Chapter 7 - The Giver

Finally, The ceremony of Twelve started but Jonas was still waiting for his turn as his number which he had got at his birth is nineteen. The Chief Elder called and made each of Twelves come up in order and granted Assignments to them. Jonas's friends, Asher and Fiona, have got Assistant Director of Recreation and Caretaker of the Old as their Assignment. However, the Chief Elder skipped Jonas and Jonas felt shame thinking what he did wrong while he wanted to consider it as her mistake.

All the readers of this book must be very upset in this chapter since they still can't get what Jonas receives as his assignment. On the other hand, this would be the attraction preventing readers from stopping reading. How clever the author is!
By the way, what on earth is Jonas's Assignment? My expectation for how special it would be is growing. 

Jonas always chuckled when he heard a parent, exasperated, call sharply to a whining toddler, "That's enough, Twenty-three!" 

exasperate |ɪgˈzasp(ə)reɪt, ɛg-|verb [ with obj. ]irritate intensely; infuriate: this futile process exasperates prison officers.

exasperate or exacerbate?These words may be confused on account of their similar sound; but theirmeanings are different. Exasperate means ‘irritate intensely’ (his colleague'serratic behaviour exasperated him). Exacerbate, on the other hand, means ‘make (an existing problem) worse’ (anaemia may be exacerbated by some medicines). Someone's late arrival may exasperate his colleagues, and this in turn may exacerbate the tension between them.

whine |wʌɪn|verb [ no obj. ]give or make a long, high-pitched complaining cry or sound: the dog whined and scratched at the back door 

But it evened out, as it always did, by Three.
flatten, make flat, make level, level,level off, level out, smooth, smooth out, smooth off, make flush, plane,make uniform, make regular. 

Pierre was very serious, not much fun, and a worrier and tattletale, too.
tattletale |ˈtatlteɪl|USnouna person, especially a child, who reveals secrets or informs on others; a telltale. 

You Elevens have spent all your years till now learning to fit in, to standardize your behavior, to curb any impulse that might set you apart from the group.
curb |kəːb|verb [ with obj. ]restrain or keep in check: she promised she would curb her temper.

She would enjoy the three years of being pampered that would follow her brief training;
pamper |ˈpampə|verb [ with obj. ]indulge with every attention, comfort, and kindness; spoil: famous people justlove being pampered.Asher laughed, too, looking sheepish but pleased at the special attention.

sheepish |ˈʃiːpɪʃ|adjectiveshowing or feeling embarrassment from shame or a lack of self-confidence:a sheepish grin. 

we even gave a little thought to some retroactive chastisement for the one who had been Asher's Instructor of Threes so long ago 

retroactive |rɛtrəʊˈaktɪv|adjective(especially of legislation) taking effect from a date in the past: a big retroactive tax increase.

Asher nodded ruefully, and the audience laughed aloud.
rueful |ˈruːfʊl, -f(ə)l|adjectiveexpressing sorrow or regret, especially in a wry or humorous way: she gave a rueful grin.  

the discipline wand: a thin, flexible weapon that stung painfully when it was wielded.  

wield |wiːld|verb [ with obj. ]hold and use (a weapon or tool)• have and be able to use (power or influence): faction leaders wielded enormous influence within the party.

And now his lapses are very few. His corrections and apologies are very prompt.  

lapse |laps|noun1 a brief or temporary failure of concentration, memory, or judgement: a lapse of concentration in the second set cost her the match.
prompt |prɒm(p)t|adjectivedone without delay; immediate: she would have died but for the prompt action of two ambulancemen.• (of a person) acting without delay: the fans were prompt in complying with police requests.• (of goods) for immediate delivery and payment.
one studious male had been selected as Doctor, studious |ˈstjuːdɪəs|adjective1 spending a lot of time studying or reading: he was quiet and studious.2 done deliberately or with a purpose in mind: his studious absence from public view.• showing great care or attention: he made a studious inspection of the buffet.

There was a sudden hush in the crowd,
hush |hʌʃ|verb [ with obj. ]make (someone) be quiet or stop talking: he placed a finger before pursed lips to hush her.• [ no obj., often in imperative ] be quiet: Hush! Someone will hear you.• (hush something up) suppress public mention of something: management took steps to hush up the dangers.noun [ in sing. ] a silence: a hush descended over the crowd. 

A mistake. She made a mistake. But Jonas knew, even as he had the thought, that she hadn't.  

even as at the very same time as: even as he spoke their baggage was being unloaded.

He saw the others in his group glance at him, embarrassed, and then avert their eyes quickly.
avert |əˈvəːt|
verb [ with obj. ]1 turn away (one's eyes or thoughts): she averted her eyes while we made stiltedconversation.2 prevent or ward off (an undesirable occurrence): talks failed to avert a rail strike.