AMY TAN MOTHER TONGUE QUESTIONS QUESTION 1 What

AMY TAN “MOTHER TONGUE” QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1 • What word in the final sentence of the first paragraph (lines 6 -7) is unusual in the way it is used? • How is it used? A. B. C. D. First person pronoun Verb tense Plural noun Capital letter • Why does Amy Tan use “Englishes”?

QUESTION 2 • The function of the first paragraph is to… A. Explain the purpose of the passage B. Define the relationship between literary language and everyday speech. C. Describe the author’s writing process D. Describe the author and her interests • Do you think this is a good first paragraph? What did you think of Amy Tan when first reading the paragraph?

QUESTION 3 • The third paragraph provides… A. A concrete example of how writers transform personal experience into art. B. A series of assertions about the nature of language C. A rationale for the author’s shifting of allegiances. D. An anecdote that reinforces ideas expressed in the previous paragraphs. • What is an anecdote? What anecdote does Amy Tan use? • What message is Amy Tan trying to convey through her anecdote?

QUESTION 4 • What is the purpose of the first two sentences in the last paragraph (lines 68 -73) • The first two sentences in the last paragraph (lines 68 -73) do which of the following? A. B. C. D. Define ambiguous terms Develop vivid metaphors Resolve disagreements Present contrasts • Are there any misconceptions that you believe people have about you or your family? Why do you believe these misconceptions exist?

QUESTION 5 • Which of the following best characterizes the voice of the author in the passage as a whole? A. B. C. D. A lonely, private voice An informal, public voice An ironic, disillusioned voice A scholarly, detached voice • What is the tone of the writing? What creates this tone? • What tone would you select in telling a story about your family or yourself? Explain why.

QUESTION 6 • What is the central message (theme of the essay)? • The central message in the passage is the notion that… A. B. C. D. English has been enriched by borrowing from other languages. Speakers use different forms of language for different purposes. English is easier to understand than to speak. Creative writers should first master the standard form of their native language. • Do you change the way that you speak when around different groups of people? Why does this happen? Is it a good or bad thing?