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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. Who was waiting out on the road for Tree-ear the morning after he and Min unloaded the kiln?

2. What did Min give Tree-ear for the journey?

3. What did Tree-ear think of himself after the bandits left?

4. How many replicates and how many firing batches did Min do?

5. With what did Min remove the hot vessels from the kiln?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

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

3. What does Tree-ear first do at the Rock of Falling Flowers?

4. What concerns Min about the emissary's kindness and what does Tree-ear tell Min's wife?

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

6. In Chapter 7, what does Tree-ear finally tell Min and what does Min have Tree-ear do? What does Tree-ear realize he has learned when he performs his task?

7. What does Min tell Tree-ear when he finds him upon returning home?

8. How does Tree-ear feel when he arrives in Songdo and what happens at first about his request to the guards?

9. 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?

10. What does Tree-ear do on his first day back at the village?

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

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Tree-ear from the beginning of the book to who he is at the end of the book. How are they similar? How are they different? Which person do you like more? Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Crane-man and Min. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

3. Thoroughly analyze how three of the secondary characters in A Single Shard help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Which of the secondary characters are likable? Which are either unlikable or even despicable? Be specific and give examples.

Essay Topic 3

While Tree-ear was on his first day at his job with Min Crane-man tried to catch a flounder but was unable to do so. In a fit of anger he hit a rock with his crutch and broke the crutch. Tree-ear felt guilty that he was not there to catch flounder and that he did not even think of Crane-man when he ate his midday meal.

1. What can be learned from Crane-man breaking his crutch in a fit of anger? Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

2. Do you think Tree-ear should have felt guilty about not bringing Crane-man some of his midday food considering the amount of physical labor Tree-ear had to do? Why or why not? Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

3. Although Crane-man did not get a flounder and he broke his crutch and Tree-ear felt ashamed about his selfishness, they ended the evening having fun with each other. Talk about the character traits this type of ending to a hard day indicates. Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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