What seems to be the purpose of the volunteer hours?
Children help in various parts of the society. They are able to "find their niche."
100
What is the morning ritual?
Telling about one's nightly dreams.
100
Why must Jonas start taking a pill every day?
His stirrings in his dreams; the community requires sexual desire to be repressed.
200
What is the difference between loss and release?
Loss is uncontrolled death of a child and is very rare. Release is at the end of life for the old, used as punishment, or something for which one can sign up.
200
Why did Asher stop speaking for a while as a young child?
He was physically punished for incorrect language usage.
200
What values does the community embrace and encourage?
Why do assignments and loss of free time occur at a young age?
The community's goal is not to ensure a pleasant childhood, but to create workers for the community. All assignments serve the community, not private businesses.
200
How does the Ceremony of Twelve start?
Introductory remarks by the Chief Elder.
300
List the items provided for the members of the community.
Food, clothing, home, job, bicycles, education, elder care, education, childcare.
300
How do Lily and Mother's dream reveal their feelings about the community's structure?
Both dreams deal with security guards and punishment, so they probably fear the community's rules and methods of punishment.
300
What does the Receiver look like? How is he similar to Jonas and Gabriel?
The Receiver sits with the Elders, but apart from them. He is an older man with a beard. Like Jonas and Gabriel, he has pale eyes.
300
Can the receiver in training refuse the assignment?
No.
300
Describe the applause when Jonas is finally called to the stage.
Scattered applause rather than a swell of excited applause.
400
What do the number mean for each person?
The designate the order of birth in the birth year.
400
What qualities does the Chief Elder explain Jonas will need?
Intelligence, integrity, courage, wisdom, and the Capacity to See Beyond.
400
How does the concept of grouping dominate the community?
Children stay with others of their own age. Youth and adults work in assignment groups. Elderly stay in a group in the House of the Old.
400
How does Jonas show total trust in the Elders' decisions?
He is confident that his Assignment will be the right one for him. He has been conditioned to believe that the Elders know what is best for him.
400
What does Jonas think when his number is skipped?
He thinks he has done something wrong.
500
Explain Jonas' reaction to seeing beyond.
Jonas doesn't believe he has the ability to see beyond at first, but as he looks at the audience he experiences a flicker of something different.
500
How often is the Chief Elder elected?
Every 10 years.
500
Describe the position of receiver.
The position cannot be modified once it is assigned. The person is to be alone, apart from others during training. It is the most honored job in the community.
500
"Discomfort" is a word that is used frequently to describe the community's feelings. Why are the citizens uncomfortable? What adjectives may more precisely describe the community's feelings?
They are uncertain about what may occur and many of the community's rules and interactions contain an ominous (threatening or unpleasant) tone of feeling. Anxious, frightened, uncertain, concerned.
500
Why couldn't the community afford another failure with the receiver in training?
A problem occurred with the last receiver in training and there were negative consequences for the community.