Setting, Unreliable Narrator, Text Structure
Which statement best describes the impact of the setting on the plot of the story “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan?
A. The setting in America creates pressure for Jing-mei to live up to her mother’s dream of success, which drives the main conflict.
B. The setting in China allows Jing-mei to easily follow her mother’s traditional expectations.
C. The setting causes Jing-mei to become close friends with other talented children who inspire her to play piano.
D. The setting has little impact on Jing-mei’s actions or feelings toward her mother.
Which statement best describes the impact of the setting on the plot of the story “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan?
A. The setting in America creates pressure for Jing-mei to live up to her mother’s dream of success, which drives the main conflict.
Read the excerpt from the passage.
“Many Native American Children of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were required to attend boarding schools where educators forbade them from speaking their native languages.” (paragraph 2)
Which central idea from the passage does the quotation support?
A. Many languages are vanishing and need to be preserved.
B. Native American languages have been disappearing for years.
C. Language preservation needs to be a global priority.
D. Most speakers of other world languages now tend to speak English.
Which central idea from the passage does the quotation support?
A. Many languages are vanishing and need to be preserved.
Read the excerpt from paragraph 9 of the passage:
“I was Cinderella stepping from her pumpkin carriage with sparkly cartoon music filling the air.” (paragraph 9)
Which statement best explains the significance of the metaphor used in the passage?
A. It showcases the narrator’s initial strong desire to become a prodigy
B. It reinforces the narrator’s rebellious nature.
C. It leads to tension in the plot at the narrator’s mother wants her to focus on math and science, not Disney princesses.
D. It provides evidence that the author had a bad attitude that prevented her from becoming a prodigy.
Which statement best explains the significance of the metaphor used in the passage?
A. It showcases the narrator’s initial strong desire to become a prodigy
Based on the passage The Case of the Disappearing Words, which of the two following answers would be suitable alternative headings?
A. Types of Endangered Languages
B. Developing One World Language
C. How Cultures Lose Language
D. Languages You Should Learn
Based on the passage The Case of the Disappearing Words, which of the two following answers would be suitable alternative headings?
A. Types of Endangered Languages
& C. How Cultures Lose Language
Which words should you underline when taking the UA?
What are Key Words?
(Best, Most, Two, Tone, Purpose, etc)
Which statement from the story “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan reveals the narrator’s point of view about her mother’s expectations?
A. “My mother believed you could be anything you wanted to be in America.”
B. “I hated the tests, the raised hopes, and failed expectations.”
C. “She would look through magazines and point to famous children who could do amazing things.”
D. “In all of my mother’s stories, I was always the obedient daughter.”
Which statement from the story “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan reveals the narrator’s point of view about her mother’s expectations?
B. “I hated the tests, the raised hopes, and failed expectations.”
Read the except from The Case of the Disappearing Words
“Languages tend to become endangered when a dominant culture swallows up a smaller culture.” (paragraph 2)
How does the author’s use of the phrase swallows up contribute to the author’s purpose for writing the passage?
A. It entertains the reader with a sarcastic tone.
B. It serves to inform the reader on how languages disappear and why this should be avoided.
C. It helps persuade the audience not to fight this injustice as it has occurred since the beginning of time.
D. It showcases the importance of not disregarding our history of colonization.
How does the author’s use of the phrase swallows up contribute to the author’s purpose for writing the passage?
B. It serves to inform the reader on how languages disappear and why this should be avoided.
Select two effects of the simile used in paragraph 18:
“I made high-pitched noises like a crazed animal, trying to scratch out the face in the mirror.”
A. The simile entertains the reader by providing a funny joke.
B. The simile emphasizes the author’s frustration with disappointing her mother.
C. The simile shows how the author reacts negatively to the pressure of trying to become a prodigy.
D. The simile is an example of how dangerous the author can be.
Select two effects of the simile used in paragraph 18:
B. The simile emphasizes the author’s frustration with disappointing her mother. &
C. The simile shows how the author reacts negatively to the pressure of trying to become a prodigy.
Read this excerpt from the poem “To James.”
“You ran the race with courage in your chest and fire in your stride.”
What does the phrase “fire in your stride” show about James?
A. He was nervous about finishing the race.
B. He ran slowly to enjoy the moment.
C. He ran with energy, passion, and determination.
D. He felt unsure about his abilities.
What does the phrase “fire in your stride” show about James?
C. He ran with energy, passion, and determination.
Eliminate ______ that sound right but don't match the text.
What are Distractors?
What tone is conveyed by the author’s use of first-person narration in the story “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan?
A. Angry and rebellious
B. Sad and regretful
C. Joyful and carefree
D. Cold and distant
What tone is conveyed by the author’s use of first-person narration in the story “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan?
B. Sad and regretful
Read the excerpt from the passage.
“Sigrid Scully, 84, signed up for a TECH class because she was struggling to stay connected with far-flung-family.” (paragraph 8)
How does the use of figurative language contribute to meaning in the passage?
A. It emphasizes a consequence seniors face when they struggle with technology.
B. It showcases the reason why these tutoring programs were initially implemented.
C. It supports the overall tone of sorrow in the passage.
D. It provides evidence of the program benefiting both teens and seniors.
How does the use of figurative language contribute to meaning in the passage?
A. It emphasizes a consequence seniors face when they struggle with technology.
Match the Sentence with it's appropriate Quote
Sentence 1: The author uses this simile to show her original desire to be a prodigy.
Sentence 2: The author uses this simile to show her own inner struggle at failing to become a prodigy.
Sentence 3: The author uses this simile to hint at her making mistakes, in the future, at the talent show.
Quote 1: “I was like the Christ child lifted out of the straw manger...”
Quote 2: “And her fingers felt like a dead person’s, like an old peach...”
Quote 3: “I made high pitches noises like a crazed animal...”
Sentence 1 = Quote 1
Sentence 2 = Quote 3
Sentence 3= Quote 2
Read this sentence from paragraph 4 of the story “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan: “My mother believed you could be anything you wanted to be in America.” (A)
What does the word “believed” mean in this sentence?
A. To trust or have confidence that something is true
B. To pretend or imagine something that is not real
C. To question or doubt something
D. To repeat something over and over
What does the word “believed” mean in this sentence?
A. To trust or have confidence that something is true
In the following question, how many answers should you select?
"Based on the passage, which of the two following answers would be suitable alternative headings?"
What are two answers?
In the passage The Case of the Disappearing Words, how does the author’s use of headings convey a purpose in the passage?
A. They clarify additional information.
B. They divide the text into smaller and more focused sections that signal towards each section’s central idea.
C. They provide a visual representation of data.
D. They emphasize parts of the text that signal reader interest.
In the passage The Case of the Disappearing Words, how does the author’s use of headings convey a purpose in the passage?
B. They divide the text into smaller and more focused sections that signal towards each section’s central idea.
How does the use of the metaphor in the following affect the tone of the poem?
“The abuelita
Ts ss ts ss
gray-haired shaman
Ts ss ts ss
cures her two children...”
A. It showcases a negative tone as the grandmother scares the children.
B. It emphasizes a tone of frustration as the baby cries.
C. It adds a tone of whimsey and magic as the grandmother helps get the children to sleep.
D. It adds a tone of happiness as the grandmother shows the children a magic trick.
How does the use of the metaphor in the following affect the tone of the poem?
C. It adds a tone of whimsey and magic as the grandmother helps get the children to sleep.
Read the sentence from paragraph 6 of the story “Mom and Me and Mom” by Maya Angelou.
“The train carried us farther and farther from the only home I had ever known.”
What does the word “carried” mean in this sentence?
A. To support the weight of something heavy
B. To hold something in one’s hands
C. To move or transport someone from one place to another
D. To lift something into the air
What does the word “carried” mean in this sentence?
C. To move or transport someone from one place to another
Read the excerpt from the story “The Case of the Disappearing Words.”
“As the townspeople spoke, their words began to fade until only silence filled the air.”
Based on the surrounding context, what is the most likely meaning of the word “fade” as it is used in the sentence?
A. To become louder and stronger
B. To slowly disappear or lose strength
C. To move quickly from place to place
D. To change into something new
Based on the surrounding context, what is the most likely meaning of the word “fade” as it is used in the sentence?
B. To slowly disappear or lose strength
How many answer choices could be correct when the question asks for the best answer?
(All is an acceptable answer)
How does the authors use of photographs and captions convey a purpose in the passage?
A. They help the reader visualize the consequences of allowing languages to disappear.
B. They lend themselves toward important inferences the reader must make in order to fully understand the topic.
C. They showcase the order of events as they relate to the central idea.
D. They emphasize and further explain important aspects of the passage.
How does the authors use of photographs and captions convey a purpose in the passage?
D. They emphasize and further explain important aspects of the passage.
Which of the following is the best answer for why the author used the crystal staircase metaphor in Mother to Son?
A. The metaphor explains the mother's sadness in life.
B. The metaphor highlights the rough experience of the life of the author's mother.
C. The author uses the metaphor to show his unhappiness with life.
D. The author uses the metaphor to show the positive things in his life.
Which of the following is the best answer for why the author used the crystal staircase metaphor in Mother to Son?
B. The metaphor highlights the rough experience of the life of the author's mother.
Read this sentence from paragraph 3 of the story “Tutors Teach Seniors New High-Tech Tricks.”
“The seniors were hesitant at first, unsure if they could master the new devices.”
What does the word “hesitant” mean in this sentence?
A. Excited to try something new
B. Quick to make a decision
C. Slow or unsure about doing something
D. Confident and ready to act
What does the word “hesitant” mean in this sentence?
C. Slow or unsure about doing something
Read the sentence from paragraph 5 of the story “Tutors Teach Seniors New High-Tech Tricks.”
“The students showed great patience as they guided the seniors through the confusing world of technology.”
What does the word “patience” mean in this sentence?
A. The ability to stay calm and not get frustrated while helping others
B. The excitement of learning something new
C. The act of teaching someone a skill quickly
D. The desire to show off knowledge to others
What does the word “patience” mean in this sentence?
A. The ability to stay calm and not get frustrated while helping others
Which answer choices would you eliminate based on test taking strategies?
Select two effects of the simile used in paragraph 18:
“I made high-pitched noises like a crazed animal, trying to scratch out the face in the mirror.”
A. The simile entertains the reader by providing a funny joke.
B. The simile emphasizes the author’s frustration with disappointing her mother.
C. The simile shows how the author reacts negatively to the pressure of trying to become a prodigy.
D. The simile is an example of how dangerous the author can be.
What are answer choices A and D?