Chapter 13 Practice Quiz — The Giver
by Lois Lowry — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter 13
What colors does Jonas see more frequently at the beginning of Chapter 13?
Jonas catches flashes of red — in Fiona's hair, in apples, and in the clothing of community members — though the colors still come and go rather than remaining constant.
Why is Jonas frustrated with his friends and family in Chapter 13?
He is frustrated because they cannot see colors or understand what they are missing. Jonas feels isolated by his growing awareness of what the community has given up.
What does Jonas try to do with Asher near the geraniums?
Jonas places his hands on Asher's shoulders and tries to transmit the perception of the color red to him.
Does Jonas succeed in transmitting color to Asher?
No. The attempt fails completely. Asher only looks confused and slightly uncomfortable, highlighting Jonas's isolation.
What argument does Jonas make to The Giver about choice?
Jonas argues that people should be allowed to make their own decisions, such as choosing the color of their clothing. He believes the community has lost something essential by eliminating choice.
How does The Giver counter Jonas's argument about choice?
The Giver points out that if people could choose their jersey color, they might demand to choose spouses and jobs. Wrong choices could lead to unhappiness, which is why the community adopted Sameness.
How does Jonas respond to The Giver's argument that choice is dangerous?
Jonas reluctantly concedes that people might make wrong choices, but he remains uneasy, sensing that something essential has been sacrificed for safety.
What painful memory does The Giver transmit to Jonas in Chapter 13?
The Giver transmits a memory of poachers killing an elephant for its tusks, followed by another elephant grieving over the dead animal's body.
What does the surviving elephant do after finding the dead elephant?
The surviving elephant strokes the dead elephant's body with its trunk and covers it with branches and leaves, performing an act of mourning and grief.
How does Jonas react to the elephant memory?
Jonas is devastated by the cruelty and grief in the memory, and he weeps. It is one of the first truly painful memories he receives.
What lesson does the elephant memory teach Jonas?
The memory teaches Jonas that beauty and joy are inseparable from pain and sorrow — the Receiver must carry both the wonderful and the terrible memories of human experience.
Why is the newchild Gabriel fussy in Chapter 13?
Gabriel is restless and unable to sleep. He has been struggling at the Nurturing Center, and Jonas's family has been caring for him as extra nurturing.
What happens when Jonas pats Gabriel's back to soothe him?
Jonas accidentally transmits a calming memory to Gabriel, who immediately relaxes and falls asleep. Jonas did not intend to share the memory.
Why is Jonas's accidental transmission to Gabriel significant?
It reveals that Jonas has the ability to share memories with others — a discovery that has major implications for the rest of the novel and foreshadows their eventual escape together.
What is the central thematic debate in Chapter 13?
The chapter centers on individual choice versus collective safety. Jonas wants freedom to choose, while The Giver explains the community's belief that eliminating choice prevents suffering.
How does the failed transmission to Asher contrast with the successful transmission to Gabriel?
Jonas deliberately tries to share color with Asher and fails, but accidentally shares a calming memory with Gabriel and succeeds. This suggests that natural, caring connections may be more powerful than forced attempts.
What does Jonas's growing ability to see color represent?
Color represents individuality, beauty, and the richness of human experience. Jonas's increasing perception of color symbolizes his growing awareness of everything the community has sacrificed for Sameness.
What does Chapter 13 reveal about the loneliness of the Receiver's role?
The Receiver carries knowledge and experiences that cannot be shared with anyone else. Jonas's failed attempt to share color with Asher and his inability to discuss his feelings with his family illustrate this profound isolation.
What logical chain does The Giver use to argue against choice?
Choosing clothing color leads to choosing spouses, which leads to choosing jobs — and wrong choices in these important areas would cause unhappiness. Therefore, the community eliminated all choice to prevent suffering.
How does the elephant memory connect to the theme of Sameness?
The community eliminated memories like the elephant killing to prevent citizens from experiencing grief and cruelty. But by eliminating painful memories, they also eliminated empathy, compassion, and the full depth of emotional experience.