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

Jeong-dae

Dong-ho

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

Third-person limited point of view

Third-person omniscient point of view

Second-person point of view

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

White forsythia

Ginkgo trees

Korean red pine

Jolcham Oak
4 What do people sing during the funerals?

Traditional Korean folk hits

The National Anthem

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 keep warm

To dispel the smell of death
6 What do candles symbolize?

Birds

Mourning and imprints of departed people's souls

Religious ritual

Nothing
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 employ nationalist symbols at the funerals of those killed by the nation?

Why does everyone have to love nationalist symbols?

Why do the soldiers not represent the nation?

How to not betray one's nation?
9 How does Eun-sook respond to Dong-ho questioning why they use the national anthem and flag for the funerals?

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

Eun-sook agrees with Dong-ho's critique.

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

Eun-sook states that the generals seized power unlawfully and thus do not represent the nation.
10 Whose death does Dong-ho recall?

His grandmother's

His brother's

His own

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

He compares her soul to a bird

He compares her body to the ginkgo trees

He sees his grandmother in the rain

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

Forgiveness

A sponge cake and yogurt

A redacted manuscript

A dead bird
13 What reason does Dong-ho give in refusing to come home?

He wants to find Jeong-dae first.

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

He tells everyone about his survivor's guilt.

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

Jin-su

Jeong-dae

Dong-ho

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

The narrator contemplates death.

The narrator was traumatized.

The narrator is dreaming.

The narrator has already died.
16 What does Hang compare the pile of bodies to?

Babel

A monstrous, fantastical beast

A bird

A funeral pyre
17 Can Jeong-dae communicate with anyone?

He can only see the other recently deceased.

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

The time at which something is most powerful or successful

A god or ruler on a throne

The darkest hour of the night

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

His death

The pile of bodies

Memories of his sister

The moon
20 What primary questions consume Jeong-dae?

Why sing the national anthem at their funeral?

Who killed him and his sister, and why?

Why are humans capable of violence?

Why doesn't nature comfort him?
21 Finish this quote: "I wanted to shuck off my body ___"

as a snake sheds its skin

and be free to fly

like two peas in a pod

like an ear of corn
22 What point of view is Chapter 2 written in?

Third-person omniscient point of view

Third-person limited point of view

First-person point of view

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

Perform funeral rites.

Bury everyone in a mass grave.

Let the bodies naturally decompose.

Set it on fire.
24 Where does Jeong-dae decide to go at the end of the chapter?

To his school

To Dong-ho

To his sister

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

Jeong-dae sees Dong-ho return home.

Jeong-dae can sense when Dong-ho dies.

Jeong-dae sees Dong-ho searching for him.

Jeong-dae blames Dong-ho for leaving him.

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