Two Kinds Questions

1) What is a prodigy and why does the mother want the main character to become one?

A prodigy is like a person who is taught by someone higher than them and learns their ways. The mother wants her child to be famous because she lost everything.

2) How does the mother prepare her daughter for fame?

She gives her test and lessons.

3) What talents does the girl have?

She can play the piano and make people feel bad.

4) Why does she start the piano lessons and how is the mother going to pay for them?

She wants her child to become famous and she pays for by cleaning Mr. Chong's house.

5) Describe the piano teacher.

Mr. Chong was deaf and he look ancient. He was almost bald with nearly no hair. He had thick glasses and a sleepy eye. He lived with his mother and was not married.

6) What do Auntie Lindo and Jing-Mei's mother have in common?

They both like to brag about their kids and they think that their children are prodigies.

7) In your own words, relate the events of the recital.


Jing Mei was confident about playing and was nervous once she messed up. She never really tried or practiced.

8) What does the author mean when she says, "I didn't have to do what my mother said anymore... This wasn't China"? page 97.
I think that this meant that she finally could stand up 2 her mother.

9) What words does the author use to describe her mother's disappointment in her?

10) Why does Jing-mei come back to play the piano after her mother's death?