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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the name of Auntie Lindo’s daughter in the story?
(a) Ying-Ying
(b) Betty
(c) Waverly
(d) An-Mei

2. What complaint does Jing-Mei’s mother make about the young piano prodigy that she watches on The Ed Sullivan Show?
(a) Play not too good, but has character
(b) Play wrong notes and smiles without meaning to
(c) Play wrong notes. Chords are all off
(d) Play note right, but doesn’t sound good! No singing sound

3. Jing-Mei soon learns after beginning her piano lessons with Mr. Chong that he is deaf. He compares himself to what composer, saying “We’re both listening only in our head”?
(a) Mozart
(b) Chopin
(c) Berlioz
(d) Beethoven

4. Why does Jing-Mei say she sent a tuner to recondition the piano at her parents’ house?
(a) Because I wanted to sell it
(b) Because I wanted to have it appraised
(c) Because I planned to play it again
(d) For purely sentimental reasons

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Mr. Chong and Jing-Mei’s mother conspire to have Jing-Mei perform in a talent show held where in the story?

2. What does Jing-Mei’s mother do to earn money for the family when Jing-Mei is a child?

3. Jing-Mei says to her mother as they argue over piano practice after the talent show, “I’ll never be the kind of daughter you want me to be!” Her mother responds, “Only two kinds of daughters.” What are these two kinds?

4. Jing-Mei describes the fingers of Mr. Chong’s mother as feeling like what?

5. What word from the story means coolly unconcerned, indifferent, or unexcited?

Short Essay Questions

1. How and when did the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act influence immigration in the U.S.?

2. How does Jing-Mei describe Mr. Chong’s history in music? How does she describe her first lessons?

3. How does Jing-Mei describe her life as she passed from childhood to adulthood? In what ways does she say she disappointed her mother?

4. How does Jing-Mei describe the piano at her parents’ house when she returns following her mother’s death?

5. How do the subjects and themes in Amy Tan’s works relate to those of other Asian American authors?

6. How does Suyuan Woo go about discovering her daughter’s “genius” in the beginning of the story?

7. What does Jing-Mei discover about Mr. Chong’s disabilities as she studies with him? How does this discovery influence her actions?

8. How do Jing-Mei’s feelings about her mother’s ambitions begin to change early in the story? What causes her feelings to change?

9. What does Jing-Mei discover about playing the piano as she begins her studies with Mr. Chong?

10. How does Jing-Mei describe the process of playing scales for Mr. Chong?

(see the answer keys)

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