Heading:
Chinese Cinderella: Chapters 1 - 11
Using the map above, answer the following questions:
1. Where is Shanghai in relation to Tianjin?
a. Northwest
b. Southwest
c. Northeast
d. Southeast
2. How are Shanghai and Tianjin similar?
a. They are coastal cities on the Yellow Sea
b. They are situated on the Indian Ocean
c. They are both in central China
d. They are equidistant from Hong Kong
3. Using the key within the map, what is the approximate distance between Shanghai and
Tianjin?
a. 400 km
b. 200 km
c. 1000 km
d. 700 km
“I stared at Nai Nai’s toes, all deformed and twisted grotesquely beneath her soles.
Slowly she immersed them in the pan of hot water, sighing with relief and contentment.” (Yen
Mah, 18)
4. What is a synonym for the word deformed as it is used in the passage above?
a. contorted
b. unbending
c. buckle
d. linear
5. What is the correct dictionary definition of the word “immerse” as it is used in the passage
above?
a. To engage in wholly or deeply
b. Involve oneself deeply in a particular activity or interest.
c. Bury in, absorbe in
d. Dip or submerge in liquid
6. What is an antonym for the word contentment?
a. gratification
b. fulfillment
c. disappointment
d. furious
Chapter 1-3:
Describe the following characters:
Adeline:
Niang:
Father:
Aunt Baba:
Ye Ye:
Siblings (list and describe them):
1. Using the box-it method answer the following question: What did Adeline earn at school?
Why did she earn this? Where does Aunt Baba put it? What does this show Adeline? (4 points)
2. What is the reasoning behind Adeline’s family’s mistreatment of her?
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3. Describe the French influence in Adeline’s community
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4. Who in the book has bound feet? _________________________________
5. How does this affect her life?
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6. What does this tell you about Adeline’s family (hint- who usually had their feet bound)?
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7. Use the box-it method to answer the following question: Does Adeline have her feet bound?
Why or why not? (2 points)
Chapters 4-6
Adeline’s medal causes different reactions from different people. In the chart below, describe
the character’s reaction in the top box, and in the bottom box, explain WHY you think this
character reacted this way.
Father
Big Sister
Other siblings
Adeline
Aunt Baba
1. Describe what happened at the school award ceremony:
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2. Which characters leave/disappear in this chapter?
________________________ _____________________________
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3. How does Adeline feel about the characters leaving?
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4. What happens to NaiNia? _____________________________________________________
5. Who takes responsibility as the eldest mourner?
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6. How are Chinese funerals different from funerals that you have attended or have heard of?
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________7. Describe the Shanghai home:
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8. Use the box-it method to answer the following question: Does Niang treat her children and
her stepchildren the same? Find one piece of evidence in chapter 5 to support your answer. (2
points)
9. What type of school will Adeline attend in Shanghai?
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10. What is the name of the school? ______________________________________________
11. How does Adeline get to school on her first day?
__________________________________
12. Put the following events from chapter 6 into chronological order (number the events on the
line below):
________ Adeline was the only one left at school.
________ Adeline enters the restaurant.
________ Adeline realizes that she doesn’t know her address.
________ Adeline sees a brightly lit dim sum shop.
________ Adeline reflects on a memory of her Big Brother and is able to figure out her
telephone number.
________ A red-faced woman touches Adeline’s shoulder.
________ Adeline wanders along the road and sees trees, Motorcars, trams, rickshaws,
pedicabs, and bicycles.
13. What does Father give Adeline so that she won’t get lost again? ________________
Heading:
Chapter 7 - 8
1. Which characters are scheduled to arrive on the last Sunday in October:
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2. Describe Little Sister:
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3. How long has it been since Niang has seen Little Sister?
_____________________________
4. Using the box-it method, answer the following question: Is Little Sister excited to see her
mother, Niang? Find two pieces of evidence from chapter 7 to support your answer. How does
Niang handle this situation? (4 points)
5. Who interrupts Niang as she is punishing Little Sister? ____________________________
6. Who used to be in charge of the household? ____________________________________
7. Who is in charge of the household now? ________________________________________
8. Which character is providing the children with tram fare?
9. What is the only way Niang will allow the children to have money for the tram?
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10. What is the “Holy of Holies”?
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“Then I heard her words, loaded with malice, which made my heart jump and her hair stand up
on the back of my neck. “Get out!” she snarled in a cold, distinctive voice. “I shall never forgive
you! Never! Never! Never! You’d better watch out from now on! You will pay for your
arrogance!”’
8. What does the word malice mean as it is used in the passage above?
a.
b.
c.
d.
A desire to harm others or to see others suffer
Kindness shown to others during a difficult time
Sadness
To hurt and suffer
9. What is the correct synonym for the word snarled as it is used in the passage above?
a. entangle
b. knot
c. growl
d. foul
10. Arrogance means: having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance or
abilities. Synonyms: superior, conceited, self-important.
Why do you think Niang uses the word “arrogance” in reference to Adeline’s behavior?
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Chapter 9-11
1. What gifts to the children receive for the Chinese New Year? What do these gifts symbolize
about the favoritism within the family?
Child
Gift and Symbol
Adeline
Big Sister
Adeline’s Brothers (2nd
and 3rd Brother)
Fourth Brother
Little Sister
2. Why are Adeline’s brothers called “Buddhist monks”?
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3. Why do the children decide that a hunger strike won’t be the best way to get back at their
parents?
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4. What is third brother’s reaction to his collision with Niang?
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5. How does Niang get her revenge against the children?
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6. Why do you think writing is so important to Adeline?
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7. Why do Adeline’s classmates probably think that there is something wrong with her?
1. _________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________________________
4. _________________________________________________________________
8. What is the dreadful secret that Adeline can never share?
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9. Why do you think that Adeline doesn’t want anyone to find out about her secret?
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10. Who is Wu Chun-mei? Describe her in detail as well as her importance to Adeline.
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11. Why does Adeline walk to and from school? Why will she not allow her friend’s driver to
give her a ride? Use the box-it method to answer these questions. (2 points)
12. America dropped an atom bomb on Japan in 1945. How did this event affect Adeline’s
life/community?
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13. Why does Adeline relate to Sara Crewe from A Little Princess? How are the two girls
similar?
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14. During the spring of 1946, Father, Niang, Big Sister, Fourth Sister, and Younger Brother.
What are three ways that the children “rebel” against their parents while they are gone?
1.
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2.
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3.
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15. Was daily life different for the entire family while Father, Niang, and the three children were
away? Provide three pieces of evidence from chapter 10 to support your answer. (Use the boxit method - 4 points)
16. Adeline becomes close to one of her siblings, which sibling befriends her?
______________
17. Why is Adeline unable to see pictures of her real mother?
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18. What does the event above symbolize?
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19. What special recognition does Adeline receive at school?
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20. Adeline is crying at the end of chapter 10. What event occurred that upset her, and what
about the situation really hurts her feelings the most? (box-it 2 points)
“Reassured, we each bit into our fruit-only to pucker up in total disgust. But Wu Chunmei looked so impish and mischievous that we soon all burst out laughing.” (Mah 71)
21. Disgust : Loathing :: Impish : _________
a. Naughty
b. Distaste
c. Horrid
d. Delight
22. Describe what happened to PLT. Include what PLT stands for and who gave it to Adeline.
Be sure to tell the who, what, where, when and why of the incident.
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23. Identify the significance of the loss of PLT to Adeline. Give at least one detail from the text
that supports your response. (2 pts)
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