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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. The little girl that Jing-Mei and her mother watch playing piano on The Ed Sullivan Show is said to have what kind of haircut?
(a) A Shirley Temple haircut
(b) A Peter Pan haircut
(c) A Raggedy Anne haircut
(d) A Barbie Doll haircut

2. From what opera does Jing-Mei describe the “breasted girl with white makeup” singing from at the talent show?
(a) Les Miserables
(b) The Phantom of the Opera
(c) Guys and Dolls
(d) Madame Butterfly

3. What refers to circular toys that are twirled around the waist, and that some of the children used at the talent show when Jing-Mei made her piano debut?
(a) Juggling balls
(b) Jump ropes
(c) Hula Hoops
(d) Yo-yos

4. How does Jing-Mei say her academic career ended in “Two Kinds”?
(a) She earned a bachelor’s degree
(b) She earned a master’s degree
(c) She dropped out of college
(d) She earned a law degree

5. The majority of the narrative of “Two Kinds” is related from what perspective?
(a) First-person
(b) Third-person
(c) Fourth-person
(d) Second-person

6. What does Jing-Mei say to defend the young piano player on The Ed Sullivan Show when her mother criticizes her performance?
(a) She’s not that good, but she’s got a great dress and demeanor
(b) She’s pretty good. Maybe she’s not the best, but she’s trying hard
(c) I think her playing sounds beautiful. I don’t know what you’re talking about
(d) I’m sure she’s practiced. Her parents have money for good training

7. What word from the story means to play music with a vibratory or quavering effect?
(a) Treble
(b) Bass
(c) Trill
(d) Sonata

8. One of the tests that Jing-Mei’s mother gave her as she attempted to lure out the prodigy in her daughter was predicting the daily temperatures in what three cities?
(a) New York, Paris, and London
(b) Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles
(c) Seattle, Minneapolis, and New York
(d) Los Angeles, New York, and London

9. How old is the little girl on The Ed Sullivan Show that Jing-Mei and her mother watch playing piano?
(a) 16
(b) 9
(c) 12
(d) 3

10. Jing-Mei is surprised after her “talent-show fiasco” that her mother did not do what?
(a) Ground her
(b) Slap her
(c) Weep
(d) Yell at her

11. What does Jing-Mei say she mostly did do while she was practicing her music for the talent show?
(a) Practiced her scales and chords
(b) Listened to all the errors she made
(c) Daydreamed about being elsewhere
(d) Focused on the keys she was playing

12. Of Auntie Lindo, Jing-Mei’s mother says in the beginning of the story, “Her daughter, she is only best” what?
(a) Student
(b) At trying
(c) Chess champion
(d) Tricky

13. By what name does Jing-Mei refer to Mr. Chong’s mother as in the story?
(a) Witch Chong
(b) Beverly Chong
(c) The Wolf
(d) Old Lady Chong

14. What does Auntie Lindo’s daughter say matter-of-factly to Jing-Mei after her performance at the talent show?
(a) You should really be a singer
(b) You did a wonderful job
(c) You aren’t a genius like me
(d) You’re not as talented as you think you are

15. As Jing-Mei walks back to her seat after her performance in the talent show, she overhears a little boy say to his mother, “That was awful.” What does the boy’s mother reply?
(a) Shh. She’s right there
(b) She was terrible
(c) She was wonderful
(d) Well, she certainly tried

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Jing-Mei’s last name in the story?

2. What is the neighborhood called where Jing-Mei’s family lives when she’s a child?

3. What musical term in the story refers to the sounding of notes in a chord in rapid succession instead of simultaneously?”

4. What is symbolized by the second song that Jing-Mei finds in her piano workbook at the end of the story?

5. Where did author Amy Tan grow up?

(see the answer keys)

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