Class 8 English
The Giver, by Lois Lowry
Test ANSWERS
NOTE: The multiple-choice questions are arranged in a different order in different versions of the test. You may have to hunt around for the question you are looking for.
Part I: Multiple-Choice Reading Check (25 points)
Put the
correct letter IN THE BLANK. Do NOT
circle any answers!
If you make
a mistake, CROSS IT OUT and write a new letter. Do NOT write a letter on top of a letter.
__B__1. In his Ceremony, what does Jonas’s Assignment turn out to be? A. He will be the new Giver B. He will be the new Receiver C. He does not receive an assignment D. He will be an Elder
__C__2. Which of these is something Jonas has seen or experienced before he meets the Giver?
A. snow B. hills C. color D. war
__C__3. Jonas receives rules he takes home from his Ceremony. Which of these is NOT one of his new rules? A. He can lie B. He isn’t allowed to get any pain medication for anything that happens during training C. He will no longer share feelings every evening with his family D. He will no longer be required to tell his dreams in the morning
__B__4. At the beginning of the novel, Jonas has a volunteer job at: A. the Nurturing Center
B. the House of the Old C. the Recreation Center D. his school
__C__5. Which one of these things is NOT shown in The Community in the novel? A. people who kill other people B. people who break the rules and receive punishments C. people who carry guns D. kids who play war games
__C__6. The first memory of pain Jonas receives is: A. a broken bone B. a skinned knee C. a sunburn D. a sharp cut
__A__7. What was the department that relocated so often in the Community that people could never find it? A. Bicycle Repair B. Street Cleaning C. Building Maintenance D. Recreation Department (Question submitted by Tom French, 8-A)
__D__8. What did Jonas take from the recreation area? A. a ball B. a tomato C. a cherry D. an apple (Question submitted by Hana T., 8-D)
__B__9. Jonas is told not to reveal any of the things he is learning in his training to his friends or others. A. So, he maintains a strict privacy about it B. But, he hints about things to Asher and the others C. However, he writes down his experiences in a private journal D. Nevertheless, he tells his little sister about what he’s learned, knowing she won’t tell anyone else
__B__10. “Stirrings” are: A. signs of revolution among members of the Community B. sexual thoughts and dreams C. drinks teenagers have to start taking in the Community D. what the Elders call the lies they have told the Community to keep them in line
__B__11. Jonas has the special ability of “seeing beyond”. What was The Giver’s special ability?
A. seeing beyond B. hearing beyond C. feeling beyond D. tasting beyond
__D__12. At the very beginning of the book, in Chapter One, Jonas is “apprehensive” about something. What does it turn out to be? A. a plane flying over the Community B. dreams he has been having C. Gabriel in the Nurturing Center D. his upcoming Assignment
__B__13. What is the first lie Jonas tells his parents? A. That he went to school, when he didn’t B. that he understood not to say the word “love” C. that he had no dream the night before D. that he was going for a bike ride early in the morning (Question submitted by Michael Calder, 8-D)
__A__14. The very first memory the Giver transmits to Jonas is: A. sledding down a hill B. painful
C. of a family at Christmas time D. of wartime
__B__15. Something Jonas took without permission: A. pills B. an apple C. a book D. a photograph
__D__16. When Jonas receives the memories, he is: A. standing B. sitting C. kneeling D. lying down
__C__17. Jonas’s friend Asher becomes: A. demoted back to his 12th year B. released C. a worker in the Recreation Department D. an Elder
__B__18. In this Community, if one of your children accidentally dies: A. you are punished and released, since you were not a fit parent B. that child’s name will be given to some other child born later C. that child’s name will never be used again D. Both A and C
__D__19. Who was Rosemary? A. a girl Jonas had a crush on, before he started taking pills B. a girl who was Jonas’s twin, who had been released when Jonas was born C. Jonas’s mother D. the Giver’s daughter
__C__20. The Chief Elder is elected every ten years. The Chief Elder during this novel is: A. someone Jonas doesn’t like to admit he doesn’t really like B. a man Jonas is a little frightened of when he has seen him C. a woman D. the Giver himself
__A__21. What is Father’s nickname for Jonas’s sister? A. Lily-billy B. Hippo C. Miss Lily D. Little Lily
__D__22. Who said this: “You suggested…that perhaps she wasn't brave enough? I don't know about bravery: what it is, what it means. I do know that I sat here numb with horror. Wretched with helplessness.” A. Jonas B. Father C. Asher D. The Giver
__D__23. What was Gabriel’s comfort object? A. a giraffe B. an elephant C. a crocodile D. a hippo (Question submitted by Mathis Arnell, 8-A)
__B__24. What part of Jonas and the Giver’s plan near the end of the book does not happen?
A. Jonas leaves the Community B. Jonas is presumed dead because his bike is found near the river C. Jonas “kidnaps” Gabriel from the Community D. the Giver does not leave the Community
__A__25. The author of The Giver is: A. Lois Lowry B. Lois Lane C. Flowery Lowry D. R. L. Stine
Part II: Short Essay Answers (75 points)
Pick THREE from the list to
answer.
Remember to
answer the question.
Remember to
write about the book. This is a test of
your reading and thinking about the book.
NOTE: You were not expected to have every single
point listed below. I realize you only
had ten minutes. However, the
information below shows you how much information there was to write about for
each question. You can gauge what I was
thinking for an answer in the “7” range vs. an answer in the “3” range, for
example.
Also, you might have mentioned
something in your answer that was just as good as anything I have listed here,
and you got credit for it, even if I didn’t think of it first.
Possible Answers
Choice 1 Is the world in The Giver one where
everyone is equal? Is it a world where
everyone is the same? Is there a
difference? Explain your answers with
examples from the book.
|
Equal? |
The
same? |
|
All jobs are not equally respected. (Ex.: Mother tells Lily Birthmothers are not respected; the job of Receiver obviously carries more honor than others) |
In the Ceremonies, everyone gets the same things at the same age and time (haircuts, calculators, bikes, clothing, comfort objects, names, parents, birthdays) |
|
No jealousy or competition in the community, a sign of equality |
No hills, no weather, surroundings are always the same |
|
No rich or poor, no poverty in the Community—Everyone is paid the same (nothing, since there is no money) |
Routines every day are the same (dream sharing, feeling sharing, etc.) for every person |
|
The rules and laws apply equally to everyone |
Every house is the same, with the same furniture, etc. |
|
Apologies and politeness are extended to all, of all ages |
Release of everyone who is different, unhealthy, old, or who disagrees means everyone is basically the same |
|
Jonas does get special privileges, showing maybe everyone is not equal |
The term Sameness for their social philosophy (using that word helped your points automatically) |
|
There is equality of men and women (the Chief Elder is a woman; Jonas’s mother is a judge) |
|
|
What’s
the difference between Equality and being The Same? (Many
people did not write about this part of the question.) |
|
|
Many answers are possible. Examples: Equality means treating everyone the same; but each individual can still be different. Sameness as a philosophy does not respect individuals. Sameness tries to make everyone equal, and in many ways it does. But it ruins individuality. |
|
Choice 2 Why does the Community have Release? What are the positive results for the
Community of Release? Are there any
negative results for the Community of Release?
Remember to discuss examples from the book.
Why do they have Release? To make sure the Community runs smoothly, to make sure everyone stays the same, to make sure no one is different. Sameness depends on it. That is why they Release anyone who is old, ill, “different,” a rule-breaker, or “imperfect”. So the Community can function more easily. Also, to keep the population at a steady point and not have over-population.
Benefits to the Community—There are no “special needs” to deal with (examples, the really sick, the really old, the mentally ill, no need for prisons, etc.). There is only a healthy, working-age population. The Community has only people who agree with its rules, and no one else. Society runs like clockwork! Plus, since they don’t know what Release really is, the system is based on a love of the Community (not wanting to leave it), and not fear of death. No overpopulation.
Drawbacks to the Community—It leads to a bland and dull Sameness to people. Diverse people make society richer and more interesting. Most importantly, all life has value, and it is immoral to kill people who are blameless for their “crime” of being different (like twins, or low birth weight babies). At least the word “murder” instead of “killing” would indicate this point. Also, the leaders have to lie to the Community about what Release is.
Choice 3 You are trying to convince people from our
world to come and live in the Community of The Giver. What are the things about that society that
you would mention to get people to see it as a better alternative for living
than our world is?
There are lots of reasons to come to live in this Community (although I wouldn’t want to). A short list of possible reasons:
No war
No starvation
No hatred
No jealousy
No bad weather
No natural disasters
No child abuse
No impoliteness
No pollution
No advanced and complicated technology
No disease…
There is no job stress—all those decisions are made for you.
No competition for jobs—all those decisions are made for you.
No clothing or fashion concerns—all those decisions are made for you.
No need to know any history or information from the past—you live only in the present.
It’s safe for your children.
No economic worries—all taken care of automatically.
No worry about old age or a slow and painful death.
There is equality of men and women.
Food delivered right to your door!
[Possibly advantages, but possibly not:
No history to learn or memorize
No bad memories to deal with]
Choice 4 The family in this book may not be very
emotional and loving. What is
their relationship? What systems have
been set up to make sure that relationship works? What are the positive things about that relationship? What are the negatives, to you?
The family relationship:
Mutual respect, no fighting among family members, certainly no abuse. There is politeness at almost all times. They listen to one another. The parents are patient with their children, and try to teach them correctly at all times. The personalities of the parents are well matched, and they are also as well matched as possible to the personalities of their children.
The systems:
Dream-telling and feeling-sharing encourage closeness, intimacy, and sharing. There are automatic apologies to ensure politeness. There is a strict rule against lying to encourage honesty. They have dinner together every evening to encourage closeness. The matching of husbands and wives is done only after close study of interests, strengths, and weaknesses. Children are assigned to families, only when the family is ready and assessed. Families are kept small, so there is only so much to deal with in any one family. No family has money worries. All children are kept free from pain, at no cost.
Positives:
No abuse or neglect of children, no fighting or quarrels, no divorce when there are children, no financial pressures, expectations and rules for everyone are clear, no disrespect or impoliteness, no risk of physical pain
Negatives:
No real love! That is the main one. Respect and logic do not replace love.
No choices of partners for couples, none of the nice and unexpected pleasures of family life, not very much humor, plus there is dishonesty required (as Jonas’s father lies to him, for example, about Release)
Choice 5 According to this book, what are the reasons
we should value our own memories, and learn as much about the past as
possible? Remember, discuss the novel
when you answer.
Some possible main points to mention:
Choice 6 These things are usually considered to be
negative: pain, hate, jealousy. Describe, using examples from this book, how
those things can be considered positive.
Generally:
Deep emotions allow for love and joy, as well as pain and hate. They go together, and you can’t have one without the other.
Pain:
Can teach us what NOT to do, and can help us to do better.
example—Jonas experiences sunburn, and a broken leg, and war
Can make us stronger, physically and mentally.
example—Jonas gets pain medication for every little ache; this is what we call babying a person; pain can “toughen you up”
Hate:
A deep emotion; it is necessary to feel hate if you want to feel love, or the other deep emotions
example—Jonas’s war memory, set against the memory of the family at Christmas; he feels both, and decides deep emotions are good, even if some are bad
Deep emotions make us participate in LIFE, they make us human
example—In The Giver, people are logical and polite, but they are cogs in society’s machine; because they do not feel deeply, they cannot make human connections, just have societal interactions
Some things may be worth hating, and defeating
example—the lies they are told in the Community about Release, how Sameness might lead to murder of innocent people
Jealousy:
Competition can lead to improvement and making oneself better
Looking at others can help us to value ourselves, and be critical of ourselves in a good way
example—Compare to The Giver, where they all wear the same clothes, have the same haircut, etc. True, there is no jealousy, but there is no desire to improve oneself individually, either.
Jealousy is closely related to a desire to succeed, and improve