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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 mix with the clay?

2. What is one thing Tree-ear inspects at Min's?

3. Why did a potter want a vessel off the shelf in the kiln?

4. What does Tree-ear decide to do?

5. What was the farmer carrying?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Why does Tree-ear go to Min's house?

4. What does the emissary do when he arrives at the village?

5. What does Tree-ear ask Min when his nine days are done and what is Min's response?

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

7. How does Tree-ear finally find out what Kang is doing?

8. What do the potters in town do about the news?

9. Why did Tree-ear stay with Crane-man?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tree-ear has discovered that Kang is using a pottery technique that if Min use it Min would be certain to win the royal commission. Unfortunately, Tree-ear's strong sense of morals prevents him from telling Min what he has seen. It is ironic that Tree-ear feels free to spy, but he does not feel free to share what he has learned.

1. What is irony? (This may need research). How is the situation with Tree-ear an example of irony?

2. Discuss one other example in this book that is ironic and tell why you believe the situation is ironic. Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

3. Do you think it is wrong for Tree-ear to spy on Kang? Why or why not? Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

Essay Topic 2

To win a commission from the royal palace is something all potters want and something Min needs in order to allow him to survive working at the slow pace in which he works. However, Kang threatens this for Min, leaving Tree-ear uncertain for both their futures. This foreshadows a moment when Tree-ear will tell Min of this work.

1. What is foreshadowing? Would you consider the example in the above paragraph as foreshadowing? Why or why not? Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

2. Discuss another example of foreshadowing in A Single Shard including why you believe it is such. Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

3. How do you think most people react to uncertainty in their lives? Use examples from A Single Shard and your own life to support your opinion.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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