as language barriers, low wages, overcrowded buildings, poor sanitation, and widespread disease. Although they had hopes for a better future, the migrants' experiences in California were often less positive than imagined.