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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 changed with Min about working on the potter's wheel?

2. Who is Tree-ear?

3. What hope did Tree-ear have day after day while working for Min?

4. What did Min's wife give Tree-ear?

5. How are orphans seen in Korea during Tree-ear's time?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What did Tree-ear do about the rice container? What was the farmer's response?

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

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

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

6. How does Tree-ear break one of Min's boxes?

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

8. What does Tree-ear do with his bowl the next day of work and what happens to the food?

9. What does Min's wife give Tree-ear and what does Tree-ear do with the gift?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Tree-ear comes home with the rice Crane-man makes a joke about their constant struggle to find enough to eat. Throughout the book Crane-man makes jokes about very serious issues.

1. Do you think the jokes Crane-man makes are funny? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Joking about dire situations is called gallows humor. With research, explain the concept of gallows humor and why it is important to humans. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Discuss three examples of humor you would use in Tree-ear's situation and explain why you think they are funny and why they would help you in his situation.

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

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.

(see the answer keys)

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