Asians
What the Math?
What does the Quote mean?
Random
100
Why is harvesting a rice paddy harder than harvesting another crop?
Because the size is tiny, as big as a hotel room! They must keep up with it frequently and if there is one mistake, the whole crop is ruined (232).
100
Why are Asians typically better at math than Americans, according to Gladwell?
Because Asians start math a year or so before Americans having a head start (230).
100
“Success is a function of persistence and doggedness and the willingness to work hard for twenty-two minutes to make sense of something that most people would give up on after thirty seconds” (246).
If one puts in hard work for what they are doing and doesn’t give up, in the end most likely they will be successful in what they were doing.
100
Why does Gladwell say that Asians could win if there was a Math Olympics every year?
-Because they put in more hard work and dedication, therefore they must be better at math (248).
200
Why is the stereotype that Asians are more intelligent and better than others?
Because they don’t use machines like other countries, and they are better managers of their own time also making better choices (233).
200
Why do American children start math much later than Asian?
Because they say that “math doesn’t seem to make sense…its clumsy and complicated” (230).
200
“No one man who can rise before dawn three hundred sixty days a year fails to make his family rich” (238).
If you can’t get up and do what needs to be done, you will most likely not be successful.
200
Why does Gladwell state that being good at math relates to a groups culture?
-It goes back to the idea that Asians put in more work dealing with rice paddies and that strict dedication will pass on through family.
300
What is the reason why Gladwell talks so much about Rice Paddies?
Because it resembles the hard work that has to be put in to be successful. Rice paddies take a lot more work and dedication than regular crops.
300
Why does Renee not as for help when working with the graph?
Because she is determined to finish and find out the answer independently.
300
“Sometimes people of Asian background get offended when their culture is described this way (more intelligent), because they think that the stereotype is being used as a form of disparagement. But a belief in work ought to be a thing of beauty” (239).
-To this day it is a fact that Asian=intelligence is a stereotype but it’s not something that should be frowned upon, one should feel accomplished.
300
How can coming from a culture shape a person into being the way they are?
-The people that raise you will affect you in some way and eventually give off some influences.
400
According to Gladwell, Why do the Chinese seem to be able to memorize more numbers than Americans with an average of 20 seconds?
Because the Chinese number system is shorter than the American; It is easier to memorize.
400
Why are Asians attitude toward math different than others?
Because their language is easier. It literally explains it as they say it “For fractions, we say three-fifths. The Chinese is literacy ‘out of five parts, take three’” (230).
400
“Hard work, shrewd planning and self-reliance or cooperation with a small group will in time bring recompense” (238).
-It is saying if you put your all into what you are doing, the outcome will bring relief and contentment.
400
Explain this quote: “Throughout history, not surprisingly, the people who grow rice have always worked harder than almost any other kind of farmer” (233).
-Because these people had to deal with rice paddies, it required them to have more intellect and obedience. These farmers had to put their all into it otherwise the crop would die.
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