Five Survive Quiz: Test Your Memory of the Thriller

Introduction

How well do you remember the twists and betrayals of Holly Jackson’s Five Survive? This 20‑question quiz covers plot sequence, character motivations, themes, and synthesis questions to test your grasp of the story. Each question is based on the book’s outline and key scenes. After you finish, check the answer key for brief explanations. For more analysis, visit our main book page, questions and answers, or the ending explained.

Quiz Questions

1. What initially stops the RV on McNair Cemetery Road?
A. The sniper shoots out the tires.
B. The group runs into a dead end.
C. A puncture flattens one tire.
D. The GPS leads them off the road.

2. Who first suggests using a mirror as a decoy to trick the sniper?
A. Oliver
B. Maddy
C. Red
D. Arthur

3. What does the sniper demand through the walkie‑talkie?
A. Money
B. A secret
C. The RV keys
D. Oliver’s mother

4. After the mirror trick works, the sniper reveals how many shooters are outside?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four

5. Who does Oliver physically throw out of the RV after the vote?
A. Maddy
B. Reyna
C. Red
D. Arthur

6. What item does Arthur use to secretly signal the sniper?
A. A walkie‑talkie
B. A button that lights the RV roof
C. A flashlight
D. A phone

7. How does Red’s mother, Grace Kenny, die?
A. Car accident
B. Shot by a sniper
C. Executed on her knees
D. Overdose

8. What is the final vote count when the group decides whether Red must leave the RV?
A. 3 yes, 2 no
B. 2 yes, 3 no
C. 4 yes, 1 no
D. 1 yes, 4 no

9. Why does Maddy lie to Red about the meeting time for the trip?
A. To surprise Red with a party
B. To make Red arrive early
C. To avoid her mother’s phone calls
D. To get a cheaper rental

10. What is Oliver’s primary motivation during the night?
A. Proving his leadership
B. Protecting his mother’s career as DA
C. Getting revenge on the sniper
D. Saving Maddy at all costs

11. Why does Reyna ultimately choose Oliver over Jack Harvey?
A. She was afraid of Jack’s brothers.
B. Oliver seemed more practical and ambitious.
C. She felt guilty about the affair.
D. Jack threatened her family.

12. What secret is Arthur hiding from the group?
A. He is the mole working with the sniper.
B. He is in witness protection.
C. He is Frank Gotti’s son.
D. He accidentally killed someone in Philadelphia.

13. What motivates Catherine Lavoy to pay Red for false testimony?
A. To protect her children from the Mafia
B. To win the DA election
C. To get revenge on Frank Gotti
D. To hide her own role in a murder

14. The recurring walkie‑talkie primarily symbolizes:
A. Communication with the outside world
B. Red’s connection to her deceased mother
C. The sniper’s control over the group
D. The group’s unity under pressure

15. The mirror decoy plan best represents the theme of:
A. Reflection and identity
B. Deception
C. Vanity
D. Teamwork

16. Throughout the novel, the RV becomes a symbol of:
A. Freedom and adventure
B. Entrapment and danger
C. Family and togetherness
D. Wealth and privilege

17. Red blames herself for her mother’s death because she:
A. Refused to answer the phone
B. Hung up on her during their last call
C. Failed to warn her about the attack
D. Caused her mother to be late that night

18. Which statement best compares Oliver’s and Red’s leadership styles?
A. Oliver is decisive but selfish; Red is hesitant but compassionate.
B. Both are equally selfish.
C. Red is a more effective leader than Oliver.
D. Oliver relies on emotion; Red relies on logic.

19. How does the isolated road setting heighten the thriller elements?
A. Creates a confined space with no escape
B. Uses darkness and lack of cell service
C. Introduces an unseen sniper threat
D. All of the above

20. Short answer: Who is the real traitor among the six friends? (Provide one name.)

Answer Key

1. C – The group hears a crack and the RV sinks; they discover a punctured tire (Outline, Chapter Four).
2. C – Red notices a mirror in the bedroom and proposes using it as a decoy (Outline, Chapter Twenty).
3. B – The sniper says he wants a secret that one of them possesses (Outline, Chapter Fourteen).
4. B – The walkie‑talkie announces “There are two of us” (Outline, Chapter Twenty‑one).
5. C – Despite the vote, Oliver shoves Red out the door onto the road (Outline, Chapter Thirty‑three).
6. B – Simon finds a button that controls a light on the RV roof, used to signal the sniper (Outline, Chapter Thirty‑seven).
7. C – Red recalls her mother was executed with two shots to the back of the head while on her knees (Outline, Chapter Eighteen).
8. B – The final tally is two “yes” (leave) and three “no” (stay) (Outline, Chapter Thirty‑three).
9. B – Maddy confesses she lied so Red would arrive early (Outline, Chapter Four).
10. B – Oliver repeatedly prioritizes his mother’s career over the witness’s life (Outline, Chapter Fifteen).
11. B – Reyna chose Oliver because he seemed more practical and ambitious (Outline, Chapter Twenty‑nine).
12. C – Arthur admits he is Arthur Gotti, son of Frank Gotti (Outline, Chapter Thirty‑seven).
13. B – Catherine wanted a conviction to win the DA election (Outline, Chapter Thirty‑eight).
14. B – The walkie‑talkie connects Red to memories of playing “Cops and Cops” with her mother on channel six (Outline, Chapter Forty).
15. B – The mirror is an improvised tool to trick the sniper, highlighting deception as a survival tactic (Outline, Chapter Twenty).
16. B – Once stranded and attacked, the RV becomes a trap from which the friends cannot safely leave (Outline, Chapters Eight–Nine).
17. B – Red says she hung up on her mother just before she was killed, and that guilt haunts her (Outline, Chapter Thirty‑nine).
18. A – Oliver commands and sacrifices others for his goals; Red hesitates but shows empathy, even when it costs her (Outline, passim).
19. D – The isolated road, darkness, lack of cell service, and hidden sniper all combine to create claustrophobic tension (Outline, Chapters Four–Six).
20. Arthur – He is the mole working with the second sniper, revealed when Red sees a check mark tattoo on his hand (Outline, Chapter Thirty‑six).