After reading the extract from PETER by Kate Walker and answering the comprehension questions, go to http://www.penguin.com.au/products/9780670029242/maos-last-dancer/extract and read the extract taken from MAO'S LAST DANCER by Li Cunxin.
In a small, desperately poor village in north-east China, a young peasant boy sits at his rickety old school desk, interested more in the birds outside than in Chairman Mao's Red Book and the grand words it contains. But that day, some strange men come to his school – Madame Mao's cultural delegates. They are looking for young peasants to mould into faithful guards of Chairman Mao's great vision for China.
This is the true story of how that one moment in time, by the thinnest thread of a chance, changed the course of a small boy's life in ways that are beyond description. One day he would dance with some of the greatest ballet companies of the world. One day he would be a friend to a president and first lady, movie stars and the most influential people in America. One day he would become a star: Mao's last dancer, and the darling of the West.
After reading the extract, work with a partner to come up with 10 questions based on the extract that you will swap with another two students in the class. The questions should take on the same format as the questions from PETER and should have some focus on FAMILY VALUES. Post your QUESTIONS ONLY as a comment below.
1. Who is Niang?
ReplyDelete2. Does Cunyuan like Niang?
3. Were where Cunxin and Cunyuan going and how did they get there?
4. Why did Cunyuan want to leave earlier than was needed?
5. What was troubling Cunyuan?
6. Why did Cunyuan tell cunxin the story of when they used to fight crickets?
7. What was in the parcel that Cunyuan had given cunxin?
8. Who did cunxin ask to swap seats with him?
9. What was the voice in Cunxins mind telling him to do?
10. What is the authors purpose in only showing this part of the book?
1) Who is the author of Mao’s last dancer?
ReplyDelete2) What did Niang tell Cunyaun to be careful about?
3) Where on the bike did Cunyaun sit?
4) Why did Cunyaun ride as fast as he could?
5) When was the train scheduled to arrive?
6) The quote “I could tell from the movement of his chest that his emotions were like a rough sea”. What does the term rough sea mean?
7) Why does Cunyaun think he should have never been born?
8) Find quotes that support why Cunyaun wants to go Tibet?
9) Why won’t Cunyaun’s family let him go Tibet and marry who he wants?
10) What made Cunyaun’s classmates feel that something was wrong with Cunyaun?
1) Why did Li's Niang start to sob when Li left the house?
ReplyDelete2) Why couldn't Li and Cunyuan hug at the station?
3) Why were Li's freinds concerned?
4) where does Cunyuan want to go?
5) Why did Cunyuan pedal so hard?
6) Why did Li and his freinds keep on swapping seats?
7) Why did Cunyuan give Li the lollies?
8) What kind of life does Li's family lie back home?
9) Who is Niang by the discription of the charecter?
10) Why does Cunyuan want to go to Beijing?
David and Andrew
ReplyDelete1) Why was Cun Xins brother (Cunyuan) so upset?
2) Why did Cunyuan stop by the side of the road?
3) Where was Cun Xin leaving to?
4) What does Niang stand for?
5) What does Dia stand for?
6) How did Cun Xin feel about his brother’s sadness?
7) What meaning was behind the fighting cricket story?
8) How do you think Cun Xin feels about leaving his family?
9) How does Cun Xin finally think after he opens the parcel.
10) What do you think was Cun Xins families social status?
1. How old is Cunyuan?
ReplyDelete2. How was the weather on the morning Cunxin left?
3. Where is Cunxin Going?
4. Why did Cunyuan feel so sad and hopeless?
5. How did Cunxin feel as he saw Cunyaun talking about his life?
6. How does the metaphor with the cricket relate to Cunyuan’s situation?
7. While on the train Cunxin realises he could never go back to the life he used to have but instead must do what?
8. From the text how would you describe Cunxin?
9. When Cunxin was about to get on the train he wanted to hug his brother. Why was this?
10. What has caused the tension between Cunyuan and Niang?
1.Where was Mao's last dancer book based in?
ReplyDelete2.when when the book Mao's last dancer published?
3.Who is the author of Mao's last dancer?
4.Who is Niang?
5.What feelings did Niang have when Li Cuxin had to leave?
6.Why was Cunyuan angry and frustrated when he rode his bike away as far as he could?
7.When Li Cuxin was dropped at the train station how long did he have to wait for?
8.Where did Cunyuan wanted to go in his life?Why was this place so much in his life?
9.Where was Li Cuxin going?
10.Could Li Cuxin fight for his life?
1. Who is the author?
ReplyDelete2. Why did his Cunyuan want to leave early?
3. Why was his Cunyuan so upset?
4. What do Dia and Niang mean?
5. Why do you think the main character wanted to be left alone after his friends offered him comfort him?
6. How much impact would this quote 'Cunxin, you are privileged. You are lucky. Go forward. Don't be afraid and don't look back. There is nothing back there, only your family's unconditional love and that will always propel you forwards.' Have on a person? Why?
7. What do you think is the solution for his Cunyuan? Why?
8. What life would you have had preferred out of being a professional dancer away from your family not knowing if you are going to be successful or not OR being a farmer living the same life every day? Why?
9. Would you have enjoyed this book if you had continued reading it? Why or why not?
10. What do you think happened next?
1. What was the character’s idea so that his niang wouldn’t feel lonely and sad?
ReplyDelete2. Why did the character ‘try to fight back his tears’?
3. Why did the character ‘felt slightly easier leaving home this time’?
4. Cunyuan says 'I'm sorry you had to witness this unpleasantness,'. What was this unpleasantness?
5. What is Cunyuan’s impression towards the character? How do you know this?
6. Why did the character just ‘shook his head’ on the questions Cunyuan asked?
7. What is the character’s impression towards Cunyuan? How do you know this?
8. ‘I would always miss my parents' love and my brothers' company, but I knew deep in my heart that my future now lay ahead, not behind’. What does this mean?
9. What was the use of leaning against the window in the plane?
10. The last paragraph of the extract tells us that the mysterious voice is his’. What do you think this means?
1. Why did Cunxin find it easier to leave home this time than the last time?
ReplyDelete2. Why did Cunyuan break down in tears?
3. How did Cunyuan act while he was peddling on the bike?
4. Who is Tibet?
5. What was the job of Cunyuan and the rest of Cunxin`s family?
6. Where was Cunxin going to go and what for?
7. How does Cunyuan explain how his life is?
8. What was in the parcel Cunxin received?
9. What was the place called that Cunxin was from?
10. What was the family’s biggest problem?
1. Who is the author of the book?
ReplyDelete2. Who is Niang and Dia?
3. What is the relationship between the protagonist and Cunyuan?
4. What were the main impacts that were stopping Cunyuan from fulfilling his dreams?
5. How did Cunyuan describe this 'world' as being as and what was he going to do so that he doesn't live in a world like this?
Questions 5-10 will be posted by Jesse Thai
5. Why did Cunyuan rode away fast as he could when they left for the station, what does this show about his situation?
ReplyDelete6. Why is Tibet the only opportunity for Cunyuan, why wasn’t he allowed to go there?
7. How does the cricket story reflect to what is happening to ?
8. What is the main cause to Cunyuan ’s problem , is it the same problem that millions of other young people in China are going through as well ?
9. What was in the box that Cunyuan gave to the protagonist and what was it that made him cry when he untied the box ?
10. How do you think Cuxin’s family is feeling right now, do they feel the same as his brother, Cunyuan ?
(J.T)
1) Who is the author of Mao’s last dancer?
ReplyDelete2) What did the character suggest when the character’s niang was upset with tears welling in her eyes?
3) Why did the character tried to fight back the tears?
4) What language technique is the quote” Cunyuan rode away as fast as he could as though this would release his anger and frustration”?
5) I'm sorry you had to witness this unpleasantness,' he said as he pushed the bike off the road” What was the unpleasantness established within this extract?
6) How is Niang and Dia related to the Main character in ‘Mao’s last Dancer”?
7) Why was Cunyuan so upset?
8) Why was Tibet so important to Cunyuan? Which quote shows this?
9) Describe the relationship throughout the family including the mum, dad and relatives.
10) What could the narrator do when Cunyuan was prevented in reaching his dream destiny? Why?
Andrew Pham
niang: 'she turned to cunyuan. 'be careful, especiallyon the narrow roads. just stop if you see a truck coming'. cunyuan:'why do you care?' cunyuan muttered under his breath."
ReplyDelete(Q1)what does this tell us about cunyuan's relationship with niang?
(Q2) in the extract cunyuan states that 'there is no colourin this life', what does this mean in terms of his family and every-day life?
(Q3) After reading the note attached to the parcel Cuxin begins to cry, why?
(Q4) What does Cunyuan desperately want to run away from?
(Q5) How does a losing cricket tryiong to escape from its tormentor relate to Cunyuans life?
(Q6) who is niang and what is she to Cunyuan?
(Q7) Who is Dia and what is she to Cunyuan?
(Q8) Who is Cunyuan?
(Q9) Why was Cunyuan angry at Niang?
(Q10) Why does Cunyuan complaining about 'waking up early and working in the field'?
1. When was the train scheduled to arrive?
ReplyDelete2. Why did Cunyuan give Li the lollies?
3. Why was Cun Xins brother (Cunyuan) so upset?
4. How do you think Cun Xin feels about leaving his family?
5. How old is Cunyuan?
6. How was the weather on the morning Cunxin left?
7. Who is the author of Mao's last dancer?
8. Where on the bike did Cunyaun sit?
9. Why did Cunyaun ride as fast as he could?
10. What does Dia stand for?
1. Who is the author of Mao's last dancer?
ReplyDelete2. When Niang first walked outside what did she first say?
3. What did Niang tell Cunyuan to be careful about?
4. Where on the bike did Cunyuan sit?
5. When was the train scheduled to arrive?
6. Why did Cunyuan pedal so hard?
7. Why did Fu and his friends keep swapping seats?
8. What type of life does Cunyuan's family lie back at home?
9. What does the voice in Cunyuans mind telling him to do?
10. Why does Cunyuan thunk he should have never been born?