模擬TOEFL iBT リーディング問題 - エイミー・タンとジョイ・ラック・クラブ

模擬TOEFL iBT問題は「独り言」ではないなあ、と感じ始めていたので、タイトルを変更。いくつか他にもネタがたまっていて、キリがいいところでひとつの記事にまとめたい。

今回はジョイ・ラック・クラブを題材に TOEFL iBT の模擬リーディング問題を作成してみた。昔、ロングマンか何かで似たようなトピックを見たことがある。The Joy Luck Club は母校、国際基督教大学の一年生が夏休みに課される伝統的な読書課題。ひぃひぃ言いながら読んだ記憶がある。今の業界に入って、韓国系カナダ人、台湾系カナダ人、韓国系アメリカ人、中国系アメリカ人などと一緒に仕事をする機会にも恵まれたが、彼ら彼女らは全員が The Joy Luck Club を読んでいた。早慶上智や関関同立も、学部によっては学生に読ませても良いのではないかと思う。

以下、今回のパッセージと問題。Have fun!

The Legacy of Amy Tan's "The Joy Luck Club"

Amy Tan is a renowned American author of Chinese descent. She has captivated readers with her poignant and insightful novels that explore themes of cultural identity, family dynamics, and the immigrant experience. Born in 1952 in Oakland, California, to Chinese immigrant parents, Tan's upbringing instilled in her a deep understanding of the complexities of navigating two cultures. Her aptitude for crafting stories that resonate with readers across diverse cultural backgrounds stemmed from her personal experiences.

Tan's childhood was marked by tragedy and loss. When she was 14 years old, her father, a Baptist minister, and her older brother both passed away from brain tumors within a year. This devastating experience shocked Tan and her family, leading them to relocate to Switzerland for a few years before returning to the United States. Tan herself struggled with depression and mental health challenges, much like her grandmother and mother, who also suffered from mental illness. However, Tan found solace in writing fiction, which became a therapeutic outlet for her to process her emotions and experiences.

Tan's most celebrated work, "The Joy Luck Club," published in 1989, is a powerful novel that delves into the intricate relationships between four Chinese immigrant mothers and their American-born daughters. Through a series of interwoven narratives, the novel explores the challenges and triumphs of navigating cultural differences within families. The mothers, who formed the "Joy Luck Club" as a way to connect and share their experiences, recount their journeys from China to America, their struggles with assimilation, and the sacrifices they made for their families. The Joy Luck Club itself was a social gathering where the mothers would come together to play the traditional Chinese game of mahjong, share stories, and support one another as immigrants in a new country. It served as a space for them to preserve their cultural roots while building a sense of community. Their daughters, grappling with their own identities and the expectations placed upon them, grapple with understanding their mothers' past and the cultural legacy they have inherited.

The novel "The Joy Luck Club" garnered widespread critical acclaim and commercial success. It resonated deeply with readers, particularly those of Asian American descent, who saw their own experiences reflected in the characters' journeys. The novel's exploration of universal themes like family, identity, and communication transcended cultural boundaries, making it a relatable and thought-provoking read for a broader audience. Notably, the book was also well-received in several Asian countries, striking a chord with readers from diverse cultural backgrounds. In China, readers appreciated Tan's authentic portrayal of the immigrant experience and the intergenerational conflicts arising from cultural differences. Japanese audiences praised the novel's exploration of universal themes such as family dynamics and the challenges of assimilation. Furthermore, the book found a receptive audience in countries like India, Vietnam, and Malaysia, where readers connected with the characters' struggles to navigate dual identities and preserve cultural traditions in new environments. The widespread resonance of "The Joy Luck Club" across Asia and other regions underscored its ability to capture the complexities of cultural identity and intergenerational relationships in a manner that transcended geographical boundaries.

The enduring impact of "The Joy Luck Club" extends beyond the literary realm. The novel's adaptation into a critically acclaimed film in 1993 helped amplify its reach and resonance, introducing Tan's powerful narrative to an even broader global audience. Directed by Wayne Wang and featuring an ensemble cast of prominent Asian American actors, the film version of "The Joy Luck Club" gained widespread popularity and further cemented the story's cultural significance. It opened doors for the novel to be appreciated by viewers across numerous countries, transcending language barriers and allowing its poignant themes to touch the hearts of diverse audiences worldwide. The film's success played a pivotal role in expanding the conversation around cultural identity, intergenerational dynamics, and the immigrant experience on an international scale. The story has sparked important conversations about cultural identity, intergenerational relationships, and the experiences of immigrants in American society. It has served as a catalyst for increased awareness and understanding of the Asian American experience, contributing to a more inclusive and diverse cultural landscape.

Amy Tan is a renowned American author of Chinese descent. She has captivated readers with her poignant and insightful novels that explore themes of cultural identity, family dynamics, and the immigrant experience. Born in 1952 in Oakland, California, to Chinese immigrant parents, Tan's upbringing instilled in her a deep understanding of the complexities of navigating two cultures. Her aptitude for crafting stories that resonate with readers across diverse cultural backgrounds stemmed from her personal experiences.

1. The word “aptitude” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to

(A) hesitation
(B) knack
(C) gratitude
(D) avoidance

Tan's childhood was marked by tragedy and loss. When she was 14 years old, her father, a Baptist minister, and her older brother both passed away from brain tumors within a year. This devastating experience shocked Tan and her family, leading them to relocate to Switzerland for a few years before returning to the United States. Tan herself struggled with depression and mental health challenges, much like her grandmother and mother, who also suffered from mental illness. However, Tan found solace in writing fiction, which became a therapeutic outlet for her to process her emotions and experiences.

2. The word “marked” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to

(A) characterized
(B) checked
(C) blemished
(D) replenished

3. According to paragraph 2, which of the following is true about Amy Tan’s early life?

(A) She lost her siblings consecutively.
(B) Her mother and grandmother passed due to brain tumors.
(C) She took to writing, which helped her to recover. 
(D) Her writing career began at the age of 14.

Tan's most celebrated work, "The Joy Luck Club," published in 1989, is a powerful novel that delves into the intricate relationships between four Chinese immigrant mothers and their American-born daughters. Through a series of interwoven narratives, the novel explores the challenges and triumphs of navigating cultural differences within families. The mothers, who formed the Joy Luck Club as a way to connect and share their experiences, recount their journeys from China to America, their struggles with assimilation, and the sacrifices they made for their families. The Joy Luck Club itself was a social gathering where the mothers would come together to play the traditional Chinese game of mahjong, share stories, and support one another as immigrants in a new country. It served as a space for them to preserve their cultural roots while building a sense of community. Their daughters, grappling with their own identities and the expectations placed upon them, grapple with understanding their mothers' past and the cultural legacy they have inherited.

4. According to paragraph 3, what can be inferred about the Joy Luck Club?

(A) Both the mothers and the daughters get together as the members of the club.
(B) Only the mothers get together as the members of the club.
(C) Only the daughters get together as the members of the club.
(D) The members of that club are fluid.

5. The word “they” in paragraph 3 refers to 

(A) the mothers
(B) the dauhters
(C) identities 
(D) cultural roots

The novel "The Joy Luck Club" garnered widespread critical acclaim and commercial success. It resonated deeply with readers, particularly those of Asian American descent, who saw their own experiences reflected in the characters' journeys. The novel's exploration of universal themes like family, identity, and communication transcended cultural boundaries, making it a relatable and thought-provoking read for a broader audience. Notably, the book was also well-received in several Asian countries, striking a chord with readers from diverse cultural backgrounds. In China, readers appreciated Tan's authentic portrayal of the immigrant experience and the intergenerational conflicts arising from cultural differences. Japanese audiences praised the novel's exploration of universal themes such as family dynamics and the challenges of assimilation. Furthermore, the book found a receptive audience in countries like India, Vietnam, and Malaysia, where readers connected with the characters' struggles to navigate dual identities and preserve cultural traditions in new environments. The widespread resonance of "The Joy Luck Club" across Asia and other regions underscored its ability to capture the complexities of cultural identity and intergenerational relationships in a manner that transcended geographical boundaries.

6. In paragraph 4, why does the author mention several country names?

(A) To show how differently each country received the book
(B) To illustrate how universal the themes of the book were
(C) To contrast the perception of the book between Asia and the United States
(D) To compare how different generations of people interpret the character development in different countries

7. According to paragraph 4, which of the following is NOT a reason that “The Joy Luck Club” was well-received in Asian countries? 

(A) It faithfully depicted the predicament of immigrants.
(B) Its portrayal of the difficulties with intergenerational communication was real.
(C) It genuinely represented conflicts arising from dual cultural identities.
(D) Its description of successful assimilation into American society was authentic. 

8. Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence? Incorrect answer choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

The novel "The Joy Luck Club" garnered widespread critical acclaim and commercial success. It resonated deeply with readers, particularly those of Asian American descent, who saw their own experiences reflected in the characters' journeys. The novel's exploration of universal themes like family, identity, and communication transcended cultural boundaries, making it a relatable and thought-provoking read for a broader audience. Notably, the book was also well-received in several Asian countries, striking a chord with readers from diverse cultural backgrounds. In China, readers appreciated Tan's authentic portrayal of the immigrant experience and the intergenerational conflicts arising from cultural differences. Japanese audiences praised the novel's exploration of universal themes such as family dynamics and the challenges of assimilation. Furthermore, the book found a receptive audience in countries like India, Vietnam, and Malaysia, where readers connected with the characters' struggles to navigate dual identities and preserve cultural traditions in new environments. The widespread resonance of "The Joy Luck Club" across Asia and other regions underscored its ability to capture the complexities of cultural identity and intergenerational relationships in a manner that transcended geographical boundaries.

(A) The widespread appreciation of "The Joy Luck Club" throughout Asia and other areas highlighted its cultural and intergenerational conflicts being peculiar to American society..

(B) The extensive recognition of “The Joy Luck Club” in Asia and other parts of the world was due in large part to its depiction of issues with multigenerational relationships, not to its portrayal of self-recognition problems in other cultural realms.

(C) The broad appeal of “The Joy Luck Club” in Asia and beyond demonstrated its success in describing issues that arise from differences in culture and generation without borders.  

(D) The reason that “The Joy Luck Club” was a sensation, particularly across Asia, was because those countries had never faced the need to address cultural identity crisis and intergenerational gap. 

9. In paragraph 1 of the passage, there is a missing sentence. The paragraph is repeated below and shows four letters (A, B, C, and D) that indicate where the following sentence could be added.

This bicultural background significantly influenced her literary pursuits.

Where would the sentence best fit?

Amy Tan is a renowned American author of Chinese descent. [A] She has captivated readers with her poignant and insightful novels that explore themes of cultural identity, family dynamics, and the immigrant experience. [B] Born in 1952 in Oakland, California, to Chinese immigrant parents, Tan's upbringing instilled in her a deep understanding of the complexities of navigating two cultures. [C] Her aptitude for crafting stories that resonate with readers across diverse cultural backgrounds stemmed from her personal experiences. [D]

10. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points. Write your answer choices in the spaces where they belong. You can either write the letter of your answer choice or you can copy the sentence.

Amy Tan's novel, "The Joy Luck Club," offers a poignant exploration of cultural identity. 
・
・
・

(A) Her childhood experience of going back and forth between Switzerland and the United States instilled in her a sense of cultural divisiveness.  
(B) Tan incorporated her own bicultural upbringing and personal struggles to describe the complexities of intergenerational relationships. 
(C) “The Joy Luck Club” became a hit in Asian countries first, and then imported into the United States.
(D) The novel’s pursuit of universal themes and portrayal of family dynamics was met with global acclaim. 
(E) Its enduring legacy continues to raise awareness in today’s world as it is becoming even more intercultural.
(F) Tan is currently focusing more on intergenerational issues than on racial discrimination issues.

正答
1. B
2. A
3. C
4. B
5. B
6. B
7. D
8. C
9. C
10. B, D, E