3. What college does Jing-Mei say she didn’t get into, causing more disappointment for her mother?
(a) Stanford
(b) Yale
(c) Emerson
(d) Oxford

4. How does Jing-Mei describe the Schumann piece that she was to play at the talent show?
(a) It was a strong and powerful piece, one that I loved
(b) It was a simple, moody piece that sounded more difficult than it was
(c) It was a difficult, multi-layered piece that sounded less difficult than it was
(d) It was a textured piece that showed off skills that I didn’t even have

5. What does Jing-Mei say she never really did while she practiced for her talent show?
(a) Connect with the music that flowed through her
(b) Worry about how she looked while playing
(c) Listened to what she was playing
(d) Think about anything other than the music

Short Answer Questions

1. While watching the young piano prodigy on The Ed Sullivan Show with her mother, Jing-Mei says, “In spite of these warning signs, I wasn’t worried.” Why was Jing-Mei not concerned?

2. Jing-Mei says that as a child “sometimes the prodigy in me became impatient.” What did Jing-Mei’s inner prodigy tell her at this time?

3. Who does Jing-Mei tell her mother she wishes she were like as they argue about piano practice after the talent show?

4. By what name does Jing-Mei refer to Mr. Chong’s mother as in the story?

5. What does Jing-Mei say Mr. Chong would balance on her wrists as she practiced piano so that she would keep them still?

(see the answer key)

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