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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How many days after the talent show is it when Jing-Mei is surprised that her mother insists she practice piano?

2. What word from the story means to play music with a vibratory or quavering effect?

3. Why does Jing-Mei say she sent a tuner to recondition the piano at her parents’ house?

4. What musical term from the story means pertaining to the lowest part in harmonic music?

5. What does Jing-Mei wear in her hair at the talent show?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Jing-Mei’s mother respond when Jing-Mei refuses to practice piano after the talent show?

2. What are Suyuan Woo’s views of opportunity in America, as noted by the narrator in the opening of the story?

3. Describe the narrative style of the story. Who is the narrator and how is her perspective defined?

4. How does Jing-Mei respond to her mother’s comment about her to Auntie Lindo? What foreshadowing follows this scene?

5. What comment does Waverly Jong make to Jing-Mei after her performance at the talent show? How does this make Jing-Mei feel?

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

7. Who attends the talent show when Jing-Mei performs? How does Jing-Mei take the stage?

8. What innovations in literary style is Amy Tan known for?

9. When does Jing-Mei’s mother first introduce to her the concept of a child prodigy?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss the genre and tone of the story. Define these terms in your response and discuss how “Two Kinds” could be categorized into different genres. How does the author establish the tone of the story in the first pages?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze and discuss Suyuan Woo’s idolization of Shirley Temple in “Two Kinds.” What did Shirley Temple symbolize to the American people (and others) during the Great Depression? Why does she hope for her daughter to share these qualities? How does she go about molding Jing-Mei after Shirley Temple?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze and discuss the character of Mr. Chong in “Two Kinds.” What was Mr. Chong’s profession prior to his retirement? How old does Jing-Mei perceive Mr. Chong to be? Where does Mr. Chong live? How does Mr. Chong relate to Jing-Mei?

(see the answer keys)

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