View a FREE sample

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. Why won't Min teach Tree-ear how to use the wheel?

3. With what did they stuff the two vases that were packed in the basket?

4. What did the bandit say to Tree-ear when a second man overcame the boy and Tree-ear still struggled?

5. What did Min begin to do after selecting a design for the inlay?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Min do about the problem with the pots?

2. What kindness did the emissary show Min?

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

4. What does Min say to Tree-ear's suggestion and what is Tree-ear's response to her?

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

6. What does Crane-man finally end up doing about Min's wife's request?

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

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

9. What does the man first do to Tree-ear and how does Tree-ear respond?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tree-ear volunteers to take Min's pottery to Songdo for the emissary to see. It is a long and possibly dangerous journey.

1. Do you think children the same age as Tree-ear in the present day could have made the journey he did? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Explain how the journey and the events on the journey demonstrates Tree-ear's determination and courage. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Do you think it was irresponsible of Min and Crane-man to send a young boy Tree-ear's age on such a journey? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

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)

This section contains 964 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample