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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 Crane-man tell Tree-ear about a long kept tradition?

2. What did Tree-ear need to worry about as he fought with the bandit?

3. What does Min tell the emissary about bringing an inlay vessel to him later?

4. What does Crane-man tell Tree-ear the first potters did?

5. What did Min say to Tree-ear when he came to check on the progress of the red and white clay?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Tree-ear feel and what does he do after the two men leave him at the Rock?

2. Why does Min make multiple versions of the same pot?

3. How does Crane-man feel when Tree-ear tells him of his proposal? What does Crane-man do for the trip? How does Min upset Tree-ear?

4. What does Min do over the next few months?

5. What does Tree-ear realize he can do?

6. What happens when the emissary returns to the village?

7. What does Min's wife tell Tree-ear about a possible living arrangement? What does Min tell Tree-ear to do at the end of the book?

8. What does Tree-ear do when he finally is able to see the emissary?

9. What happens with Tree-ear and the fox?

10. What does Min's wife request of Crane-man? What is his response? What is Tree-ear's response?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tree-ear begins to bring half of his mid-day lunch home to Crane-man and eventually a whole bowl as Min's wife begins to fill the bowl after the midday. Crane-man is always excited and grateful for the food.

1. Do you think it would be difficult to be grateful in Crane-man's shoes since he is homeless, crippled, and often has little to eat? Why or why not? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. What are some of the ways in which Crane-man manages to have a good outlook on life in spite of his hardships? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of A Single Shard, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in A Single Shard. (The subplots may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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