Study Guide for Prologue to chapter 7.

Answer Questions in complete sentences and in depth on another sheet of paper and include PAGE NUMBERS.

1. Who are the members of Ji-Li’s family? Describe her family home. What class status does her family belong to? What is the occupation of her father? Mother?

The members of Ji-Li's family are Ji-Yong as the younger brother (11years old), p14, Ji-Yun (10 year old), Song Po-Po (the nanny/housekeeper), p14-15, mom and dad, Grandmother, (who used to be the principal), p14, Aunt and cousin, (they live downstairs and the cousin is You-Mei, p15, a cat called "little White", p17. You-Mei's baby (Hua-Hua) pg.15.

Her family home is a big building in Shanghai, a french window and high ceiling, p15, and had only one room. The apartment was warm, and bright, p7. There was a private bathroom, as large as some peoples entire house, p15-16. They lived on an alley, p20. Mahagony table, p16. 

Family occupation: Her dad is an actor and her mom used to be an actor, p13, (she now works at a sport store). Her Grandmother was vice-principal of her old school, p14.

Her families class status: Upper middle class, p16, (there family had a bigger place to live in and were more special). p15, her Grandmother had a modern education.


2. What is Ji-Li’s life at school like? What special honor is Ji-Li picked for at school? Describe Ji-Li’s parents’ reaction. What does Ji-Li do instead of entering the audition?

Ji-Li's life at school: Ji-Li was expected to succeed in everything, She was able to excell(pg.1). They were acussing her and her best friends for spreading the "four olds" (pg34-36). Ji-Li scored a perfect score on a math test(pg.3)
She had oppertunitys for dance training (pg.6)

What special honor is she choosen for?: The central liberation army arts academy choose Ji-Li for their dance troop (pg.6).

Her parents reaction: They said no. They said that they had political problems that were complicated (pg.10). Her mom said that the army would be strict (pg.8) Her father was first shocked then angry then overp protected and discouraging (pg8-10). Solemn(pg.8)

What does Ji-Li do instead? : She gives a note to the principal about how she cannot participate in the try-outs (pg.11).

3. What are the "Four Olds"? Provide some examples of each and explain Why they need to be destroyed. What does "prosperity" mean? Why is it considered an old thought?

Chairman Mao had decided that if you were going to make China a greater socialist country, you would have to get rid of the “four olds”: old ideas, old culture, old costumes and old habits. People were taking down the very expensive and beautiful sign outside of one of the most successful food stores in the city, “The Great Prosperity Market”. It was an “old idea” and “old culture” so now the name of the grocery store has to be changed, (p22.) Also a young man walked down the street with tight pants and pointed shoes. That was of course not allowed because it was “old costumes”. A boy came up to the man and tried to put a beer can up his pant leg, since he couldn’t (they were too tight), he cut the pants up to the knee because they were what “Western bourgeoisie admired”. (p30). The shoes were also cut, they were also “western” (neither good-looking nor comfortable). (p30).

          Prosperity means successes and wealth. To have “prosperity” as part of a shops title was considered an old thought Chairman Mao had said that such a name of a shop was exploitation. (p25). I think that he meant that that would be bad/ old advertising.

 4. What is xenophile?  Why was it bad to be a xenophile in Revolutionary China?

Xenophile (p) means a person who loves anything from another country. SUch behavior was considered disloyal to China. It was bad to be a xenophile in Revolutionary China because Mao believed that China could be greater than any other country. And that foreign countries were not as great. So it was disloyal to wear things from countries. That told others that you thought that China wasn't good enough.

5.What are da-zi-bao? What are being done with them?Who is Jiang Xi- wen? Why does Ji Li hang a da-zi- bao on her house?

Da-zi-bao's are signs that say things dealing with politics. They are painted in most cases. At Ji Li's school, these signs get made in all classes and hung up all over school. They even hang them on private homes. One woman for example wears makeup ( which is an xenophile) so they go to her house one day, knocks on her door and make her read all the terrible things about her on the da- zi- bao after them screaming and shouting bad things about her in her face. Ji li is forced to come along on this mission even though she doesn't want to, it is because Jiang Xi- wen is her aunt.

6. Why does Ji Li stop going to school for a while? (She has been accused for what?)

Ji Li stopped going to school for a while in the beginning because someone had put up a da-zi-bao about her having a relationship with one of her male  teachers. (p49)  It was  extremely embarrassing for her of course. 

The second time she stopped going to school was because she found out that her grandfather was a land lord (p58) which was absolutely forbidden. And everyone at school found out about it.

7. What is a rightist? Use your own words to briefly explain the process of remolding one's ideology.

A rightist is someone who doesn't believe that the Communist Party is doing the right things. People who are rightists are very disliked by the Party and the non rightists. So they don't want to reveal that they are rightists.

8. What did Ji Li's grandfather (her dad's father) do for a living? How does this affect Ji Li's life?

Ji Li's grandfather was a land lord. This affected  Ji Li because when people found out about it, her class decreased by the people around her.