Q 01/05

In Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club, which tile game do the four immigrant mothers meet to play?

A) Mahjong

B) Dominoes

C) Pai gow

D) Rummikub

Answer · why

A) Mahjong

Mahjong also shapes the book itself, which is arranged like a game in four parts of four stories each.

Q 02/05

In Amy Tan's "Two Kinds", which child star's films do Jing-mei and her mother study as a model?

A) Judy Garland

B) Shirley Temple

C) Elizabeth Taylor

D) Natalie Wood

Answer · why

B) Shirley Temple

Shirley Temple is the first template, and Jing-mei is even sent for a hairstyle meant to copy the star's blond curls.

Q 03/05

In Amy Tan's "Two Kinds", which TV program's young Chinese pianist inspires Jing-mei's mother?

A) American Bandstand

B) The Tonight Show

C) The Lawrence Welk Show

D) The Ed Sullivan Show

Answer · why

D) The Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan Show sets the plan in motion. Within three days of the broadcast, Jing-mei's mother has arranged lessons for her.

Q 04/05

In Amy Tan's "Two Kinds", why does Jing-mei's elderly piano teacher never notice her wrong notes?

A) He dozes off

B) He hums along

C) He is deaf

D) He leaves the room

Answer · why

C) He is deaf

He is deaf, and his eyes are too slow to catch the wrong notes she plays. Jing-mei learns she can keep the rhythm and get away with her mistakes.

Q 05/05

In "A Pair of Tickets", which American meal do Jing-mei's relatives in China order at their hotel?

A) Pizza and soda

B) Hamburgers and fries

C) Hot dogs and milkshakes

D) Fried chicken and biscuits

Answer · why

B) Hamburgers and fries

Hamburgers and fries, with apple pie à la mode, are what the family wants, just as Jing-mei is longing for her first real Chinese feast.