Tag Archives: Lois Lowry

Comprehension Questions – The Giver

The Giver

by Lois Lowry

*Mature. Content may be deemed inappropriate for younger readers.

Grades 8-12; Genre - Dystopian; GRL Y; AR pts. 7.0

While training to be the Receiver of Memory, Jonas experiences joy and sadness for the first time. He becomes convinced his society has given up too much, and he can no longer accept the sameness.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe the society in this story. Each family can only have two children, one male and one female; instead of saying 11 years old, they refer to them as Elevens; there’s a ritual each night to express the emotions felt that day; there’s The Ceremony of Twelve p.4
  2. What does it mean “to release”? To remove or let go p.2

Chapter 2

  1. Describe the Ceremony of Twelve. For children who turn 12 years old; always in December; they receive their Assignment for the rest of their lives; won’t get to hang out with friends as much p.14

Chapter 3

  1. Summarize this chapter. Jonas’s father brought home the newchild; he had light eyes like Jonas; Jonas remembered an incident where he got in trouble from taking home an apple when he shouldn’t have; he brought it home because as he was throwing it back and forth with Asher the apple changed p.20

Chapter 4

  1. What does this chapter tell you about this society? There’s a lot of rules; being Released is celebrated; there are rules about only seeing newchildren and The Old without their clothes on p.28

Chapter 5

  1. Describe what Stirrings are.  The feelings and thoughts you have when going through puberty p.35
  2. Why did Jonas’s mother treat him for showing signs of this? To make it stop or take them away p.37

Chapter 6

  1. Now that you know more about this society, list three positives and three negatives about living in this community. Listen to your child’s answer.

Chapter 7

  1. Why did Jonas worry he had done something wrong? The Chief Elder skipped his turn during the ceremony, and she didn’t give him an assignment p.57

Chapter 8

  1. Describe Jonas’s new Assignment. The Receiver of Memories; he will need to feel real pain; have integrity, courage, intelligence, wisdom, be able to See Beyond; he will be alone and apart from the community p.62

Chapter 9

  1. Why were Jonas’s instructions disturbing to him? He was being told to do things that went against what he had been taught p.68

Chapter 10

  1. What memories is Jonas going to receive? The memories of the world and the Receiver from generations ago p.76
  2. Why couldn’t Jonas understand the sledding analogy? He’s never seen snow or gone sledding p.78

Chapter 11

  1. Describe Jonas’s first day of training for his new responsibility. The Giver put his hands on his back and gave him memories of snow, sledding, sunshine and being sunburn p.80

Chapter 12

  1. What tones can Jonas see if he’s not seeing color? Black and white p.94

Chapter 13

  1. Why is the Giver so alone? He can’t talk about his training with anyone; the committee of elders never comes to him asking for advice; he was required to hide all of his books and training from his wife p.104

Chapter 14

  1. Do you agree with Jonas that he shouldn’t tell the Giver he shared a memory with Gabriel? Why, or why not? Listen to your child’s answer p.117

Chapter 15

  1. Why did the Giver ask for forgiveness after giving Jonas the war memory in this chapter? It was horrible, scary, and traumatizing p.120

Chapter 16

  1. Summarize this chapter. Jonas experienced family and love; he continued to share memories with Gabe to help him sleep; Jonas didn’t take his pill in the morning p.121 

Chapter 17

  1. Why didn’t Jonas want to play the game Asher organized? It was a war game and Jonas now knows what war is p.132

Chapter 18

  1. Why did the community struggle when Rosemary was released? The memories the Giver gave her were given back to the community when she was released, and they didn’t know how to deal with the feelings that came with them; they didn’t know how to deal with feelings p.144

Chapter 19

  1. What does it mean to release something? Why is Jonas so shocked? To murder; he thought those being released were taken somewhere, Elsewhere, but they were really being killed p.150

Chapter 20

  1. Summarize the plan. Jonas will hide away in a vehicle and he and the Giver will go to another community; Jonas will escape to Elsewhere and the Giver will return to help the community p.158
  2. Who is the Giver’s daughter? Rosemary; the girl who was the Receiver p.162

Chapter 21

  1. Explain why Jonas didn’t follow the plan and left earlier than anticipated? Gabriel was going to be released and Jonas couldn’t let him die p.166

Chapter 22

  1. Summarize this chapter. Jonas continued his search for Elsewhere; the landscape changed, and Jonas crashed on his bike; he was hurt but continued on and traveled during the day; he was not being searched for anymore; the weather became colder, and Jonas worried he couldn’t save Gabriel p.171

Chapter 23

  1. Summarize the conclusion to this story. Gabriel and Jonas were freezing and starving; Jonas continued to give Gabriel memories to help warm them; he found the sled and coasted down to a cabin with Christmas lights; he heard music; he thought he heard an echo from the past; they made it to Elsewhere p.175
  2. What did you enjoy about this story? Listen to your child’s answer.
  3. Would you want to live in this society? Why, or why not? Listen to your child's answer.

Comprehension Questions – Number the Stars

Number the Stars

by Lois Lowry

Grades 5-6; Genre - Fiction; GRL U; AR pts: 4.0

As German troops begin their campaign to "relocate" all the Jews of Denmark, 10-year-old Annemarie Johansen's family takes in Annemarie's best friend, Ellen Rosen, and conceals her by pretending she's part of the family. Then, through Annemarie's eyes, readers watch as the Danish Resistance smuggles almost the entire Jewish population of Denmark — nearly 7,000 people — across the sea to Sweden.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. What’s the setting of this story? Copenhagen, Denmark during WWII p.1
  2. How long has Denmark been occupied by the Germans? 3 years p.3
  3. Why did the encounter with the soldiers scare Annemarie and Ellen? The soldiers had guns and spoke harshly p.5

Chapter 2

  1. Who are the king’s bodyguards? All of Denmark p.14
  2. Why didn’t King Christian want to fight the Nazis? He knew his army would have been crushed p.15
  3. Who is Peter and what’s his relation to Annemarie? Her sister’s fiancé before she passed away; he had been like a brother to her, but is always in a hurry now and only talks to her mama and papa p.17

Chapter 3

  1. Why were the girls puzzled when they saw the Hirsch’s button shop closed?  The store was usually open and they had seen Mrs. Hirsch recently p.20
  2. What did Peter bring the two girls? seashells p.23
  3. Why was Annemarie worried about Ellen’s family? They were Jewish and the soldiers p.24

Chapter 4

  1. Why are Kirsti’s new shoes made out of fish skin? With the Germans occupying their country, they can’t get leather p.28
  2. Why do the Rosens need to go into hiding? The Nazis were arresting all the Jews p.36
  3. How were the Johansen’s going to hide Ellen? They will pretend that Ellen is Annemarie’s sister p.37

Chapter 5

  1. What was Ellen wearing that would have given her away to the soldier? a Star of David necklace p.45
  2. Why did the officer suspect Ellen? She had dark hair and Annemarie and her sister have blond p.47
  3. How did Papa prove to the soldiers that Ellen was a part of their family? Lise had dark hair as a baby and he showed them her photograph p.47

Chapter 6

  1. Why did Mrs. Johansen want to take the girls to her brothers by herself? It would look suspicious if they left the apartment together p.51
  2. Why were Annemarie and her mother nervous when Kirsti spoke to the soldier on the train? They thought she would give them all away p.55
  3. How did the soldier try and trick them? He asked if they were celebrating the New Year p.55

Chapter 7

  1. Why didn’t Annemarie’s mom want the girls talking to anyone? It would be hard to explain who Ellen is p.63
  2. Why did Annemarie take Ellen to the ocean? Ellen had never seen it before p.63
  3. When listening to her mother and uncle, what did Annemarie notice was different? There was no laughter p.66

Chapter 8

  1. Why did Annemarie’s mom say her Uncle Henrik needed a wife? He needed someone to take care of him and clean his house p.70
  2. Who had died? Great-aunt Birte p.72
  3. Why was her death puzzling to Annemarie? She didn’t have a Great-aunt Birte p.72

Chapter 9

  1. Why did Annemarie’s mother and uncle lie to her? To help her be brave by not telling her everything p.76
  2. Why did Annemarie decide not to tell Ellen? So Ellen could be brave by not knowing everything p.78
  3. Who did Peter bring with him to Uncle Henrik’s for the funeral? Ellen’s parents p.81

Chapter 10

  1. Who came during the funeral? Soldiers p.83
  2. Why didn’t the soldiers want Mama to open the casket? Annemarie’s mama said their aunt died of Typhus p.85
  3. Where does the title of this book come from and what does it mean? The Book of Psalms; God numbers each of his children as the stars in the sky and knows them all p.87

Chapter 11

  1. What was inside the casket? Blankets and clothes p.88
  2. Why did the people need clothes and blankets? to keep warm while they traveled across the sea to Sweden p.89
  3. Why did Peter give the baby medicine? To make her sleepy to she wouldn’t cry p.90

Chapter 12

  1. How long did Annemarie think her mother would be gone? 1 hour p.97
  2. Why was Annemarie worried when she woke up? Her mother hadn’t returned and it was getting light outside p.98
  3. What did Annemarie see on the trail outside? Her mother in a heap p.100

Chapter 13

  1. What happened to Annemarie’s mother on the way back from the harbor? She broke her ankle p.102
  2. What had fallen out of Mr. Rosen’s pocket? The packet Peter had given him to give to Uncle Henrik p.104
  3. Why did Annemarie hide the packet under food in a basket? In case she ran into soldiers, and it would be hidden p.105

Chapter 14

  1. Why did Annemarie need to hurry to the harbor? She needed to get the packet to her uncle before he left p.106
  2. What story did Annemarie think of while she was running to the boat? Little Red Riding-Hood p.107
  3. What was in front of Annemarie at the end of this chapter? Four armed soldiers and two large dogs p.112

Chapter 15

  1. Who did Annemarie mimic when she was conversing with the soldiers? Kirsti p.113
  2. What was in the package? A handkerchief p.117
  3. Why did Henrik reassure Annemarie when she looked in the cabin of the boat? She couldn’t see any of the people that were trying to escape p.119

Chapter 16

  1. What’s Uncle Henrik’s definition of brave? Not thinking about the dangers, but what you must do p.123
  2. What’s the resistance? A group of people who are fighting against the Germans (in this situation) p.123
  3. Why was the handkerchief important? It made the dogs lose their sense of smell so they couldn’t find the people hiding on the boat p.125

Chapter 17

  1. How did Peter die? The Germans caught him and he was executed p.129
  2. How did Lise die? She was run over by the Nazis p.130
  3. Where did Annemarie hide Ellen’s necklace? In her sister’s trunk p.131