Week 2 Reading Quiz

1. Why did Tan's husband not notice her switching between her different "Englishes"?

He was further down the street and couldn't hear.

He doesn't listen to her very carefully.

He has been married to her for 20 years and occasionally uses the same type of "Englishes."

He is also from China.

The reason Tan's husband did not notice her switching between her different "Englishes" is because he has been married to her for 20 years and occasionally uses the same type of "Englishes." This suggests that Tan's husband is familiar with her different ways of speaking English and is accustomed to them, making it less noticeable or surprising to him when she switches between them.

Explanation

The reason Tan's husband did not notice her switching between her different "Englishes" is because he has been married to her for 20 years and occasionally uses the same type of "Englishes." This suggests that Tan's husband is familiar with her different ways of speaking English and is accustomed to them, making it less noticeable or surprising to him when she switches between them.

2. Tan believes that her writing got much better when she began writing for whom?

Herself

Her mother

Chinese Americans

Women

Tan believes that her writing got much better when she began writing for her mother. This suggests that Tan's motivation and inspiration to improve her writing skills came from her desire to communicate effectively with her mother. Writing for her mother may have pushed Tan to be more thoughtful, clear, and engaging in her writing, as she wanted to connect with her mother on a deeper level and convey her thoughts and emotions accurately.

Explanation

Tan believes that her writing got much better when she began writing for her mother. This suggests that Tan's motivation and inspiration to improve her writing skills came from her desire to communicate effectively with her mother. Writing for her mother may have pushed Tan to be more thoughtful, clear, and engaging in her writing, as she wanted to connect with her mother on a deeper level and convey her thoughts and emotions accurately.

3. Tan states that she was giving a talk to a large group of people. It was the same type of talk she gave regularly, but with one difference. What was that difference?

She was using one of her other "Englishes."

Her mother was in the audience.

It was about her book "The Joy Luck Club."

She was speaking in Mandarin.

The difference in Tan's talk was that her mother was in the audience. This implies that Tan's mother was present during the talk, which was not a regular occurrence. The other options mentioned, such as using a different language or speaking about a specific book, do not indicate a difference in Tan's talk compared to her regular talks.

Explanation

The difference in Tan's talk was that her mother was in the audience. This implies that Tan's mother was present during the talk, which was not a regular occurrence. The other options mentioned, such as using a different language or speaking about a specific book, do not indicate a difference in Tan's talk compared to her regular talks.

4. How does Tan know for sure that the hospital employee was treating her mother differently because of her different English?

Because the hospital employee told Tan that her mother was hard to understand.

Because when Tan got on the phone, the hospital employee was quick to apologize.

Because when Tan got on the phone, the hospital employee was rude.

Because the hospital employee also spoke Chinese.

When Tan got on the phone, the hospital employee was quick to apologize. This indicates that the hospital employee acknowledged their previous behavior and apologized, suggesting that they were treating Tan's mother differently because of her different English.

Explanation

When Tan got on the phone, the hospital employee was quick to apologize. This indicates that the hospital employee acknowledged their previous behavior and apologized, suggesting that they were treating Tan's mother differently because of her different English.

5. Why does Tan wince when she refers to her mother's English as "broken" or "fractured."

It suggests that there is something wrong with the way her mother speaks.

It suggests that her mother is hard to understand.

It suggests that her mother speaks in a choppy, halting manner.

It suggests that her mother should try harder.

The correct answer suggests that Tan wince when she refers to her mother's English as "broken" or "fractured" because it implies that there is something wrong with the way her mother speaks. This indicates that Tan may feel embarrassed or ashamed of her mother's English proficiency, possibly due to societal expectations or judgments. It highlights the complex relationship between language, identity, and cultural assimilation.

Explanation

The correct answer suggests that Tan wince when she refers to her mother's English as "broken" or "fractured" because it implies that there is something wrong with the way her mother speaks. This indicates that Tan may feel embarrassed or ashamed of her mother's English proficiency, possibly due to societal expectations or judgments. It highlights the complex relationship between language, identity, and cultural assimilation.

6. Tan suggests that so many Asians study engineering in college because

Their parents tell them to study engineering.

They know that engineering will help them earn a lot of money.

The universities insist that they study Engineering.

They feel that their English is not good enough to study the humanities.

Many Asians study engineering in college because they feel that their English is not good enough to study the humanities. This suggests that they believe engineering is a field that requires less proficiency in English compared to subjects like literature or philosophy. They may perceive engineering as a more technical and practical field where language skills are not as crucial as in the humanities.

Explanation

Many Asians study engineering in college because they feel that their English is not good enough to study the humanities. This suggests that they believe engineering is a field that requires less proficiency in English compared to subjects like literature or philosophy. They may perceive engineering as a more technical and practical field where language skills are not as crucial as in the humanities.

7. Tan says that her mother reads "Forbes" magazine and Shirley MacLaine's books with ease and converses with her stock broker weekly. What point is she trying to make in telling us this about her mother?

That her mother loves to make money.

That her mother loves to read.

That her mother is highly intelligent.

That her mother's English is better than it appears.

Tan is trying to convey that her mother's English skills are better than they may initially seem. By mentioning that her mother reads "Forbes" magazine and Shirley MacLaine's books with ease, as well as converses with her stock broker weekly, Tan implies that her mother is able to understand and engage in complex and sophisticated discussions related to finance and literature. This suggests that her mother's English proficiency is higher than what one might assume based on her appearance or initial impression.

Explanation

Tan is trying to convey that her mother's English skills are better than they may initially seem. By mentioning that her mother reads "Forbes" magazine and Shirley MacLaine's books with ease, as well as converses with her stock broker weekly, Tan implies that her mother is able to understand and engage in complex and sophisticated discussions related to finance and literature. This suggests that her mother's English proficiency is higher than what one might assume based on her appearance or initial impression.