Question

My mother believed you could be anything you wanted to be in America. You could open a restaurant. You could work for the government and get good retirement. You could buy a house with almost no money down. You could become rich. You could become instantly famous.

–“Two Kinds,”
Amy Tan

How does this passage provide an example of an intrinsic motivation?

It demonstrates the mother’s ambition.
It demonstrates that the mother’s main concern is her family.
It demonstrates that the mother doesn’t care what others think.
It demonstrates the mother’s worry about how other people view her.

Answer 1

It demonstrates the mother’s ambition.

Explanation: intrinsic motivation is driven by internal desires (personal goals, self-fulfillment). The passage shows the mother’s belief in and drive toward many achievements—an internal ambition to succeed—rather than concern about others’ opinions or solely family needs.