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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. Jing-Mei describes her childhood ambitions in the beginning of the story by comparing herself to “Cinderella stepping from her pumpkin carriage with” what type of music “filling the air”?

2. At what time does Jing-Mei have access to Mr. Chong’s piano for her daily practice sessions when she begins studying with him?

3. Of Auntie Lindo’s daughter, Jing-Mei says “We had grown up together and shared all the closeness of two sisters squabbling over crayons and dolls. In other words, for the most part, we” what?

4. When Jing-Mei stands up after playing her piano solo at the talent show, she realizes what are shaking?

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

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 Waverly Jong in the narrative? What has Waverly gained recognition through?

3. What do the Schumann songs at the end of the story represent symbolically?

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

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

6. How does Jing-Mei feel about her mother’s ambitions for her at first when she is a child?

7. How did critics receive The Joy Luck Club and “Two Kinds” upon publication?

8. What does Jing-Mei find when she takes her bow after her performance at the talent show?

9. How does Jing-Mei describe her mother’s immigration to America in the opening of the story? What did she leave behind?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the character of Suyuan Woo in “Two Kinds.” How does Jing-Mei describe her mother’s tragic history and her immigration into the U.S.? What happened to Suyuan’s young twin daughters? What does Suyuan believe? How does she change in the story?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the imagery and symbolism of Jing-Mei’s transformation that occurs when she cries in the mirror. How does the image of Jing-Mei’s reflection give her strength? What does she do with this strength? What does this moment signify in Jing-Mei’s life?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 923 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample