crowded into

[teleostomi]

In many of America's cities, poor people crowded into filthy slums.

Does it mean
(1) poor people crowded and flooded into the cities, as a result forming filthy slums,
or
(2) poor people crowded and they began to live together in the filthy slums that had already been formed?

[Rusty]

In many of America's cities, poor people crowded into filthy slums.

Does it mean
(1) poor people crowded and flooded into the cities, as a result forming filthy slums,
or
(2) poor people crowded and they began to live together in the filthy slums that had already been formed?
The context should explain how this happened. Both are possible.

[danmahaffey]

Forgive the late answer, but I think you should find the first of your thoughts is the most likely intent of the sentence, as Rusty suggests, from context. Were you able to ascertain this?

[teleostomi]

:cool: Thanks.

Dan, is (1) more likely interpretation?

[danmahaffey]

Was my answer too obtuse? Yes, I was thinking that #1 was the more likely interpretation, out of context. But Rusty is correct that the context reveals the actual answer.