The Adventure of Building the Transcontinental Railroad
Once upon a time, in the mid-1800s, a huge project began in America—the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. This gigantic railroad connected the East and West coasts, making travel across the country faster and easier than ever before. It was a phenomenal feat, taking six long years to complete! The construction was a race between two big companies, the Union Pacific and Central Pacific. Starting from different ends of the country, they laid down tracks across plains, deserts, and mountains, finally meeting at Promontory Point in Utah. However, this enormous task wasn't done alone. Many workers, particularly immigrants from China and Ireland, worked tirelessly to build this marvel. They faced harsh weather, tough terrains, and long hours but never gave up. Today, their hard work is remembered as a critical part of America's growth and unity.
Question 1
How long did it take to complete the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad?
Six years
Ten years
Three years
Fifteen years
Question 2
Where did the two companies finally meet after laying down the tracks?
Promontory Point in Utah
Central Park in New York
Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
Liberty Island in New York
Mount Rushmore in South Dakota
Question 3
The term 'phenomenal feat' in the text can be best replaced by which of the following?
Amazing accomplishment
Terrible disaster
Minor task
Unfortunate event
Regular occurrence
Question 4
Who were the major workers in the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad?
Immigrants from China and Ireland
Soldiers from the Civil War
Native American tribes
Farmers from the Midwest
Slaves from the South
Question 5
Why was the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad important?
It connected the East and West coasts, making travel across the country faster and easier
It created jobs for the unemployed
It caused the invention of the steam engine
It was the first railroad in the world
It led to the discovery of gold
or share via
Assign the ReadTheory pretest to determine students' reading levels.
