Those tests were constructed around items like fill-in-the-blank sentence completion, such as “Even though Tom was ______, Mary thought he was _____.” And the correct answer always seemed to be the most bland combinations of thoughts, for example, “Even though Tom was foolish, Mary thought he was ridiculous.” Well, according to my mother, there were very few limitations as to what Tom could have been and what Mary might have thought of him. So I never did well on tests like that.
How does Tan build a central idea of her story in the excerpt?
Tan discusses the types of questions on achievement tests to support the idea that the tests limit students’ ability to write well.
Tan explains a question on a language achievement test to support the idea that the tests should include more interesting content.
Tan gives an example of her experience with achievement tests to support the idea that they are not always accurate measures of language ability.
Tan considers how her mother might answer a question on a test to support the idea that nonstandard English limits a person’s ability to communicate.
Read the excerpt from "Mother Tongue."
Just last week, I was walking down the street with my mother, and I again found myself conscious of the English I was using, the English I do use with her. We were talking about the price of new and used furniture and I heard myself saying this: “Not waste money that way.” My husband was with us as well, and he didn’t notice any switch in my English. And then I realized why. It’s because over the twenty years we’ve been together I’ve often used that same kind of English with him, and sometimes he even uses it with me. It has become our language of intimacy, a different sort of English that relates to family talk, the language I grew up with.
Which best summarizes the central idea of the excerpt?
Nonstandard forms of English are most appropriate with family.
Standard forms of English can create connections between people.
Nonstandard forms of English can create connections between people.
Standard forms of English are not appropriate to use with family.
Which best summarizes one central idea of the passage from "Mother Tongue"?
All forms of the English language are meaningful and purposeful.
Some forms of the English language do not translate well into writing.
The English language would be more efficient with a Chinese structure.
English language proficiency can only be determined through testing.
Read the excerpt from "Mother Tongue."
Just last week, I was walking down the street with my mother, and I again found myself conscious of the English I was using, the English I do use with her. We were talking about the price of new and used furniture and I heard myself saying this: “Not waste money that way.” My husband was with us as well, and he didn’t notice any switch in my English. And then I realized why. It’s because over the twenty years we’ve been together I’ve often used that same kind of English with him, and sometimes he even uses it with me. It has become our language of intimacy, a different sort of English that relates to family talk, the language I grew up with.
Which information from the excerpt best supports the inference that nonstandard forms of English can express relationship nuances that standard English cannot?
Tan encourages her husband to use nonstandard English so her mother can understand him.
Tan uses nonstandard English with her husband so that he can better understand what she is saying.
Tan forces herself to use nonstandard English with her family to make them feel more comfortable.
Tan uses the nonstandard English of her childhood with her husband because it expresses intimacy.
Read the excerpt from "Mother Tongue."
I’ve heard other terms used, “limited English,” for example. But they seem just as bad, as if everything is limited, including people’s perceptions of the limited English speaker.
How does Tan build a central idea of her story in the excerpt?
Tan presents factual evidence to support the idea that the English language provides fewer opportunities for expression than other languages.
Tan expresses an opinion to support the idea that people who speak nonstandard forms of English are unfairly judged in negative ways.
Tan tells a story to support the idea that people who speak nonstandard forms of English are unable to communicate effectively.
Tan discusses the limits of writing in English to support the idea that authors learn other languages to express their ideas more fully.
3 answers
Here are the responses for each of the provided excerpts from "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan:
How does Tan build a central idea of her story in the excerpt?
Answer: Tan gives an example of her experience with achievement tests to support the idea that they are not always accurate measures of language ability.
Which best summarizes the central idea of the excerpt?
Answer: Nonstandard forms of English can create connections between people.
Which best summarizes one central idea of the passage from "Mother Tongue"?
Answer: All forms of the English language are meaningful and purposeful.
Which information from the excerpt best supports the inference that nonstandard forms of English can express relationship nuances that standard English cannot?
Answer: Tan uses the nonstandard English of her childhood with her husband because it expresses intimacy.
How does Tan build a central idea of her story in the excerpt?
Answer: Tan expresses an opinion to support the idea that people who speak nonstandard forms of English are unfairly judged in negative ways.
These responses emphasize Tan's exploration of the complexities of language and how different forms can express identity, relationships, and societal perceptions.
Read the excerpt from "Mother Tongue."
Just last week, I was walking down the street with my mother, and I again found myself conscious of the English I was using, the English I do use with her. We were talking about the price of new and used furniture and I heard myself saying this: “Not waste money that way.” My husband was with us as well, and he didn’t notice any switch in my English. And then I realized why. It’s because over the twenty years we’ve been together I’ve often used that same kind of English with him, and sometimes he even uses it with me. It has become our language of intimacy, a different sort of English that relates to family talk, the language I grew up with.
What can be inferred from the excerpt?
Tan believes that nonstandard English can make family communication difficult.
Tan believes that nonstandard English can be an important part of family culture.
Tan believes that the use of nonstandard English is a way to keep family business private.
Tan believes that the use of nonstandard English must be guarded against in public.
Read the excerpt from "Mother Tongue."
And here you would be presented with a list of four possible pairs, one of which showed the same kind of relationship: red is to stoplight, bus is to arrival, chills is to fever, yawn is to boring. Well, I could never think that way. I knew what the tests were asking, but I could not block out of my mind the images already created by the first pair, “sunset is to nightfall”—and I would see a burst of colors against a darkening sky, the moon rising, the lowering of a curtain of stars.
How does Tan build a central idea of her story in the excerpt?
Tan gives an example of a test question to support the idea that more efforts must be made in the home to expose children to standard English.
Tan relates a story about taking an achievement test to support the idea that English curricula must be structured more like math curricula.
Tan discusses achievement tests to support the idea that language cannot be separated from the personal meanings and experiences attached to it.
Tan describes her experience with achievement tests to support the idea that published authors are most qualified to write test questions for students.
Read the excerpt from "Mother Tongue."
I am a writer. And by that definition, I am someone who has always loved language. I am fascinated by language in daily life. I spend a great deal of my time thinking about the power of language—the way it can evoke an emotion, a visual image, a complex idea, or a simple truth. Language is the tool of my trade. And I use them all—all the Englishes I grew up with.
Which best summarizes the central idea in the excerpt?
Tan believes that language should be thought of as a communication tool.
Tan believes that some forms of English are more powerful than others.
Tan enjoys using language to manipulate the feelings and thoughts of readers.
Tan enjoys thinking about language and using different forms of English.
Read the excerpt from "Mother Tongue."
And sure enough, the following week there we were in front of this astonished stockbroker, and I was sitting there red-faced and quiet, and my mother, the real Mrs. Tan, was shouting at his boss in her impeccable broken English.
Which information from the excerpt best supports the inference that all forms of English can be effective forms of communication?
Tan uses “red-faced” to describe herself when her mother is speaking.
Tan uses the phrase “the real Mrs. Tan” to refer to her mother.
Tan uses the word “shouting” to describe her mother’s tone of voice.
Tan uses the word “impeccable” to describe her mother’s English.
Here are the inferred responses for each of the provided excerpts from "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan:
What can be inferred from the excerpt?
Answer: Tan believes that nonstandard English can be an important part of family culture.
How does Tan build a central idea of her story in the excerpt?
Answer: Tan discusses achievement tests to support the idea that language cannot be separated from the personal meanings and experiences attached to it.
Which best summarizes the central idea in the excerpt?
Answer: Tan enjoys thinking about language and using different forms of English.
Which information from the excerpt best supports the inference that all forms of English can be effective forms of communication?
Answer: Tan uses the word “impeccable” to describe her mother’s English.
These answers reflect Tan's exploration of the different varieties and contexts of English, emphasizing their emotional and cultural significance.
1 answer