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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Tree-ear find difficult?

2. About what is Crane-man pleased?

3. What does Tree-ear discover when he returns to his bowl?

4. What kind of branch did Tree-ear bring Min for a vase on display?

5. What was Tree-ear's secret about one of the bowls put out for display?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Tree-ear do for the next eight days for Min?

2. What does Tree-ear do with his bowl the next day of work and what happens to the food?

3. What was Tree-ear doing when he saw a rice container had a leak?

4. What does Tree-ear do the day before the big event and what does Min order him to do?

5. What does Tree-ear try to find out and how does his quest end?

6. What work of Min's does Tree-ear see the first time he goes to Min's house?

7. Why does Tree-ear feel guilty at home on his first night of work? What does he decide to do about his shame?

8. What does Tree-ear do to pay for the box and how is he disappointed?

9. What is the story of how Tree-ear came to live with Crane-man?

10. What does Min do the first thing when Tree-ear arrives on his second morning?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think A Single Shard is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

When Tree-ear comes home with the rice Crane-man makes a joke about their constant struggle to find enough to eat. Throughout the book Crane-man makes jokes about very serious issues.

1. Do you think the jokes Crane-man makes are funny? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Joking about dire situations is called gallows humor. With research, explain the concept of gallows humor and why it is important to humans. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Discuss three examples of humor you would use in Tree-ear's situation and explain why you think they are funny and why they would help you in his situation.

Essay Topic 3

Tree-ear begins to bring half of his mid-day lunch home to Crane-man and eventually a whole bowl as Min's wife begins to fill the bowl after the midday. Crane-man is always excited and grateful for the food.

1. Do you think it would be difficult to be grateful in Crane-man's shoes since he is homeless, crippled, and often has little to eat? Why or why not? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. What are some of the ways in which Crane-man manages to have a good outlook on life in spite of his hardships? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,002 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample