The All-American SlurpThe All-American Slurpbyby

Lensey NamiokaLensey Namioka

ReviewReview

1. What is a conclusion?1. What is a conclusion?

A decision or an opinion you reach by A decision or an opinion you reach by drawing together details in a text.drawing together details in a text.

2. What is a theme?2. What is a theme?

An important idea or message that the An important idea or message that the author wants to convey.author wants to convey.

3. Describe the way in 3. Describe the way in which which each Lin family member each Lin family member learns English. learns English.

The narrator worries a lot and takes care The narrator worries a lot and takes care to speak correctly. Her brother learns to speak correctly. Her brother learns English from his friends and speaks English from his friends and speaks quickly, although not expertly. The father quickly, although not expertly. The father is scientific about learning English and is is scientific about learning English and is proud of his mastery of verb forms. The proud of his mastery of verb forms. The mother memorizes lists of polite phrases.mother memorizes lists of polite phrases.

4. What does each person’s 4. What does each person’s way of learning English way of learning English show about his or her show about his or her personality? personality?

The narrator is concerned about what The narrator is concerned about what people will think about her. The brother is people will think about her. The brother is more concerned about communicating more concerned about communicating with friends than with speaking perfect with friends than with speaking perfect English. The father is proud of his English. The father is proud of his English. The mother is not as confident English. The mother is not as confident as the father but tries to be polite.as the father but tries to be polite.

5. How do the Lins 5. How do the Lins embarrass themselves at embarrass themselves at the restaurant? the restaurant?

They slurp their soup.They slurp their soup.

6. Compare: In what ways 6. Compare: In what ways are the Gleasons’ actions are the Gleasons’ actions at the Lins’ house similar at the Lins’ house similar to those of the Lins at the to those of the Lins at the

Gleasons’ house? Gleasons’ house? Both families struggle to adapt to the Both families struggle to adapt to the

others’ way of eating; both are coping as others’ way of eating; both are coping as well as possible under the well as possible under the circumstances.circumstances.

7. What theme about 7. What theme about cultural cultural differences does the differences does the story story illustrate? illustrate? People from different cultures may have People from different cultures may have

different customs, but they may also different customs, but they may also have many things in common.have many things in common.

8. What details or events 8. What details or events support the theme? support the theme?

Chinese people slurp soup, Americans Chinese people slurp soup, Americans slurp milkshakes; both families learned slurp milkshakes; both families learned about different customs when they visited about different customs when they visited each other’s homes.each other’s homes.

9. How does the narrator 9. How does the narrator feel feel the first time her family the first time her family eats raw celery? eats raw celery?

The narrator is embarrassed.The narrator is embarrassed.

10. What happens when 10. What happens when the Lins eat celery? the Lins eat celery?

Everyone stares as the Lins eat celery.Everyone stares as the Lins eat celery.

11. How does Meg make the 11. How does Meg make the

narrator feel better narrator feel better after after the dinner party at the the dinner party at the Gleasons’ house? Gleasons’ house? Meg mentions that her mother doesn’t Meg mentions that her mother doesn’t

plan for parties and just hopes for the plan for parties and just hopes for the best.best.

12. Why does the narrator 12. Why does the narrator think her brother is think her brother is adjusting better to adjusting better to American life than she American life than she is? is?

He is making friends easily.He is making friends easily.

13. Which of the Lins fits in 13. Which of the Lins fits in first with American first with American culture? culture?

The narrator’s brother fits in first.The narrator’s brother fits in first.

14. What problem do the 14. What problem do the Lins Lins try to overcome in the try to overcome in the story? story?

The Lins family tries to fit in by adjusting The Lins family tries to fit in by adjusting to American customs.to American customs.

15. What does the narrator 15. What does the narrator discover when she discover when she drinks drinks a milkshake with Meg? a milkshake with Meg? The narrator discovers that Americans The narrator discovers that Americans

slurp when drinking milkshakes.slurp when drinking milkshakes.

16. What does the 16. What does the narrator narrator learn about slurping? learn about slurping?

The narrator learns that Americans and The narrator learns that Americans and Chinese both slurp in some situations.Chinese both slurp in some situations.

17. Contrast: What is the 17. Contrast: What is the difference between the difference between the way that the Gleasons way that the Gleasons eat and the way that the eat and the way that the

Lins eat? Lins eat? The Gleasons pile food on their plates The Gleasons pile food on their plates

and mix the foods. The Lins eat one type and mix the foods. The Lins eat one type of food at a time.of food at a time.

18. What lesson about life 18. What lesson about life does the narrator learn? does the narrator learn?

The narrator learns how to fit in to new surroundings The narrator learns how to fit in to new surroundings and that Americans and Chinese are not as different as and that Americans and Chinese are not as different as she first thought. First, she learns that Americans eat she first thought. First, she learns that Americans eat raw celery and that slurping soup is considered bad raw celery and that slurping soup is considered bad manners in the United States. Although Chinese manners in the United States. Although Chinese people slurp soup, Americans slurp milkshakes. people slurp soup, Americans slurp milkshakes. Second, the narrator wants to wear jeans as the other Second, the narrator wants to wear jeans as the other girls do. She wants to understand American ways and girls do. She wants to understand American ways and fit in. Finally, she understands that the Gleasons are fit in. Finally, she understands that the Gleasons are unfamiliar with Chinese eating customs and realizes unfamiliar with Chinese eating customs and realizes that everyone has new experiences that can be that everyone has new experiences that can be embarrassing and that everyone has feelings. She is embarrassing and that everyone has feelings. She is learning to be more accepting of others and of herself.learning to be more accepting of others and of herself.

19. Emigrated19. Emigrated

Left one country to settle in anotherLeft one country to settle in another

20. Smugly20. Smugly

In a way that shows satisfaction to In a way that shows satisfaction to oneselfoneself

21. Systematic21. Systematic

OrderlyOrderly

22. Etiquette22. Etiquette

Acceptable social mannersAcceptable social manners

23. Consumption23. Consumption

Eating; drinking; using upEating; drinking; using up

THE ENDTHE END