1. Discuss the following questions.
1) What did Waverly’s mother teach her when she was six years old? How did she teach her?
2) How did Waverly get her name? What’s her Chinese name?
3) What did her mother try to do for Waverly and her brothers? What kind of neighborhood did they live in?
4) Why does Waverly believe she is not poor?
5) What are some Chinese cultural heritage, customs and values reflected in this excerpt?
6) When did Waverly first become interested in chess? Through what means did she learn it?
7) As a first-generation Chinese immigrant, what challenges does the mother face? What’s her attitude toward “American rules”?
8) What conflict arises in the story between the mother and the daughter?
9) Why does the narrator enjoy chess so much?
10) How does the author use symbols in the story? Give examples and explain.
2. Tell whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F).
1) Waverly Jong, the youngest child and only daughter, lives with her family in San Francisco over a supermarket. ( )
2) “The art of invisible strength” means getting what you want without asking for it or being obvious. ( )
3) Lindo expected Waverly to excel at everything except chess. ( )
4) Lindo seemed to be more attached to Chinese values and customs. ( )
5) Waverly made fun of the Chinese food because she was not in favor of Chinese culture. ( )
6) Waverly becomes obsessed with playing chess, and becomes very good at it, winning trophies and tournaments. ( )
7) Waverly’s brothers volunteer to do all the chores so that she can study her chess playing. ( )
8) Lindo Jong, proud of Waverly, brags to people about Waverly and introduces her to everyone as her daughter. ( )
9) Waverly is disrespectful and treats her mother and others poorly, resulting in her family feeling hostility toward her. ( )
10) To Waverly, her relationship with Lindo is just like a chess game, herself being the winner. ( )