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

2. What is Tree-ear holding when Min comes out of the house?

3. What does Tree-ear request of Min?

4. What story does Crane-man tell Tree-ear?

5. In what century is A Single Shard set?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

7. How does time pass for Tree-ear and his new job and what is the rotation of his jobs?

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

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

10. How interesting is Tree-ear's third kind of job and why is it more difficult?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tree-ear volunteers to take Min's pottery to Songdo for the emissary to see. It is a long and possibly dangerous journey.

1. Do you think children the same age as Tree-ear in the present day could have made the journey he did? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Explain how the journey and the events on the journey demonstrates Tree-ear's determination and courage. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Do you think it was irresponsible of Min and Crane-man to send a young boy Tree-ear's age on such a journey? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Tree-ear admires Min, a potter whom he would like to learn from. Min is also an old man who is angry and rarely speaks more than he needs to. This promises to be a difficult relationship that could be deeply rewarding for both Tree-ear and Min.

1. Why do you think Min is angry all the time? Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

2. How do you think a relationship between Min and Tree-ear could turn out to be rewarding for both of them? Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

3. If you met someone who you admired but was always abrupt and rude to you and always seemed to be angry would you continue to try and get to know him or her? Why or why not? Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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