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Rules of the Game

by Amy Tan

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Student Question

What do the narrator's actions and words reveal about her attitude towards risk-taking?

Quick answer:

The narrator's actions and words show a strong willingness to take risks and a confidence in overcoming challenges. She quickly educates herself on chess after initially losing to her brothers and continually seeks to improve by learning from others, like the old man Lau Po in the park. This risk-taking attitude and dedication to learning lead her to excel in chess and participate in official tournaments, demonstrating her proactive and confident approach to challenges.

Expert Answers

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Waverly's words and actions tell us that she is open to taking risks and that she is confident in her ability to overcome challenges.

The text reveals that Waverly doesn't allow herself to be handicapped by her ignorance for long. When her brothers defeat her in chess, she does everything in her power to educate herself about the game's intricacies. During her spare time, Waverly reads up on the game and learns how to discover the weaknesses and strengths of an opponent, how to leverage patience to her advantage, and how to devise a rational, mathematical strategy to win games.

Eventually, Waverly excels in the game, and her brothers abandon playing with her. Undeterred, Waverly takes the risk of approaching an old man at the park for a game of chess. Her risk-taking behavior pays off; the old man, Lau Po, accepts her invitation for a game. Over time, Waverly begins to add to the depth of her skills in chess. From Lau Po, she learns new strategies and tactics that eventually allow her to participate in official chess tournaments.

So, Waverly's words and actions definitely tell us that she's open to taking risks and that she's confident in her ability overcome challenges.

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