A Single Shard
Listening Comprehension
Historical Fiction
Name:
Date:
List five words or phrases the author has used which indicate that the time setting for this story is
around 1000A.D.
Summarize the unusual chain of events that brought Tree-ear to live under Crane-man's care.
Describe potter Min. Explain the difficulties one would have if working for him.
Describe the character Crane-man. Include details of his physical appearance and the knowledge he has
passed on to Tree-ear.
Explain what Crane-man meant when he often told Tree-ear, "Scholars read the great words of the
world. But you and I must learn to read the world itself."
Summarize how Crane-man and Tree-ear each earned his name.
Where did Tree-ear and Crane-man make their home? (under the bridege)
What pleasant surprise did Tree-ear bring home to share with Crane-man in Chapter One? (rice fell out
of a bag/pouch from a man walking and Tree-ear picked it up.
How did Tree-ear come to possess such a fortune worthy of sharing with Crane-man? ( See above)
Why did Crane-man need a walking crutch? ( born with a shriveled calf/foot)
How old was Tree-ear? (12)
What situation had caused Tree-ear to be an orphan? (parents died of the fever)
What were Tree-ear and Crane-man's sources of food each day? ( searched in the garbage/rubbish piles
and rice fields)
A Single Shard
Listening Comprehension
Historical Fiction
Name:
Date:
Where did Tree-ear go after housekeeping chores were done each day ? ( Master potter Min's house to
watch him throw pots)
What two facts made Ch'ulp'o famous for ceramics? It was located on the shore of the western sea,
which provided an easy sea route to trade with China. 2. The river that flowed through the village had a
plentiful supply of clay, needed for ceramics.
What was Min's misunderstanding after he caught Tree-ear holding a piece of his drying pottery? ( he
thought he was stealing it)
What punishment did Min give Tree-ear for breaking one of his pottery pieces? ( He had to work 9 days
without pay)
Infer why Tree-ear wanted to continue his work relationship with Min after he'd completed his nine days
of punishment. ( he wanted to make his own pottery one day and therefore, needed more instruction)
What work was Tree-ear given on the tenth day? ( collect clay from the bank of the river)
What pleasant detail did Tree-ear realize at midday on the tenth day of his employment? ( that he
would be rewarded for his work with a meal)
Why was news of a flounder run exciting for residents of Ch'ulp'o? During flounder runs the fish swam
closer to shore and were even tossed up on the beach by waves. This gave the people a great chance to
catch a tasty fish for supper.
How did the flounder run cause Crane-man to lose his crutch? Crane-man was angry about not catching
any fish. He struck his crutch against a rock, breaking it.
A Single Shard
Listening Comprehension
Historical Fiction
Name:
Date:
What two aspects made fetching clay for Min a much harder task than Tree-ear imagined it would be?
1. The spade kept getting stuck in the ooze and stickiness of the mud. 2. The loaded cart of clay was
extremely heavy to push back to Min's house.
Why did Tree-ear take his own bowl for Min's wife to place his midday lunch in? His plan was to eat only
half of the lunch and then hide the remaining to take home for Crane-man at the end of the day.
What discovery did Tree-ear make, after several days of hiding his bowl in a hollow at the far corner of
Min's yard? When he fetched his bowl at the end of the day, Tree-ear found it had been refilled.
After clay was collected from the stream, what was the second step in the process of producing clay
pottery? (draining of the clay)
What was Min's life desire? Min wanted to receive a royal commission from the King for his pottery.
Summarize the unusual chain of events that brought Tree-ear to live under Crane-man's care.
Describe potter Min. Explain the difficulties one would have if working for him.
A Single Shard
Listening Comprehension
Historical Fiction
Name _____________________________
Name:
Date:
Date ___________________
A Single Shard
Key 1 - Answer ID # 0319075
Chapters 1-4
1. What was Min's misunderstanding after he caught Tree-ear holding a piece of his drying
pottery?
2. What work was Tree-ear given on the tenth day?
3. What punishment did Min give Tree-ear for breaking one of his pottery pieces?
4. Why was Min angry when Tree-ear arrived for work on the second day?
5. After clay was collected from the stream, what was the second step in the process of
producing clay pottery?
A Single Shard
Listening Comprehension
Historical Fiction
Name _____________________________
Name:
Date:
Date ___________________
A Single Shard
Key 1 - Answer ID # 0319075
6. Summarize how Crane-man and Tree-ear each earned his name.
Chapters 5-7
7. Why did Tree-ear decide against telling Min of Kang's new idea in making pottery?
8. Who was the exciting visitor coming to the pottery villages of Ch'ulp'o and Kangjin and
what was his purpose?
9. What had happened to Min's son, Hyung-gu?
10. What did Crane-man make for Tree-ear, using rice straw?
A Single Shard
Listening Comprehension
Historical Fiction
Name:
Date:
A Single Shard
Listening Comprehension
Historical Fiction
Name _____________________________
Name:
Date:
Date ___________________
A Single Shard
Key 1 - Answer ID # 0319075
11. How did Kang's pottery work compare to Min's?
12. Describe the many preparations made by Min and Tree-ear as they anticipated the royal
emissary's visit.
Chapters 8-10
13. How did Tree-ear keep track of time during his walk to Songdo?
14. How did Min react when a messenger arrived weeks later asking if any potters had anything
new to show him?
15. What idea came to Tree-ear as a way to return all the kindness Min's wife had given him?
A Single Shard
Listening Comprehension
Historical Fiction
Name _____________________________
Name:
Date:
Date ___________________
A Single Shard
Key 1 - Answer ID # 0319075
16. How long had Tree-ear been working for Min?
17. What gift did Tree-ear give Crane-man to remind him to go daily to help Min's wife?
18. Speculate reasons why Min is so reluctant to openly accept Tree-ear. Also, suggest what
Tree-ear could do to improve the situation.
Chapters 11-13
19. Why was Tree-ear hopeful he'd find the second vase unbroken?
20. What was the assistant to Emissary Kim's reaction when Tree-ear reported that robbers had
destroyed Min's work?
A Single Shard
Listening Comprehension
Historical Fiction
Name _____________________________
Name:
Date:
Date ___________________
A Single Shard
Key 1 - Answer ID # 0319075
21. Who was the first person to greet Tree-ear when he arrived home?
22. What item was recovered from Crane-man and returned to Tree-ear?
23. Why did Tree-ear decide against leaping over the cliff to his death?
24. Speculate whose idea it was that Tree-ear should become an adopted son. Was it Min's idea
or did his wife suggest it? Give reasons to support your choice.
Review
25. What happened to the two vases Tree-ear
took to show Emissary Kim?
They made it safely to the palace.
They were stolen and sold for
26. Why did Emissary Kim prefer Min's work
over Kang's?
Min worked slowly and more
carefully than Kang.
A Single Shard
Listening Comprehension
Historical Fiction
money in Songdo.
They broke when Tree-ear fell on
the mountain path.
They were thrown over a cliff by
robbers.
Name:
Date:
Min molded vases and Kang did
not.
Min incised a flowering plum on
each piece made.
Min used better colors.
A Single Shard
Listening Comprehension
Historical Fiction
Name _____________________________
Name:
Date:
Date ___________________
A Single Shard
Key 1 - Answer ID # 0319075
27. How many days did Tree-ear have to work 28. What was the new technique potter Kang
for Min as a punishment for breaking
invented?
Min's pottery?
Inlay work
12
Incising designs
5
Molding wine bowls
3
Making ten identical pieces at the
9
same time
29. At what craft was Crane-man quite
talented?
Growing rice
Weaving rice straw
Making pottery
Carving wood
30. Where did Emissary Kim live?
In Seoul
In Kangjin
In Songdo
In Puyo
31. What caused Tree-ear to become an
32. What surprise did Tree-ear have for Craneorphan?
man in Chapter One?
His parents died from the fever.
A small clay monkey
His parents were killed in a village
New sandals
fire.
Rice cakes
His father was jailed and his mother
A pouch full of rice
abandoned him.
His parents were killed when a
bridge collapsed.
33. What was the first work task Min assigned 34. What color is celadon?
Tree-ear?
Bold yellow
Draining clay
Bright red
Chopping wood for the kiln
Pale gray-green
Fetching clay from the river bank
Pale pink
Pulling weeds from the yard
A Single Shard
Listening Comprehension
Historical Fiction
Name:
Date:
Date ___________________
A Single Shard
Name _____________________________
(Key 1 - Answer ID # 0319075)
Circle the correct word.
1. prunu
prunuss
prunus
prunuus
2.
tumultuous
tumultuus
tumultous
tumultuouss
3.
tese
tersi
tere
terse
4.
plian
pliant
plaant
plint
5.
celado
celedon
celadon
sihluhdon
6.
dihmiez
demise
deise
dumese
7.
skepticelly
skahptohkohlee
skeptically
skiptucully
8.
brandising
brendishing
brandishin
brandishing
9.
pinionned
pinianed
pinioned
pinionid
10. mie
mirre
miire
mire
11. foreging
foraging
faraging
fooraging
12. dehftle
diftly
deftly
defty
13. wirely
wehruhlea
warily
waril
14. fayning
fiegning
feigning
figning
15. noxious
noshuhs
noxios
noxuos
16. contorted
centortid
contortod
contarted
17. trepidateon
trepidaton
trepidutiin
trepidation
18. entourege
enturage
entorage
entourage
19. suhfoozd
suffused
sufyoozd
suffussed
20. viscuo
viscuos
viiscous
viscous
21. pellur
pallor
paller
pallar
22. communal
communnal
kumyoonuhl
cammunal
23. chaysuhn
chastened
chastenned
chastenedd
24. plaintive
plianteve
plainteve
plaintivi
Name _____________________________
Date ___________________
A Single Shard
(Key 1 - Answer ID # 0319075)
A Single Shard
Listening Comprehension
Historical Fiction
25. stoutle
Name:
Date:
stoutlea
stoutly
stiitloe
A Single Shard
Listening Comprehension
Historical Fiction
Name:
Date:
Date ___________________
A Single Shard
Name _____________________________
(Key 1 - Answer ID # 0319075)
Select the definition that most nearly defines the given word.
1. invective
2. deftly
acquired; amassed
frantically; in a wildly excited
manner
an insulting or abusive word
engaging in diligently; practicing
boldly resistant
skillfully; orderly
puzzling or baffling
skillfully; orderly
3. chastened
4. wielding
collect; harvest; gather
swaying or rocking under a blow or
shock
smirk; sneer, put down
swinging; throwing; handling
disciplined; corrected by punishment
in a secret or unsuspected manner
a representative sent on a mission
teasing; fun; joking
5. garnered
cautiously; guardedly; carefully
balance; the proper portion of the
parts of a body or whole to one
another
purposeful undertaking
6. frenetically
ill-mannered and coarse in behavior
or appearance
expressing sorrow; mournful
frantically; in a wildly excited
manner
covered with or as if with clothing
acquired; amassed
7. perusal
the distance around something; the
circumference
turned away; ignored; disapproved
in a manner showing great spirit or
enthusiasm
examination; inspection; look-over
9. connoisseur
8. tithe
tax; obligation
expert; authority; master
a group of attendants or associates, as
of a person of rank
acted in accordance with another's
command or request
10. banter
A Single Shard
Listening Comprehension
Historical Fiction
turned away; ignored; disapproved
teasing; fun; joking
smirk; sneer, put down
expert; authority; master
11. brandishing
an insulting or abusive word
expressing sorrow; mournful
disciplined; corrected by
punishment
in a manner showing great spirit or
enthusiasm
Name:
Date:
tax; obligation
purposeful undertaking
a representative sent on a mission
teasing; fun; joking
12. reeling
a group of attendants or associates,
as of a person of rank
frantically; in a wildly excited
manner
swaying or rocking under a blow or
shock
skillfully; orderly
A Single Shard
Listening Comprehension
Historical Fiction
Name:
Date:
A Single Shard
Key 1 - Answer ID # 0319075
Chapters 1-4
1. What was Min's misunderstanding after he caught Tree-ear holding a piece of his drying
pottery?
Min thought Tree-ear was stealing it.
2. What work was Tree-ear given on the tenth day?
He was to collect clay from the bank of the river.
3. What punishment did Min give Tree-ear for breaking one of his pottery pieces?
Tree-ear had to work for Min without pay for nine days.
4. Why was Min angry when Tree-ear arrived for work on the second day?
Min was angry because Tree-ear hadn't taken the cart of wood to the kiln and
unloaded it. He simply left the cart by the house without a single word.
5. After clay was collected from the stream, what was the second step in the process of
producing clay pottery?
draining of the clay
6. Summarize how Crane-man and Tree-ear each earned his name.
Chapters 5-7
7. Why did Tree-ear decide against telling Min of Kang's new idea in making pottery?
Tree-ear knew the idea had been taken by eavesdropping, which was stealth and the
same as stealing.
8. Who was the exciting visitor coming to the pottery villages of Ch'ulp'o and Kangjin and
what was his purpose?
A royal emissary from Songdo was coming to examine and assign pottery commissions
for the palace.
A Single Shard
Listening Comprehension
Historical Fiction
Name:
Date:
A Single Shard
Key 1 - Answer ID # 0319075
9. What had happened to Min's son, Hyung-gu?
He died of fever when he was about twelve.
10. What did Crane-man make for Tree-ear, using rice straw?
new sandals
11. How did Kang's pottery work compare to Min's?
Min worked very slowly and carefully while Kang's work lacked perfection.
12. Describe the many preparations made by Min and Tree-ear as they anticipated the royal
emissary's visit.
Chapters 8-10
13. How did Tree-ear keep track of time during his walk to Songdo?
He used a stone and made a sharp mark on the frame of his jiggeh, or straw container.
14. How did Min react when a messenger arrived weeks later asking if any potters had anything
new to show him?
Min waved the messenger away.
15. What idea came to Tree-ear as a way to return all the kindness Min's wife had given him?
Tree-ear offered to take Min's pottery vessels to Songdo for him.
16. How long had Tree-ear been working for Min?
over a year
17. What gift did Tree-ear give Crane-man to remind him to go daily to help Min's wife?
a small, clay monkey he'd shaped
A Single Shard
Listening Comprehension
Historical Fiction
Name:
Date:
A Single Shard
Key 1 - Answer ID # 0319075
18. Speculate reasons why Min is so reluctant to openly accept Tree-ear. Also, suggest what
Tree-ear could do to improve the situation.
Chapters 11-13
19. Why was Tree-ear hopeful he'd find the second vase unbroken?
He had not heard it crash and thought perhaps it had fallen into the water.
20. What was the assistant to Emissary Kim's reaction when Tree-ear reported that robbers had
destroyed Min's work?
The assistant called him a brazen fool and proceeded to yank Tree-ear out the door.
21. Who was the first person to greet Tree-ear when he arrived home?
Min's wife, Ajima
22. What item was recovered from Crane-man and returned to Tree-ear?
the little clay monkey
23. Why did Tree-ear decide against leaping over the cliff to his death?
He remembered Crane-man's advice that "leaping into death is not the only way to
show true courage."
24. Speculate whose idea it was that Tree-ear should become an adopted son. Was it Min's idea
or did his wife suggest it? Give reasons to support your choice.
A Single Shard
Listening Comprehension
Historical Fiction
Name:
Date:
A Single Shard
Key 1 - Answer ID # 0319075
Review
25. What happened to the two vases Tree-ear
took to show Emissary Kim?
They made it safely to the palace.
They were stolen and sold for
money in Songdo.
They broke when Tree-ear fell on
the mountain path.
They were thrown over a cliff by
robbers.
26. Why did Emissary Kim prefer Min's work
over Kang's?
Min worked slowly and more
carefully than Kang.
Min molded vases and Kang did
not.
Min incised a flowering plum on
each piece made.
Min used better colors.
27. How many days did Tree-ear have to work 28. What was the new technique potter Kang
for Min as a punishment for breaking
invented?
Min's pottery?
Inlay work
12
Incising designs
5
Molding wine bowls
3
Making ten identical pieces at the
9
same time
29. At what craft was Crane-man quite
talented?
Growing rice
Weaving rice straw
Making pottery
Carving wood
30. Where did Emissary Kim live?
In Seoul
In Kangjin
In Songdo
In Puyo
31. What caused Tree-ear to become an
32. What surprise did Tree-ear have for Craneorphan?
man in Chapter One?
His parents died from the fever.
A small clay monkey
His parents were killed in a village
New sandals
fire.
Rice cakes
His father was jailed and his mother
A pouch full of rice
abandoned him.
His parents were killed when a
bridge collapsed.
33. What was the first work task Min assigned 34. What color is celadon?
Tree-ear?
Bold yellow
Draining clay
Bright red
Chopping wood for the kiln
Pale gray-green
Fetching clay from the river bank
Pale pink
Pulling weeds from the yard
A Single Shard
Listening Comprehension
Historical Fiction
Name:
Date:
A Single Shard
Key 1 - Answer ID # 0319075
1.
prunu
prunuss
prunus
prunuus
2.
tumultuous
tumultuus
tumultous
tumultuouss
3.
tese
tersi
tere
terse
4.
plian
pliant
plaant
plint
5.
celado
celedon
celadon
sihluhdon
6.
dihmiez
demise
deise
dumese
7.
skepticelly
skahptohkohlee
skeptically
skiptucully
8.
brandising
brendishing
brandishin
brandishing
9.
pinionned
pinianed
pinioned
pinionid
10. mie
mirre
miire
mire
11. foreging
foraging
faraging
fooraging
12. dehftle
diftly
deftly
defty
13. wirely
wehruhlea
warily
waril
14. fayning
fiegning
feigning
figning
15. noxious
noshuhs
noxios
noxuos
16. contorted
centortid
contortod
contarted
17. trepidateon
trepidaton
trepidutiin
trepidation
18. entourege
enturage
entorage
entourage
19. suhfoozd
suffused
sufyoozd
suffussed
20. viscuo
viscuos
viiscous
viscous
21. pellur
pallor
paller
pallar
22. communal
communnal
kumyoonuhl
cammunal
23. chaysuhn
chastened
chastenned
chastenedd
24. plaintive
plianteve
plainteve
plaintivi
25. stoutle
stoutlea
stoutly
stiitloe
A Single Shard
Listening Comprehension
Historical Fiction
Name:
Date:
A Single Shard
Key 1 - Answer ID # 0319075
1. invective
acquired; amassed
an insulting or abusive word
boldly resistant
skillfully; orderly
2. deftly
frantically; in a wildly excited
manner
engaging in diligently; practicing
puzzling or baffling
skillfully; orderly
3. chastened
collect; harvest; gather
smirk; sneer, put down
4. wielding
swaying or rocking under a blow or
shock
swinging; throwing; handling
disciplined; corrected by
punishment
in a secret or unsuspected manner
5. garnered
cautiously; guardedly; carefully
balance; the proper portion of the
parts of a body or whole to one
another
purposeful undertaking
a representative sent on a mission
teasing; fun; joking
6. frenetically
ill-mannered and coarse in behavior
or appearance
expressing sorrow; mournful
frantically; in a wildly excited
manner
covered with or as if with clothing
acquired; amassed
7. perusal
the distance around something; the
circumference
turned away; ignored; disapproved
in a manner showing great spirit or
enthusiasm
examination; inspection; look-over
8. tithe
tax; obligation
expert; authority; master
a group of attendants or associates,
as of a person of rank
acted in accordance with another's
A Single Shard
Listening Comprehension
Historical Fiction
Name:
Date:
command or request
9. connoisseur
turned away; ignored; disapproved
teasing; fun; joking
smirk; sneer, put down
expert; authority; master
11. brandishing
an insulting or abusive word
10. banter
tax; obligation
purposeful undertaking
a representative sent on a mission
teasing; fun; joking
12. reeling
a group of attendants or associates,
as of a person of rank
expressing sorrow; mournful
frantically; in a wildly excited
manner
disciplined; corrected by
swaying or rocking under a blow
punishment
or shock
in a manner showing great spirit or
skillfully; orderly
enthusiasm