Global Challenges

What this unit covers

The topics below follow the published Chinese Lang course framework for Unit 6. Chinese Lang publishes no per-unit weighting, so there is no percentage to chase here.

Lessons in this unit

• The 把 (bǎ) Disposal Construction14 min · 3 objectivesForm 把 sentences to show what is done *to* a specific object · Explain why the 把 object must be definite and the verb must be “complex” · Use 把 to describe concrete actions on the environment
• Connectors & Building an Argument13 min · 3 objectivesUse paired connectors such as 因为⋯⋯所以 to link cause and effect · Use 虽然⋯⋯但是 and 不但⋯⋯而且 to concede and to add · Structure a short persuasive paragraph on a global issue

Every term in Unit 6

All 23 terms we publish for Global Challenges, with definitions. Reading them through is the fastest way to find the ones you cannot define — then drill those in cram mode until you can produce them without the prompt.

全球化 (quán qiú huà)

Globalization. 全球性问题 global issues.

污染 (wū rǎn)

Pollution. 空气污染 air pollution; 水污染 water pollution; 雾霾 smog.

气候变化 (qì hòu biàn huà)

Climate change. 全球变暖 global warming; 碳排放 carbon emissions.

可持续发展 (kě chí xù fā zhǎn)

Sustainable development. A formal term that raises the register of any environmental essay.

资源 (zī yuán)

Resources. 自然资源 natural resources; 节约资源 to conserve resources; 浪费 to waste.

垃圾分类 (lā jī fēn lèi)

Waste sorting and recycling. Mandatory in Shanghai since 2019 — a specific, current example.

人口 (rén kǒu)

Population. 人口老龄化 population aging; 人口密度 population density.

贫困 (pín kùn)

Poverty. 扶贫 poverty alleviation; 贫富差距 the gap between rich and poor.

教育机会 (jiào yù jī huì)

Educational opportunity. 教育资源不平衡 unequal distribution of educational resources.

移民 (yí mín)

To immigrate or emigrate; an immigrant. Context decides direction; 移民到 marks the destination.

难民 (nàn mín)

Refugee. Distinguish from 移民 — 难民 implies forced displacement.

战争 / 和平 (zhàn zhēng / hé píng)

War / peace. 维护和平 to maintain peace.

疾病 (jí bìng)

Disease. 传染病 infectious disease; 预防 to prevent; 疫苗 vaccine.

粮食安全 (liáng shí ān quán)

Food security. 粮食 refers specifically to grain and staple food, not food in general (食物).

能源 (néng yuán)

Energy resources. 可再生能源 renewable energy; 化石燃料 fossil fuels.

解决 (jiě jué)

To solve, to resolve. 解决问题 to solve a problem; 解决办法 a solution. 解决 needs an object — it cannot stand alone.

面临 (miàn lín)

To face (a problem, a challenge). 我们面临着严重的挑战。More formal than 遇到.

采取措施 (cǎi qǔ cuò shī)

To take measures. 政府应该采取措施 — the government should take measures. A fixed collocation worth memorizing whole.

不仅⋯⋯而且⋯⋯ (bù jǐn … ér qiě)

Not only … but also, the written-register partner of 不但. Preferred in the essay.

之所以⋯⋯是因为⋯⋯ (zhī suǒ yǐ … shì yīn wèi)

The reason why … is that … 之所以有这个问题，是因为⋯⋯ An advanced pattern that signals control of formal register.

首先⋯⋯其次⋯⋯最后⋯⋯

First … second … finally. The clearest way to structure an argumentative response, and expected in the presentational essay.

在我看来 (zài wǒ kàn lái)

In my view. More formal than 我觉得, and appropriate for stating a thesis.

演讲的时间控制

Cultural Presentation: four minutes to prepare, two to speak. Plan roughly thirty seconds of introduction, sixty of concrete detail, thirty of significance. Running out of material early costs more than running slightly long.

What examiners penalize here

• For persuasive environmental writing, 把 command sentences pack a punch: 请大家把垃圾分类 (Qǐng dàjiā bǎ lājī fēnlèi, “everyone, please sort the trash”). Just remember to give the verb a result and keep the object specific, and you will produce natural, high-level appeals.
• In the presentational essay, aim to use at least two different connector pairs and a couple of sequencing words (首先, 其次, 总之). Graders explicitly reward organization and cohesion, and visible connectors are the fastest way to demonstrate both.

Practice Chinese Lang

Our practice bank is drawn from across the whole course rather than filtered to one unit, which is closer to how the exam asks anyway — it will not tell you which unit a question is testing.

Questions about this unit

All 6 units of AP Chinese Language & Culture

1. Unit 1 · Families & Communities
2. Unit 2 · Personal & Public Identities
3. Unit 3 · Beauty & Aesthetics
4. Unit 4 · Science & Technology
5. Unit 5 · Contemporary Life
6. Unit 6 · Global Challenges