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

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

3. In what century is A Single Shard set?

4. What was different about Min's display for the judging from the other potters?

5. What does Tree-ear discover after a few days?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What will Tree-ear and Crane-man have to do for the winter?

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

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

5. Whom does Tree-ear see on his way to work one day and what does the incident suggest to Tree-ear?

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

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

8. How does Tree-ear break one of Min's boxes?

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

10. What did Tree-ear do about the rice container? What was the farmer's response?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Characters are an important part of what makes A Single Shard interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Tree-ear. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Crane-man. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Min. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

Tree-ear seems to be an honest, hard-working, and responsible boy.

1. Knowing what you know of Tree-ear's life thus far, how is do you think he could have developed the traits he demonstrates by his courage and persistence? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

2. What do you think is shown by Tree-ear's actions, given that Tree-ear going to Songdo by walking might be similar to a boy walking to a town 200 miles away in our present society? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

3. Do you think Tree-ear's behavior and actions are consistent with his age? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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