Human Acts Quizzes

Human Acts Quiz for Chapters 1-2

By Isabella Ribeiro · Edited by James Cooper · Last reviewed January 26, 2025

1 Who narrates the first chapter?

Jeong-mi

Dong-ho's mother

Jeong-dae

Dong-ho
2 What narrative perspective does the first chapter use?

Third-person omniscient point of view

Second-person point of view

Third-person limited point of view

First-person point of view
3 What kind of trees does Dong-ho see outside the Provincial Office?

Korean red pine

Jolcham Oak

Ginkgo trees

White forsythia
4 What do people sing during the funerals?

The National Anthem

Traditional Korean folk hits

A K-pop song

American pop
5 What is the practical purpose of candles in Chapter 1?

To perform a ritual

To have something to meditate on

To dispel the smell of death

To keep warm
6 What do candles symbolize?

Nothing

Birds

Mourning and imprints of departed people's souls

Religious ritual
7 Describe Dong-ho's work in Chapter 1.

He organizes protests.

Mostly administrative; he takes notes and helps direct people where to go.

He gives order to the other citizens at the Provincial Office,

Mostly physical; he does the heavy lifting with all the bodies.
8 What fundamental question does Dong-ho raise concerning the Taegukgi and national anthem?

Why do the soldiers not represent the nation?

How to not betray one's nation?

Why does everyone have to love nationalist symbols?

Why employ nationalist symbols at the funerals of those killed by the nation?
9 How does Eun-sook respond to Dong-ho questioning why they use the national anthem and flag for the funerals?

Eun-sook thinks that using the flag and singing the anthem are like the moment of silence.

Eun-sook remains silent in the face of Dong-ho's angry questioning.

Eun-sook states that the generals seized power unlawfully and thus do not represent the nation.

Eun-sook agrees with Dong-ho's critique.
10 Whose death does Dong-ho recall?

His own

His mother's

His brother's

His grandmother's
11 What imagery does Dong-ho use to speak about his grandmother's death?

He compares her soul to a flickering flame

He compares her body to the ginkgo trees

He sees his grandmother in the rain

He compares her soul to a bird
12 What does Eun-sook bring to Dong-ho?

A dead bird

A sponge cake and yogurt

A redacted manuscript

Forgiveness
13 What reason does Dong-ho give in refusing to come home?

He feels a sense of duty to stay until the end.

He wants to find Jeong-dae first.

He tells everyone about his survivor's guilt.

He misses Jeong-mi.
14 Who narrates Chapter 2?

Jeong-mi

Dong-ho

Jin-su

Jeong-dae
15 What differentiates Chapter 2 from the rest of the chapters?

The narrator has already died.

The narrator is dreaming.

The narrator was traumatized.

The narrator contemplates death.
16 What does Hang compare the pile of bodies to?

A funeral pyre

A bird

Babel

A monstrous, fantastical beast
17 Can Jeong-dae communicate with anyone?

He sees the living and feels the presence of other souls but cannot communicate.

He speaks to nature and nature responds, assuaging his loneliness.

He can only see the other recently deceased.

He can speak to Dong-ho and his sister once he finds them.
18 Define "zenith."

The darkest hour of the night

A god or ruler on a throne

The time at which something is most powerful or successful

A deep wish or desire
19 What does Jeong-dae think about to deal with his fear?

His death

Memories of his sister

The pile of bodies

The moon
20 What primary questions consume Jeong-dae?

Who killed him and his sister, and why?

Why are humans capable of violence?

Why doesn't nature comfort him?

Why sing the national anthem at their funeral?
21 Finish this quote: "I wanted to shuck off my body ___"

and be free to fly

as a snake sheds its skin

like an ear of corn

like two peas in a pod
22 What point of view is Chapter 2 written in?

First-person point of view

Second-person point of view

Third-person omniscient point of view

Third-person limited point of view
23 What do the soldiers do to the pile of bodies at the end of the chapter?

Bury everyone in a mass grave.

Perform funeral rites.

Set it on fire.

Let the bodies naturally decompose.
24 Where does Jeong-dae decide to go at the end of the chapter?

To his school

To his parents

To Dong-ho

To his sister
25 What does Jeong-dae realize about Dong-ho?

Jeong-dae sees Dong-ho return home.

Jeong-dae blames Dong-ho for leaving him.

Jeong-dae sees Dong-ho searching for him.

Jeong-dae can sense when Dong-ho dies.

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