"Two Kinds" Selection Quiz

1. In "Two Kinds", what does the mother hope for her daughter?

• a meeting with Ed Sullivan
• a way to happiness
• a special talent
• a good career

2. Which statement best explains why the daughter in "Two Kinds" develops a negative attitude toward her mother's quizzes?

• she wants to play piano instead of taking tests
• she find the tests getting harder and harder
• she is not interested in geography or math
• she sees herself disappointing her mother

3. In "Two Kinds", what does the daughter realize when she becomes angry at her reflection in the mirror?

• if she does not become a prodigy, she will not succeed at anything
• if she becomes a prodigy, she will be a sad, unpleasant girl
• she has the power to decide for herself who she will be
• she can be the prodigy her mother wants her to be

4. In "Two Kinds", why does the daughter play badly at the talent show? Choose two options.

• she has not been taught well by her teacher, who is deaf
• she wants Waverly, not herself, to win the talent show
• she is too nervous to play well in front of an audience
• she does not sincerely try to learn her selected piece
• she does not wish to play well at the talent show

5. Which of the following is the best definition for lamented?

• showed anger at
• expressed sorrow about
• showed appreciation for
• expressed annoyance at

6. Which situation most clearly shows an example of people squabbling?

• Jose askes Leila for advice on how to fix his bicycle
• Kim and Li fight over who gets to go first up the stairs
• Jamal bores his friends with stories of winning video games
• Ed and Ramon discuss their differing opinions about politics

7. In which situation would the person most likely claim to be devastated?

• Komal graduates at the top of his high school class
• no one shows up for Joshua's thirteenth birthday party
• Rosa must finish her homework before watching television
• Jon's younger sister cannot grasp his explanation of chemistry

8. Read this passage from "Two Kinds". Here, Auntie Lindo, Waverly's mother, is speaking to the narrator's mother about Waverly. "She bring home too many trophy," lamented Auntie Lindo that Sunday. "All day she play chess. All day I have no time do nothing but dust off her winnings." Which statements best describe what this passage reveals about the characters and their situation? Choose all that apply.

• Auntie Lindo likes to show off Waverly's accomplishments
• Auntie Lindo and the narrator's mother compete over their children
• Auntie Lindo thinks it is fine to brag if she pretends to be complaining
• Auntie Lindo is jealous that the narrator also has trophies
• Auntie Lindo is concerned that Waverly has too few hobbies

9. In "Two Kinds", the mother arranges for the daughter to have piano lessons. The daughter gives the following response. "Why don't you like me the way I am? I'm not a genius!" Based on this quotation, choose what the daughter most likely believes.

• if her mother wants her to develop a talent, then her mother must realize that she is not a genius
• if her mother wants her to develop a talent, then her mother must not value her as she is
• because she is not a genius, she does not deserve her mother's efforts to improve her
• because she is not a genius, she must work even harder than other people do to succeed

10. Which statement best sums up the theme, or message, of "Two Kinds"?

• a happy family requires obedient children
• determination is more important than genius
• accepting oneself can be more important than success
• a parent's expectations inspire a child's achievements