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- 1. Multiple Choice
What can you infer about the minister’s family in this story?
They are embarrassed and shocked by the behavior of the narrator’s relatives at dinner.
They are comfortable eating with people of different backgrounds and cultures.
They are allergic to the exotic food being served by the narrator’s mother.
They are excited to have the opportunity to try new and different foods for Christmas.
- 2. Multiple Choice
Which piece of evidence best supports your inference about the minister's family?
“Robert and their family waited patiently for platters to be passed to them" (1).
“Robert was looking at his plate with a reddened face" (1).
“‘It’s a polite Chinese custom to show you are satisfied,’ explained my father” (1).
“I knew that she understood how much I had suffered during the evening’s dinner" (1).
- 3. Multiple Choice
How is the character of Amy affected by her culture?
Her Chinese relatives and the unique food on the menu make her feel uncomfortable in her own home.
Her father’s behavior at dinner makes her wish she had been born into a different family.
She desperately wishes to appear more American, so she feels better when her mother gives her the skirt.
She is proud of her home and happy to have guests over for dinner, making her feel confident
- 4. Multiple Choice
When Amy saw the food her mother was cooking, she most likely felt
amused
surprised
excited
ashamed
- 5. Multiple Choice
Why is Amy nervous about having guests over for dinner?
She lives in an apartment.
She has been sick.
Her mom is loud and embarrassing .
She is embarrassed about her family's Chinese customs.
- 6. Multiple Choice
The narrator refers to her family's efforts at hosting a Christmas dinner as a "shabby Chinese Christmas". The word "shabby" shows her _______.
pride
embarrassment
confidence
anger
- 7. Multiple Choice
What does the tweed skirt represent?
Chinese culture
American culture
Amy's freedom
Japanese culture
- 8. Multiple Choice
Which line best shows the difference between Amy's family and Robert’s family?
"Robert grunted hello, and I pretended he was not worthy of existence" (1).
"My relatives licked the ends of their chopsticks and reached across the table, dipping them into the dozen or so plates of food. Robert and his family waited patiently for platters to be passed to them" (1).
"Then my father poked his chopsticks just below the fish eye and plucked out the soft meat. "Amy, your favorite," he said, offering me the tender fish cheek" (1).
"And then they arrived – the minister's family and all my relatives in a clamor of doorbells and rumpled Christmas packages" (1).
- 9. Multiple ChoiceWhy does Mother say "you want to be American girl on the outside"?She knows her daughter is struggling with her culture.She knows her daughter loves American clothing.She knows her daughter is in love with an American boy.They live in America.
- 10. Multiple ChoiceWhich 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.
- 11. Multiple Choice
Though the dinner seems painful to Amy at the time, how does she view it later?
It is such an unpleasant memory that she refuses to talk about it.
Since so many years have gone by, she ignores the fact that it happened.
She forgets the way she felt that night once her crush on Robert is over.
She is impressed by her mother’s love for her in making her favorite foods.
- 12. Multiple Choice
The best example of a difference between Chinese and American cultures that occurs in the selection is
rumpled Christmas wrappings
a loud belch to say “thank you”
a Chinese girl in a miniskirt
gatherings of family and friends
- 13. Multiple Choice
What is one of the things for which Amy prays?
a tweed miniskirt
a Christmas turkey
a family like Robert's
a slim, American nose
- 14. Multiple Choice
The title “Fish Cheeks” indicates all of the following except
The difference between Chinese and American customs
Amy's embarrassment over her family's customs
Amy's favorite part of the fish
Amy's name for herself after that Christmas Eve
- 15. Multiple Choice
Most descriptions of food in "Fish Cheeks" produce mental images that are
ordinary
delightful
unusual
confusing
- 16. Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes a mental image of how Amy probably looked at the end of the dinner?
pale, with downcast eyes
flushed, with a big smile
exhausted, with black circles beneath her eyes
energetic, with a lively expression
- 17. Multiple Choice
Which phrase is not descriptive of the Chinese dinner in the story?
"white sponges" of tofu
"roasted turkey"
"slimy rock cod"
"soaking dried fungus"
- 18. Multiple Choice
The author’s statement that her relatives arrived “in a clamor of doorbells and rumpled Christmas packages” appeals to the senses of
sight and taste
taste and smell
touch and smell
sight and hearing
- 19. Multiple Choice
What did Tan’s mother mean when she said to Amy, “You only shame is to have shame?”
Her mother is attempting to point out that Amy should not be embarrassed about her culture.
Amy’s actions at dinner were embarrassing to her mother.
Amy embarrassed the entire family by taking the fish cheeks.
Amy’s mother felt Amy should not attempt to be American in any way.
- 20. Multiple Choice
What is Amy Tan’s purpose in writing this memory?
Tan likes telling childhood stories.
As a mature adult, Tan realizes the significance behind her experience.
Tan wishes to remember all of the boys she liked as a teenager.
Tan wishes to remember traditional Chinese customs.
- 21. Multiple Choice
"...knife markings on squid resembling bicycle tires"
The above phrase is an example of what type of figurative language?
metaphor
simile
personification
alliteration
- 22. Multiple Choice
"Tofu, which looked like stacked wedges of rubbery white sponges"
The above phrase is an example of what type of figurative language?
metaphor
simile
personification
alliteration
- 23. Multiple Choice
"A slimy rock cod...pleaded not to be thrown into a pan of hot oil."
The above phrase is an example of what type of figurative language?
metaphor
simile
personification
alliteration
- 24. Multiple Choice
Which is a theme of the story?
Don't let others get too close to your heart.
Friendship is important to young people.
Love can cause us to do foolish things.
Be proud of who you are.
Don't let others get too close to your heart.
Friendship is important to young people.
Love can cause us to do foolish things.
Be proud of who you are.
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