Cultural
Investigation Vocabulary
Old Context
Book Themes
Characters
Types of Flowers
Context Activities A
Context Activities B
Ch. 7-8 Questions
Clay vocabulary
100
What is the main cultural setting of "A Single Shard"?
15th Century Japan
12th century Korea
Ancient China
What is 12th century Korea?
100
What is the best synonym for the word "motif"?
-motivation
-harmony
-theme
-nature
What is theme?
100
Choose the best synonym for the the word "to hail".
-to give up
- to call out
-to ignore
-to give away
What is to call out?
100
What is one major theme found in "A Single Shard"?
Nature
Science
Betrayal
What is nature?
100
Who is the main character of "A Single Shard"?
Min
Tree-ear
Crane-man
Plum blossom
Who is Tree-ear
100
-Sunflower
-Lotus Flower
-Peony
-Chrysanthemum (mums)
What are peonies?
100
Choose the best synonym for "discontent":
-Happiness
-Satisfaction
-Unhappiness
-Excitement
What is unhappiness?
100
What does "to incise" mean?
-To make a sharp cut into something
-To glue things together
-To paint carefully
-To fold neatly
What is to make a sharp cut into something?
100
“It was many days before I could even think about making the journey again, and by that time, this” – Crane-man waved his chopsticks at the little space– “had begun to seem like home. Days became months, months grew into years. Then you came along.” Crane-man smiled as he finished his story.
What does the quotation marks in the passage indicate?
-A thought process
-Direct dialogue
-Written text
-A song lyric
What is direct dialogue?
100
What is a kiln used for?
-Mixing clay and water
-Storing finished pieces
-Applying decorative finishes
-Baking the clay into ceramics
What is baking the clay into ceramic?
200
Name one traditional Korean pottery technique mentioned in the book.
Porcelain
Raku
Celadon
What is celadon?
200
What is the best antonym for the word "harmony"?
-peace
-chaos
-balance
-different
What is chaos?
200
Choose the best synonym for the the word "to plait".
-to make
-to untie
-to smash
-to interlock
What is to interlock?
200
How does persistence/attitude play a role in the story?
Characters give up easily
Characters face and overcome challenges
Characters avoid hard work
What is characters face and overcome challenges?
200
What is Tree-ear's relationship with Min?
Friend and friend
Father vs son
Enemy vs Enemy
Master and apprentice
What is Master and apprentice?
200
-Sunflowers
-Magnolias
-Jasmine
-Daffodils
What are daffodils?
200
The word "to hail" means:
-To whisper quietly
-To walk slowly
-To call out or greet loudly
-To hide away
What is to call out or greet loudly?
200
What is the meaning of "dejection"?
-Celebration
-Low spirits or sadness
-High energy
-Confusion
What is low spirits or sadness?
200
This time, however, Min remained at the site for the entire period of firing. Tree-ear laid armfuls of straw on the hillside, and there Min sat, the hollows under his eyes dark with exhaustion. His orders were curt, as usual, but quiet.
The word "curt" in the passage means:
-Polite and friendly
-Brief and rudely short
-Long and detailed
-Loud and boisterous
What is brief, and rudely short?
200
With an incising awl, he inscribed the leather-hard clay–a simple chrysanthemum design, which the potters of Ch-ulp-o were known. But rather than outlining the petals in the usual way, Kang was clearing away the clay to leave teardrop-shaped depressions.
In the context of pottery making, "leather-hard clay" suggests the clay is:
-completely dried
-partially dried but still workable
-fully wet
-completely hardened
What is partially dried but still workable?
300
How does Confucianism influence the culture of the story?
It promotes individualism
It emphasizes community and respect
It discourages art
What is by emphasizing community and respect?
300
What is the most accurate synonym for the word "scene"?
-party
-design
-snapshot
-caption
What is snapshot?
300
Choose the best synonym for the the word "dejection".
-to give up
-to try harder
-to be astonished
-to shout
What is to give up?
300
Describe how friendship is portrayed as a theme in the novel.
One should not trust friends
One has a duty to take care of friends
One's friends are not important
What is one has a duty to take care of friends?
300
Describe the character of Crane-man.
A Buddhist monk
A wealthy merchant
A wise and caring figure
A rival potter
What is a wise and caring figure?
300
-Lotus Flower
-Peony
-Chrysanthemum (mums)
-Purple Hemlock
What are mums?
300
The word "deliberate" means:
-To rush quickly
-Accidental or unplanned
-Done by chance
-Done on purpose
What is done on purpose?
300
What does "to plait" mean?
-To untangle something
-To weave or braid
-To cut into pieces
-To paint a picture
What is to weave or braid?
300
The dreaded brown tint sufficed the glaze of every piece ; some of them were marred with brown spots as well. They were fragments of the same vase, but the destruction of all five meant that every vase was flawed.
The word "sufficed" in the final passage suggests the brown tint:
-enhanced the pieces
-covered completely
-barely showed
-partially colored
What is partially colored?
300
What is slip in ceramics?
-Liquid clay mixture used for joining pieces or decoration
-A tool used for smoothing clay surfaces
-A type of glaze that creates a shiny finish
-The process of firing clay in a kiln
What is liquid clay mixture used for joining pieces or decoration?
400
What role does respect for elders play in the society depicted in the novel?
It not as valued as being young
It is a central value to social structures
It is only important in religious contexts
What is as a central value to social structures?
400
What is the best definition for the word "to refine"?
-to improve the quality or details of something
-to decline the quality or details of something
-to make something expensive
-to work a lot on a material
What is to improve the quality or details of something?
400
Choose the best synonym for the the word "deliberately".
-accidentally
-scientifically
-intentionally
-academically
What is intentionally?
400
What role does tradition play in the structure of the story?
Tradition is important until something better comes along
Tradition stands in the way of Tree-ears progress in life
Tradition happens accidentally but people like it
What is tradition is important until something better comes along?
400
What challenges does Tree-ear face in the story?
He has to become physically strong
He faces poverty and discrimination
He has too many friends
He doesn't know how to survive
What is he faces poverty and discrimination?
400
-Sunflower
-Marigolds
-Magnolias
-Chrysanthemum (mums)
What are magnolias?
400
What is the meaning of "trundled"?
-To move heavily or roll
-To jump high
-To sing loudly
-To sleep deeply
What is to move heavily or roll?
400
The word "obtrusive" means:
-Shy and retiring
-Sticking out or noticeable
-Helpful and kind
-Quick and efficient
What is sticking out or noticeable?
400
To Tree-ear’s surprise, Min’s wife was waiting for him out on the road in front of the house the next morning. Besides her were the cart and spade. Although her face was as placid and kind as always, Tree-ear saw in her eyes some great worry that even her gentle smile of greeting could not hide.
Her face was partially hidden behind the linen sheet she was hanging; she fixed it firmly to the line before she answered.
The author's descriptions of Min's wife suggests she is:
-Someone who confronts issues directly
-Someone who avoids all interaction
-Someone who maintains a calm exterior
-Someone who easily shows distress
-Someone who maintains a calm exterior
400
Which term describes the process of shaping clay on a potter's wheel?
-Molding
-Throwing
-Sculpting
-Carving
What is throwing?
500
Describe how the role of family is portrayed in the cultural context of the story.
Role of families hold no social importance
Service and duty to ones family is vital
Families are depicted as dysfunctional
What is service and duty to ones family is vital?
500
What is the best synonym for the word "element"?
-groups
-whole
-outcome
-ingredients
What are ingredients?
500
Choose the best synonym for the the word "merit".
-value
-cheapness
-secret
-obstruction
What is value?
500
How does the theme of sacrifice demonstrated in the lives of the characters?
Characters try to gain as much as they can as quickly as they can
Characters give up short term comfort for long term goals
Characters are selfish and avoid hardship at all cost
What is characters give up short term comfort for long term goals?
500
How does Crane-man's backgrounds influence his actions?
He is a Confucian scholar
He became a Buddhist
He cares for people who aren't valued in society
He is angry at the world for being crippled
What is he cares for people who aren't valued in society?
500
-Jasmine
-Lotus Flower
-Dragon's Breath
-Snow Lace
What is jasmine?
500
Choose the best definition of "merit":
-To fail at something
-To question deeply
-The quality of deserving
-To forget quickly
What is the quality of deserving?
500
What is the definition of "curt"?
-Long and detailed
-Friendly and warm
-Brief and rudely short
-Slow and careful
What is brief and rudely short?
500
Tree-ear had never could hardly believe it; he would almost rather have Min shouting at him. The quiet was alarming. Tree-ear brought food from the house, but Min left most of it untouched. He sent Tree-ear back and forth between the house and the kiln on various errands. At the end of each day Tree-ear crept away on tiptoe, as if any noise might disrupt Min’s concentration and somehow ruin the firing.
The passage suggests that Min's quiet demeanor is:
-His usual behavior
-A sign of happiness
-Unusual and concerning
-A teaching technique
What is unusual and concerning?
500
What is the primary purpose of glaze in ceramics?
-To soften clay for molding
-To join pieces together
-To create texture on the surface
-To create a decorative and protective coating
What is to create a decorative and protective coating?