Chapter 9 Practice Quiz — The Giver
by Lois Lowry — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter 9
How does Jonas feel as he walks home after the Ceremony of Twelve?
He feels isolated, separate, and different from everyone around him. People move aside for him and even his friend Asher seems uncomfortable.
What does Jonas ask his parents about at dinner?
He asks about the previous Receiver of Memory who was selected ten years ago.
What happened to the previous Receiver of Memory?
She failed in her training, and her name became Not-to-Be-Spoken, which is the greatest dishonor in the community.
What was the gender of the previous Receiver of Memory?
The previous Receiver was female.
How many rules does Jonas's Assignment folder contain?
Eight rules, all on a single sheet of paper.
Where is Jonas told to go each day for training?
He is told to go to the Annex entrance behind the House of the Old.
How do Jonas's instructions compare to those of his friends?
His friends received thick folders full of detailed instructions, while Jonas received only a single sheet of paper with eight rules.
Is Jonas allowed to discuss his training with anyone?
No. One of his rules explicitly prohibits him from discussing his training with any other citizen, including his family.
Can Jonas apply for medication to relieve pain from his training?
No. His rules state that he may not apply for any medication to treat pain related to his training.
What is the most shocking rule Jonas receives?
He is permitted to lie — a rule that is unprecedented in a community that demands precise language and total honesty.
Why does the permission to lie frighten Jonas?
It makes him wonder whether other adults also received permission to lie in their own instructions, meaning everything he has been told could be false.
Is Jonas allowed to apply for release?
No. His rules state he cannot apply for release, which is one of the few rights every other community member has.
What does 'Not-to-Be-Spoken' mean in the community?
It is the greatest dishonor in the community — the person's name is essentially erased and may never be mentioned again.
What theme is most prominent in Chapter 9?
Isolation and the cost of being chosen — Jonas is set apart from his peers and given rules that separate him from the community's norms.
What does Jonas's exemption from rudeness rules allow him to do?
He may ask any question of any citizen and receive a truthful answer, even if the question would normally be considered rude.
Is Jonas allowed to share his dreams with his family?
No. Unlike all other citizens who share dreams at the morning meal, Jonas is prohibited from telling his dreams.
What literary device does Lowry use at the end of Chapter 9?
Rhetorical questioning — Jonas asks himself what if all adults had been told 'You may lie,' creating suspense and challenging the reader's trust in the community.
How does Chapter 9 foreshadow future events in the novel?
The rule against pain medication suggests Jonas will endure physical suffering; the failed previous Receiver hints at the danger of the role; and the ban on release foreshadows the significance of release later in the story.
What does the single sheet of paper symbolize compared to the thick folders?
It symbolizes how the Receiver's role exists outside the community's normal systems — simple in its presentation but immeasurably more complex and consequential than any other Assignment.
What is the significance of people moving aside for Jonas after the ceremony?
It physically demonstrates his new status and separation from the community. The deference people show him also reflects a mixture of respect and unease toward the Receiver's role.