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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. How did Tree-ear sometimes manage to get winter garments for him and Crane-man?

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

3. Why did Min send Tree-ear to the seashore?

4. What does Tree-ear do when he does not find Min?

5. Why did Tree-ear visit the kiln every night in Chapter 6?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

7. What is the third job to which Tree-ear is assigned and how does he do it?

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

9. How does Crane-man feel about Tree-ear's behavior?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of A Single Shard and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why A Single Shard is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Crane-man and Tree-ear are very poor and homeless.

1. Crane-man is reluctant to take help from Min's wife even though he's hungry. Discuss what might be meant by the cliche "false pride" in this situation.

2. Discuss whether you think every human being has the right to food, clothing and shelter whether they can pay for those or not. Include examples from A Single Shard and your own life to support your discussion.

3. Discuss what you think would happen to Crane-man and Tree-ear if they lived in the United States in the present day. Include in your discussion how you think their problems could be solved.

(see the answer keys)

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