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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. 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) Los Angeles, New York, and London
(b) Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles
(c) New York, Paris, and London
(d) Seattle, Minneapolis, and New York

2. When her mother offered to give her the piano for her birthday, Jing-Mei says she saw this action as what?
(a) A sign of apology
(b) A sign of forgiveness
(c) A sign of hope
(d) A sign of repentance

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

4. What word does Jing-Mei use to describe Auntie Lindo’s daughter in the narrative?
(a) Voluptuous
(b) Gracious
(c) Humble
(d) Snotty

5. How many days after the talent show is it when Jing-Mei is surprised that her mother insists she practice piano?
(a) 3
(b) 5
(c) 2
(d) 4

6. How do Jing-Mei and her parents travel home after the talent show?
(a) By limousine
(b) By taxi
(c) By train
(d) By bus

7. Of the composition that the piano prodigy plays on The Ed Sullivan Show, Jing-Mei says, “I remember the song, because later on” what?
(a) It was the song played at my mother’s funeral
(b) I heard it again on the radio
(c) I had that song played at my wedding
(d) I had to learn how to play it

8. Where does Jing-Mei live while growing up?
(a) Sacramento, California
(b) Oakland, California
(c) San Francisco, California
(d) Los Angeles, California

9. What does Jing-Mei say Mr. Chong would balance on her wrists as she practiced piano so that she would keep them still?
(a) Quarters
(b) Apples
(c) Pennies
(d) Dimes

10. When was the Magnuson Act signed into law?
(a) 1961
(b) 1988
(c) 1959
(d) 1943

11. 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’re not as talented as you think you are
(c) You did a wonderful job
(d) You aren’t a genius like me

12. How many days have passed since Jing-Mei and her mother watched The Ed Sullivan Show when Jing-Mei’s mother tells her that she will be taking piano lessons?
(a) 4
(b) 5
(c) 6
(d) 3

13. Where does Jing-Mei describe the piano as standing in her parents’ living room at the end of the story?
(a) In front of the television
(b) In front of the bay windows
(c) In front of the staircase
(d) In front of the door to the kitchen

14. In the 1993 film adaptation of The Joy Luck Club, what actress played the role of Jing-Mei?
(a) Kieu Chinh
(b) Tamlyn Tomita
(c) Tsai Chin
(d) Ming-Na Wen

15. How many hours a day does Jing-Mei have access to the piano at Mr. Chong’s for practice when she first begins taking lessons?
(a) 2
(b) 4
(c) 1
(d) 3

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Jing-Mei doing on the day when her mother insists she go practice at the piano after the talent show fiasco?

2. What does Jing-Mei’s mother trade with Mr. Chong so that Jing-Mei may take piano lessons from him?

3. What is the name of Auntie Lindo’s daughter in the story?

4. When Jing-Mei has a revelation while staring at herself in the bathroom mirror as a child, she says, “I had new thoughts, willful thoughts, or rather thoughts willed with lots of” what?

5. What literary term refers to a short impressionistic scene that focuses on one moment or gives a trenchant impression about a character, idea, setting, or object?

(see the answer keys)

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