Final answer:
Anna Quindlen's concern in lines 54-56 of 'A Quilt of a Country' is likely that immigrants would lose their ethnic identity after coming to America due to assimilation. This is suggested as Quindlen focuses on the tension between preserving individual cultural identities and the formation of a unified national identity in the United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Anna Quindlen's essay A Quilt of a Country, the concern expressed in lines 54-56 likely revolves around the tension between ethnic identity and national identity. Quindlen may be worried that in the process of assimilation, immigrants might lose their ethnic identity as they become absorbed into the broader American culture. This phenomenon has historical precedence, as the large influx of immigrants to the United States between 1890 and 1920, and further waves thereafter, shows a pattern of eventual absorption and sometimes extended periods of prejudice and discrimination. The assimilation effect tends to lead to the loss of the minority group's cultural identity, with little to no impact on the majority's cultural identity. Additionally, Ritty Lukose's research suggests that American education systems could better recognize and connect with immigrant identities, indicating that maintaining ethnic identity within the framework of national identity is a challenge that needs addressing.
Given the context, choice A seems most aligned with Quindlen's concern that immigrants would lose their ethnic identity after coming to America. This loss is suggested as a side-effect of assimilation into the dominant culture within the United States. Considering the historical background and scholarly research provided, maintaining a balance between ethnic and national identities is a nuanced and ongoing societal challenge.