Question

“well, i probably can’t play anymore,” i said. “it’s been years.”
“you pick up fast,” said my mother, as if she knew this was certain. “you have natural talent. you could been genius if you want to.”
“no, i couldn’t.”
“you just not trying,” said my mother. and she was neither angry nor sad. she said it as if to announce a fact that could never be disproved. “take it,” she said.
—“two kinds,”
amy tan
what causes the conflict between the characters in this passage?
○ the mother demands obedience, no matter the situation.
○ the mother cares more about results than about her daughter.
○ the mother does not believe that her daughter can become a prodigy.
○ the mother believes that her daughter is not trying her best, and the daughter disagrees.

Explanation:

1. Analyze Option 1: The passage doesn't show the mother demanding obedience in all situations, just a belief about effort. Eliminate.
2. Analyze Option 2: The mother's comments show she believes in the daughter's talent, so she cares about her (and results), but this misrepresents her. Eliminate.
3. Analyze Option 3: The mother says "You have natural talent. You could been genius if you want to," so she does believe the daughter can be a prodigy. Eliminate.
4. Analyze Option 4: The mother says "You just not trying" (believes daughter isn't trying), and the daughter says "No, I couldn't" (disagrees with the mother's assessment of her effort/talent potential), so this matches the conflict.

Answer:

D. The mother believes that her daughter is not trying her best, and the daughter disagrees.