Volume 9- May 3rd, 2026

Level:  Intermediate Mid

Reading Comprehension Quiz

1. According to the first paragraph, what is the primary purpose of celebrating AANHPI Heritage Month each May? 

A. To encourage Asian and Pacific Islander residents to return to their ancestral homelands. 

B. To honor the exceptional contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans to the United States. 

C. To provide a government-sponsored vacation for residents of Asian descent. 

D. To protest the completion of modern infrastructure projects across America.

2. Based on the essay, what geographical feature made the construction of the railroad through Donner Pass particularly difficult? 

A. The vast, scorching sands of the Nevada desert. 

B. The marshy swamplands of the Sacramento Delta. 

C. The solid granite within the Sierra Nevada Mountains where 15 tunnels were excavated. 

D. The deep river crossings required to reach the Pacific coast.

3. What specific historical injustice does the author highlight regarding the 1869 railroad completion ceremony? 

A. The Chinese workers were paid a higher wage than their white counterparts, causing a riot. 

B. The Chinese workers were excluded from the official commemorative photographs of the event. 

C. The railroad companies refused to use the tunnels that the Chinese workers had built. 

D. The government abolished the Chinese Exclusion Act immediately following the ceremony.

4. According to the third paragraph, what legislative action was taken during World War II regarding the treatment of Chinese immigrants? 

A. The U.S. Congress passed the Magnuson Act of 1943 to abolish the discriminatory Chinese Exclusion Act. 

B. The U.S. military forcibly removed all Chinese residents from their homes on the West Coast. 

C. The government passed the Alien Land Law to prevent Chinese residents from owning property. 

D. The U.S. declared China to be an enemy nation, resulting in stricter immigration laws.

5. Which of the following best summarizes the author's perspective on using slogans like "forgiveness" or "harmony" in modern celebrations? 

A. These slogans are essential for building a diverse and peaceful community. 

B. These slogans should be used to whitewash or cover up the history of exploitation and suffering. 

C. True unity stems from a complete respect for history and mutual understanding, rather than relying solely on celebratory slogans.

D. Cultural traditions are more important than historical facts when celebrating heritage.

Answer Key

1. B (Directly stated in your introductory sentence)

2. C (Referencing the 15 tunnels and Donner Pass mentioned in your second paragraph)

3. B (Addressing the "erasure" from the 1869 photo described in your third paragraph)

4. A (Referencing the 1943 repeal of the exclusion act due to the WWII alliance)

5. C (Reflecting your concluding argument about "Power in Unity" and historical truth)

Reading Assessment:

Part 1：Multiple Choice

1. 根據第一段，每年的五月在美國有什麼重要的意義？/ 根据第一段，每年的五月在美国有什么重要的意义？

A. 慶祝亞洲和太平洋島國的獨立。/庆祝亞洲和太平洋島国的独立。

B. 紀念亞裔及太平洋島民對美國的貢獻。/ 纪念亞裔及太平洋島民对美国的贡献。 

C. 紀念橫貫大陸鐵路的開工儀式。/ 纪念横贯大陸铁路的开工仪式。

D. 歡迎新一代的亞洲留學生的到來。/ 欢迎新一代的亞洲留学生的到来。

2. 根據第二段，華工在修建鐵路時面臨的最主要挑戰是什麼？/ 根据第二段，华工在修建铁路时面临的最主要挑战是什么？

A. 缺乏先進的機械設備。/ 缺乏先进的机械设备。

B. 薪資太低，無法支撐生活。/ 薪資太低，无法支撑生活。

C. 極其險惡的地理環境和惡劣的天氣。/ 极其险惡的地理环境境和惡劣的天气。

D. 語言不通導致無法與工程師溝通。/ 语言不通导致无法与工程师沟通。

Part 2：True/False with Justification

3. 在1869年的慶祝照片中，華工獲得了應有的榮譽。/ 在1869年的庆祝照片中，华工获得了应有的荣誉。

 [     ]

理由：_________________________________________________________________

4. 二戰期間，美國國會廢除了《排華法案》是因為當時中華民國是美國的盟友。/   二战期间，美国国会废除了《排华法案》是因为当时中华民国是美国的盟友。 

 [     ]

理由：_________________________________________________________________

Part 3 Gap Filling

Traditional Chinese

文章提到華工展現了極大的 (6) ______。他們在 (7) ______ 的環境下工作，對美國的現代化做出了 (8) ______ 的貢獻。

Simplified Chinese

文章提到华工展现了极大的 (6) ______。他们在 (7) ______ 的环境下工作，对美国的现代化做出了 (8) ______ 的贡献。

Options

A. 卓越 (zhuóyuè)

D. 排除 (páichú)

B. 韌性 (rènxìng)

E. 剝削 (bōxuè)

C. 危險 / 危险 (wēixiǎn)

F. 團結 / 团结 (tuánjié)

答案 (Answer Key)

1. B (Directly stated in the first sentence)

2. C (Refers to the Sierra Nevada mountains and Donner Pass)

3. [ X ] 理由：他們的身影被排除在1869年慶祝典禮的照片之外。

4. [ √ ] 理由：因為當時中華民國是美國的盟友，為了加強合作關係。

5. B (韌性 - Resilience)

6. C (危險 - Dangerous)

7. A (卓越 - Exceptional)

English translations

Every May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month in the United States. Throughout the country, numerous celebrations are held to honor the exceptional contributions that residents of Asian and Pacific Island descent have made to American history and culture. However, behind the warm slogans of "peace" and "diversity," we must confront the true stories of blood and tears that were once deliberately erased from our history.

In the 19th century, a group of young Chinese men crossed the Pacific to the American West, carrying their "American Dream" to join the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad. Their work forced them to face the trials of scorching deserts and rugged mountains, using explosives and their bare hands to work in extremely dangerous conditions and brutal weather. Among the various sections, Donner Pass—at an elevation of 7,057 feet—was one of the most difficult. These Chinese laborers, who made up over 80 percent of the Central Pacific workforce, excavated 15 tunnels through the solid granite of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Furthermore, they set a world record by laying more than 10 miles of track in a single day to complete this massive engineering project.

Despite their outstanding achievements, these laborers did not find their "American Dream" easily realized. Throughout their employment, they were subjected to unfair and lower wages compared to their peers. Most tellingly, when the railroad was completed in 1869, their faces were completely excluded from the official commemorative "Champagne Photo." This was followed by the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which institutionalized discrimination against them. These injustices only began to ease during World War II when the Republic of China became a U.S. ally; to strengthen this partnership, Congress passed the Magnuson Act in 1943, finally repealing the discriminatory exclusion laws.

Although the film Iron Road is a story that takes place in Canada, the character portrayed by Tony Leung Ka-fai offers us a glimpse into the lives of that entire generation of laborers. Even though their faces were missing from the official commemorative photograph taken upon the railroad's completion, it was these "silent spines" that supported the prosperity leading to the West. 

The theme for this year's AANHPI Heritage Month is 'Power in Unity.' True unity stems from a complete respect for one another's history. Through windows such as the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA), we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the sacrifices and achievements of Asian ancestors. Facing every facet of history is not only about commemorating the past, but also about building a more inclusive and harmonious future on a foundation of mutual understanding

The AP Chinese Theme

• Personal and Public Identities (個人與公共身份)

• The essay explores the concept of the "American Dream" vs. the reality of being "aliens ineligible for citizenship." Your critique of using slogans like "harmony" to mask exploitation addresses how ethnic identity is publicly negotiated.

• Families and Communities (家庭與社區)

• The essay discusses the formation of early AAPI communities and the impact of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 on family reunification, specifically how the law was used to separate families.

• Global Challenges (全球挑戰)

• The essay addresses the "global challenge" of structural racism and systemic wage exploitation, where Chinese workers were paid significantly less than their peers for more dangerous work.

• Science and Technology (科技與創新)

• The inclusion of specific engineering data—such as blasting 15 tunnels through granite and the single-day record of 10 miles of track—shows how AAPI labor drove 19th-century technological progress.

• Contemporary Life (當代生活)

• By connecting historical events to the 2026 theme of "Power in Unity", the essay relates past struggles for civil rights to modern-day community building and the ongoing battle for social justice.

The IB Mandarin SL Themes

• Identities (身分認同)

The essay explored how the "American Dream" shaped the identity of early immigrants. Their critique of "cheap forgiveness" addresses how Asian Americans negotiate their place in a society that historically excluded them via the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.

• Experiences (體驗)

The essay vividly describes the physical and emotional journey of laborers crossing the Pacific and their migration across the U.S. West (California, Nevada, Utah), turning a job into a life-altering historical experience.

• Human Ingenuity (人類發明創造)

The essay highlighted the engineering marvels achieved through AAPI labor, such as excavating 15 tunnels through solid granite and setting a world record by laying 10 miles of track in one day.

• Social Organization (社會組織)

The text examines the systemic exploitation and wage inequality within the railroad companies. It also discusses the role of community organizations, like the Chinese Six Companies, in fighting for legal rights.

• Sharing the Planet (共享地球)

The theme of "Rights and Ethics" goes by discussing the injustice of the 1882 Exclusion Act and the 1943 Magnuson Act, emphasizing that true global unity requires acknowledging the "scars of history."

ACTFL Proficiency Level: Intermediate Mid

• Internal Cohesion: The essay uses transitional phrases and logical connectors (e.g., "不但如此" - not only that, "隨之而來" - following that) to link sentences. This demonstrates the Intermediate Mid requirement to understand how different ideas are connected within a paragraph.

• Expanded Context: By including specific historical figures (Tony Leung Ka-fai), specialized terminology (Chinese Exclusion Act), and geographic data (Donner Pass at 7,057 feet), the writer moves the reader beyond general everyday greetings into "real-world" factual information.

• Vocabulary Density: The text successfully blends high-frequency language with specialized vocabulary (e.g., "花崗岩" - granite, "剝削" - exploitation). An Intermediate Mid reader can navigate these technical terms when supported by the clear, chronological structure the writer provided.

© 2026 Mandarin Spectrum For Youth. Owned and operated by Rehoboth Hall LLC. All rights reserved. 

Theme       ‍                               ‍                                   Unit Focus                                                                 ‍                                                   Content Ideas for The Magazine

Families and Communities                           Families in Different Societies                                             Traditional vs. modern family roles, filial piety, and community celebrations.

Personal and Public Identities                             Influence of Language and Culture on Identity                       Youth perspectives on being bilingual, national heroes, and ethnic identity.

Beauty and Aesthetics                                         Influences of Beauty and Art                                                   Traditional crafts, architecture, and contemporary Chinese pop art/fashion.

Science and Technology                                   Science and Technology Affecting Lives                                  The impact of social media (WeChat/TikTok) and future inventions.

Contemporary Life                                               Factors That Impact Quality of Life                                           Education (Gaokao), career choices, travel, and health/wellness.

Global Challenges                                               Environmental and Societal Challenges                               Climate change, population trends, and economic shifts in the Chinese-speaking world.

Identities (身分認同 / 身份认同)         Nature of the self, health, and beliefs. Interviews with bilingual youth on "Who am I?"; articles on Gen Z mental health and traditional Chinese medicine vs. modern fitness.

Experiences (體驗 / 体验)                     Events and journeys that shape us. Photo essays on "A Day in the Life" of a student in Shanghai vs. New York; travel guides for "hidden gem" cultural sites; stories of migration.

Human Ingenuity (人類發明創造 / 人类发明创造)     Creativity, innovation, and media. Reviews of trending Chinese apps; features on how AI is changing language learning; profiles of young Chinese digital artists.

Social Organization (社會組織 / 社会组织)          Education, workplace, and community. Comparisons of the "Gaokao" vs. SATs; volunteer spotlights; how youth are reviving "Street Stall" culture or traditional neighborhoods.

Sharing the Planet (共享地球)            Global issues and ethics. "Green Living" tips in Asian cities; youth-led climate initiatives; articles on the ethics of fast fashion and the "Spectrum" of globalism.

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© 2026 Mandarin Spectrum For Youth. Owned and operated by Rehoboth Hall LLC. All rights reserved.