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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 time of day was it when Tree-ear found the palace?

2. What did Tree-ear and Crane-man do at dusk the night before Tree-ear was leaving?

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

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

5. How was the fire lit in the kiln?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What does Tree-ear give Crane-man before he leaves on his journey?

5. What is the story behind the place called Rock of the Falling Flowers and what has Tree-ear promised Crane-man about the place?

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

7. 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?

8. What kindness did the emissary show Min?

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

10. How does Tree-ear feel when he arrives back in Ch'ulp'o and where does Min's wife send him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Tree-ear sees rice falling from a farmer's pack and he debates telling the man or just waiting until the farmer is gone and picking up the rice. His honesty won't let him steal. He catches up to the farmer who repairs his pack. The farmer tells Tree-ear he can have all the rice that has fallen to the ground.Tree-ear is ecstatic for this means he and Crane-man will eat well for several days.

1. How does the cliche, "Honesty is the best policy" relate to the above? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. If Tree-ear had not told the farmer he and Crane-man could have eaten for more than several days. Even so, do you think Tree-ear was correct in doing what he did? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Crane-man is proud that Tree-ear chose to be honest. Explain why you think Crane-man felt this way. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Tree-ear seems to be an honest, hard-working, and responsible boy.

1. Knowing what you know of Tree-ear's life thus far, how is do you think he could have developed the traits he demonstrates by his courage and persistence? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

2. What do you think is shown by Tree-ear's actions, given that Tree-ear going to Songdo by walking might be similar to a boy walking to a town 200 miles away in our present society? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

3. Do you think Tree-ear's behavior and actions are consistent with his age? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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