Chapter 8 Practice Quiz — The Giver
by Lois Lowry — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter 8
What happens to Jonas during the Assignment portion of the Ceremony of Twelve?
Jonas's number is skipped entirely. The Chief Elder moves past him without giving him an Assignment, causing him great anxiety and confusion.
What is the difference between being 'assigned' and being 'selected' in the community?
Being assigned is the normal process where Twelves receive their life roles. Being selected is a rare, higher honor reserved for the position of Receiver of Memory, indicating the role's unique importance.
What position has Jonas been selected for?
Jonas has been selected to become the next Receiver of Memory, the most honored and important position in the community.
What are the five qualities required of the Receiver of Memory?
Intelligence, integrity, courage, wisdom, and the Capacity to See Beyond.
How does the Chief Elder describe Jonas's intelligence?
She points to his consistently high academic performance and strong grades throughout his school years as evidence of his intelligence.
How does Jonas demonstrate integrity, according to the Chief Elder?
Jonas consistently and honestly presents himself for chastisement whenever he commits even minor infractions, showing his commitment to truthfulness.
Why is courage especially important for the Receiver of Memory?
Because the Receiver experiences physical and emotional pain that no other community member can experience or even comprehend, requiring great bravery to endure.
What happened to the previous candidate selected to be Receiver of Memory?
The previous selection, made ten years earlier, ended in failure. The failed candidate's name is never spoken, effectively erasing them from the community's memory.
What strange visual experience does Jonas have when looking at the crowd?
The faces in the audience seem to momentarily shift or change, the same phenomenon Jonas experienced earlier with the apple. This is connected to his Capacity to See Beyond.
What is the 'Capacity to See Beyond'?
It is the final and most mysterious quality required of the Receiver. It refers to an ability to perceive things others cannot — later revealed to be the ability to see color in a world without it.
How does the community honor Jonas after his selection is announced?
The community performs a rare group chant of Jonas's name, a rhythmic repetition that grows in intensity — an almost unprecedented deviation from normal controlled behavior.
Why does the Chief Elder apologize to Jonas and the community?
She apologizes for causing anxiety by skipping Jonas during the standard Assignment process, acknowledging that the deviation from the expected order was unsettling.
What does the failed previous selection reveal about the role of Receiver?
It reveals that becoming the Receiver is extraordinarily difficult and that failure carries severe consequences — both for the individual and for the community, which considers the failure a source of deep shame.
How does Jonas feel after being selected as Receiver?
Jonas experiences a mix of emotions: relief that he wasn't being punished, pride at receiving such an honor, but also deep fear and anxiety about the unknown challenges ahead.
What theme does Jonas's selection highlight about the community?
It highlights the tension between conformity and individuality. In a society built on Sameness, the Receiver must be fundamentally different from everyone else — someone who holds experiences the community has eliminated.
Why is the name of the failed Receiver candidate never spoken?
In the community, erasing someone's name is the ultimate form of punishment and forgetting. It reflects the community's desire to suppress uncomfortable truths and maintain the illusion of a perfect society.
What earlier event is connected to Jonas's Capacity to See Beyond?
Earlier in the novel, Jonas noticed an apple briefly change while tossing it with his friend Asher. This was the first hint of his ability to perceive color, which is the Capacity to See Beyond.
How long did the Committee of Elders observe Jonas before selecting him?
The Committee observed Jonas for several years before making their decision, reflecting the extreme care and deliberation required for this rare selection.
What literary device does Lowry use by having Jonas skipped during the ceremony?
Lowry uses dramatic irony and suspense. The reader senses that being skipped may be significant rather than shameful, while Jonas and the audience experience genuine fear and confusion before the truth is revealed.
What does the group chanting of Jonas's name symbolize?
It symbolizes both honor and isolation. The chant elevates Jonas above his peers but also marks him as permanently separate from the community, foreshadowing the loneliness of holding forbidden memories.