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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. For how long does Tree-ear do the same thing for Min?

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

3. What type of pottery did Tree-ear plan to be his first one?

4. Tree-ear prepares the clay for __________.

5. Why did Tree-ear think Kang might have something special for the kiln?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What does Min's wife give Tree-ear and what does Tree-ear do with the gift?

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

5. What kind of work is cutting clay and what does Tree-ear remember while he is cutting?

6. What does Tree-ear do at Min's house?

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

8. What does Crane-man do during the day and what does he make Tree-ear?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A Single Shard takes place in the twelfth century in Korea.

1. Discuss the differences you see in the technological level between Tree-ear's time. Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

2. Discuss the differences and similarities you see between family and social life in Tree-ear's era and your own. Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

3. Discuss why you would like to live in Tree-ear's time and why you would not like to live then. 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

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think A Single Shard is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you did not understand the relevance of the title? Did it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

(see the answer keys)

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