The Giver by Lois Lowry
Chapters 14-16
Pre-Reading Vocabulary
Part I. Below are the sentences in which the vocabulary words appear in the text. Read the sentences. Use any clues
you can find in the sentences combined with your prior knowledge then write what you think the underlined words
mean in the spaces provided.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
The sled moved forward, and Jonas grinned with delight, looking forward to the breathtaking slide down
through the invigorating air.
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It was not enough to assuage the pain that Jonas was beginning, now, to know.
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Excruciating hunger and starvation.
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Now it was ominous. It meant, he knew, that nothing could be changed.
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Gabriel had been bathed and was lying, for the moment, hugging his hippo placidly in the small crib that had
replaced the basket. . . .
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The Giver looked up at him, his face contorted with suffering.
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In one ecstatic memory he had ridden a gleaming brown horse across a field that smelled of damp grass, and
had dismounted beside a small stream from which both he and the horse drank cold, clear water.
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The Nurturers were very optimistic about Gabriel’s future.
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Part II: Match the vocabulary words with their dictionary definitions.
___ 9.
___ 10.
___ 11.
___ 12.
___ 13.
___ 14.
___ 15.
___ 16.
invigorating
assuage
excruciating
ominous
placidly
contorted
ecstatic
optimistic
A. hopeful; expecting the best
B. twisted; disfigured
C. unfavorable; threatening
D. to relieve
E. overjoyed
F. peacefully
G. agonizing
H. refreshing; stimulating
Short Answer Study Guide Questions
To help you better understand the events in the story, answer the following questions. Write your answers in
complete sentences on the back of this sheet.
17. Jonas asked what made The Giver suffer. What memory did The Giver transmit to explain it?
18. What did Jonas realize about his family after his session with The Giver?
19. Jonas asked why he and The Giver had to hold the memories. What was The Giver's answer? What was
his example?
20. What did Jonas want to do about the memories and the traditional way of doing things?
21. How did Jonas help Gabriel get to sleep?
22. What pain did The Giver ask Jonas to take in Chapter 15?
23. How did Jonas feel about being the Receiver at the beginning of Chapter 16?
24. Describe The Giver's favorite memory that he gave to Jonas. How did Jonas feel about it?
25. What question did Jonas ask his parents after his session with The Giver? What was their answer? What
was his reaction?
26. Jonas did something different the next morning. What was it?