Fish Cheeks

How does the narrator's description of the cod in paragraph 3 impact the tone of the passage?

• A. She describes it as “slimy” and pathetic, which contributes to the angry tone of the passage.
• B. She describes it as “slimy” with “bulging eyes,” which contributes to the horrified tone of the passage.
• C. She describes it as pleading with big “bulging eyes,” which contributes to thepitying tone of the passage.
• D. She describes it as pleading not to be cooked, which contributes to the mocking tone of the passage.

Why did Amy want to "disappear"?

• She was embarrassed because she belched in front of Robert
• She was embarrassed about the way her family members were eating
• She had a zit on her forehead
• She dropped her plate while serving food

 How does the narrator’s point of view affect how the events are described in the passage?

• A. She is nervous to have the boy she likes over for Christmas dinner, and so thetext focuses entirely on the boy’s reactions.
• B. She is bored with her family’s old Chinese traditions and wants to try newmodern customs, and this affects how she focuses on being more “American.”
• C. She is excited to have the minister’s son over for Christmas, and this excitementcauses her to criticize every little detail of her mother’s cooking.
• D. She is embarrassed by her family’s Chinese customs, and this shame influenceshow she describes the food and her family’s behavior.

Which sentence from the selection best shows that the author was not excited about her crush coming to dinner?

• Robert grunted hello and I pretended he was not worthy of existence.

• When I found out that my parents had invited the minister's family over for Christmas Eve dinner, I cried.

• But inside you must always be Chinese.

• I was stunned into silence for the rest of the night.

What is the narrator’s main conflict?

• She wishes she had a slim nose like those of the American girls.

• She doesn’t like any of the food that her mother is preparing for Christmas Eve dinner.

• She is afraid Robert won’t like her when he sees how her family celebrates Christmas.

• She doesn't like the gift that her mother gives her.

What would Robert think of our shabby Chinese Christmas? What would he think of our noisy Chinese relatives who lacked proper American manners? What terrible disappointment would he feel upon seeing not a roasted turkey and sweet potatoes but Chinese food?

Based on this text evidence, we can conclude that Amy is ...

• Self-assured

• Anxious

• Curious

• Angry

What is ironic about the last sentence of the essay?

• Amy didn't know that she'd be getting a miniskirt for Christmas and would have acted more grateful if she knew

• Amy's mother was excited to share her daughter's favorite foods with guests while Amy felt embarrassed

• Amy's father gave up his favorite part of the fish (the cheeks) for his daughter and she didn't appreciate it

• There is nothing ironic about the final line

"He was not Chinese, but as white as Mary in the manger"

What is amusing about the simile Amy Tan created here? PICK TWO

• Mary is not the one in a manger, Jesus is, which demonstrates her misunderstanding of American culture

• She is comparing Robert to Mary even though he is a boy and Mary was a girl

• Amy compares Robert to Mary in the manger, even though Robert is just a boy and Mary is a religious icon

• There is nothing amusing about this simile