Understanding Wong Ming-Chung's Journey

How does the simile "They jam the harbor like fish in my village pond" help you visualize the scene?

• It shows how beautiful the harbor is.

• It helps compare the crowded ships to fish in a pond.

• It makes the harbor feel peaceful and serene.

• It describes the people on the ships.

Why did the narrator think he was standing "in the middle of a forest"?

• He could hear birds chirping.

• He mistook the tall masts of ships for trees.

• He saw trees growing on the docks.

• He was dreaming of home.

How does the narrator feel about his new home?

• He is excited but worried.

• He is completely terrified.

• He feels like it is boring and lifeless.

• He hates the weather and the people.

What inferences can you make about what Wong Ming-Chung is going to do in San Francisco? Why does he call it the Golden Mountain?

• He plans to stay and farm.

• He is likely looking for gold, which people see as wealth and opportunity.

• He will build houses for Chinese workers.

• He is going to explore and go back home.

How did the Chinese group together when they first arrived?

• By clans, based on their family names.

• By region, such as Four Districts or Three Districts.

• By the kind of work they wanted to do.

• By where they wanted to live in San Francisco.

Why were many people living in tents in San Francisco?

• There was no wood to build houses.

• Fires had destroyed most buildings, and tents were easier to set up.

• They were too poor to afford homes.

• They were waiting for their ships to arrive.

What does the author compare San Francisco to in this metaphor?

• A large pot of stew.

• A crowded room.

• A mountain full of gold.

• A ship full of people.

What two things worry Wong Ming-Chung?

• The lack of food and the dangerous weather.

• The number of miners and their need for weapons.

• The fires in the city and the crowded ships.

• The cold weather and the long journey home.

Why is Wong's group luckier than some of the Chinese?

• They get to sleep in mansions.

• They are allowed to live inside the headquarters building.

• They already found jobs in San Francisco.

• They are closer to the gold fields.

What is the setting of the story?

• Beijing during the 19th century.

• San Francisco during the California Gold Rush.

• A remote village in China.

• A ship traveling across the Pacific Ocean.