The Testing

Chapters 1-5

Reading Check

1. From pink to red (Chapter 1)

2. Zeen (Chapter 1)

3. Daileen (Chapter 3)

4. A flying skimmer (Chapter 4)

5. Four (Chapter 5)

Short Answer

1. The law states that any candidate who refuses to participate will be accused of treason and may face execution, showing that death is a reasonable and even common outcome of the task that is ahead of them. (Chapter 2)

2. Cia’s family understands that those who pass The Testing are sent where they can most help the United Commonwealth, so they will probably not see her much in the future. (Chapter 3)

3. The head of the school had been through The Testing, an experience that Cia’s father reveals included horrible experiences. The head of the school was protecting her students. (Chapter 3)

Chapters 6-11

Reading Check

1. They vanish. (Chapter 8)

2. She passed the test. (Chapter 9)

3. 59 (Chapter 9)

4. Chicago (Chapter 9)

Short Answer

1. After Ryme’s death, Dr. Barnes responds that “The Testing served its purpose,” which chills Cia as she realizes that Ryme’s death could have been prevented by adults but that her death was instead considered a predictable part of the process. (Chapter 7)

2. Malachi dies when a nail shoots him in the eye during a test. Officials do not let anyone help him until they finish their task and do not remove his body until the end of that exam. His treatment reveals that candidates dying is expected. Correct tests are viewed as more important than lives. (Chapters 7-8)

3. Cia believes Roman tricked the group by answering all the questions when he went first. They were instructed that if they tried to answer completed questions, they would be penalized. Cia trusts herself and does not attempt problems she believes he finished. (Chapter 8)

4. Michal gives Cia more information about the history of The Testing and tells her that the order of candidates returning from the third part is not important. (Chapter 9)

5. Cia believes the oasis is a trap. She has seen evidence of leaders drugging candidates, recording them without their consent, and causing their deaths. (Chapters 6-11)

Chapters 12-16

Reading Check

1. Two bicycles (Chapter 12)

2. A microphone (Chapter 13)

3. By throwing rocks on it to see if it will explode (Chapter 13)

4. Will (Chapter 15)

5. A mutated human (Chapter 16)

Short Answer

1. When a candidate asks Cia why she helps them, Cia explains that she was raised to help others. She demonstrates her kindness and caring toward others in various ways throughout The Testing. (Chapter 13)

2. When Cia meets back up with Tomas and Will, she can tell they are hiding something. Will tells her not to trust Tomas. This secret causes space between them and some distrust. (Chapter 16)

Chapters 17-22

Reading Check

1. The bracelet of another candidate who tried to escape, a vial that might counteract truth serum, and food (Chapter 17)

2. Brick (Chapter 18)

3. 20 (Chapter 22)

Short Answer

1. He sees the violence and views The Testing as unjust. He wants Cia to survive. He also knows she is covering up family secrets and says he wants to help her keep those secrets. (Chapter 17)

2. When Will shoots Tomas, Cia rebuilds a bike so that it can carry both Tomas and her. She ties them together so that he does not fall off and bikes the last 10 miles. Finally, when Tomas falls, she drags him the rest of the way. (Chapter 19)

3. Zeen’s transit communicator helps Cia during The Testing. It also is a piece of home for her. Finally, as The Testing nears the end, she finds that her brother changed the device so it can record voices. She listens to her brother and then records what she can fit about The Testing. When the officials erase her memory, she later finds and listens to the device, giving her access to some of her memories again. (Chapter 21)