The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind Ch. 11 Excerpt

What was the first step William took in assembling the windmill?

• Connecting the blades to the tractor fan

• Attaching the dynamo to the bike frame

• Collecting bottle caps for washers

• Building a tall wooden tower

Why did William need to collect bottle caps?

• To use them as washers for securing bolts

• To create a base for the windmill

• To decorate the windmill

• To trade them for other materials

What caused the radio to blow up during the test?

• The dynamo produced too many volts of electricity

• The windmill was not properly secured

• The radio was already damaged

• The wires were connected incorrectly

How did William plan to reduce the voltage from the dynamo?

• By creating a reverse transformer with copper wire

• By using a smaller dynamo

• By adding more blades to the windmill

• By reducing the size of the windmill

What did William and his friends use to build the real tower for the windmill?

• Blue-gum trees from the forest

• Metal poles from the trading center

• Bamboo sticks from the garden

• Old bicycle parts

"The radio sat on the ground between us, sizzling like an egg."
What type of figruative language is used in this sentence?

• Simile
• Metaphor
• Personification
• Hyperbole

What does the word "bored" mean in the following sentence: So I went into the kitchen and stuck the cob-handled nail into the fire, and once it glowed hot, I bored a square pattern of four holes into the top of each plastic blade, plus two more in the center.

• To heat something until it melts.
• To feel uninterested or apathetic.
• To create a decorative pattern.
• To make holes or indentations.

What does the word "cumbersome" mean in the following sentence: The bicycle was not only heavy, but cumbersome, especially with a giant shock absorber sticking out from the crankset.

• Awkward or difficult to handle due to size or weight.
• Streamlined for efficient riding.
• Lightweight and easy to handle.
• Compact and portable design.

Page 194, "Our test was complete."

What did William learn by testing the windmill before erecting it?

Which statement best summarizes the plot of the selection?

• William builds a windmill to generate electricity, facing several challenges but eventually succeeding with the help of his friends.

• William constructs a windmill entirely on his own, with no outside assistance, to provide light for his family's kitchen.

• William struggles to build a windmill but abandons the project after damaging his father's radio.

• William and his friends construct a windmill tower but fail to get it to produce electricity.