James Watt and the Teakettle Quiz

What is the main idea of the story?

• James Watt became a famous scientist because he liked fire.

• A boy's curiosity about steam led to a powerful invention.

• Jamie’s grandmother taught him about steam.

• Steam is dangerous and must be avoided.

Why was James Watt interested in the teakettle?

• He liked its shape.

• He wanted to drink tea.

• He was curious about how the steam made the lid move.

• His grandmother told him to study it.

What does James ask when he sees steam lifting the lid?

• Can steam boil food?

• Why is the fire red?

• How can steam lift something heavy?

• Can we use steam to drink water?

Which sentence best supports the idea that James Watt was very curious?

• He left the kitchen.

• He forgot to eat dinner.

• He sat still and studied the teakettle.

• He played outside in the snow.

How does James Watt respond to failure in his experiments?

• He quits trying.

• He ignores the results.

• He gets angry.

• He learns something new from each failure.

What caused the steam in the story?

• The lid heating up

• The fire under the kettle

• Cold air entering the kettle

• The grandmother adding water

What can you infer about James Watt’s personality?

• He was shy and quiet.

• He was lazy and liked to daydream.

• He was determined and thoughtful.

• He was angry and impatient.

What does the author mean by, “There was never a giant who had so much strength”?

• James was stronger than a giant.

• Steam has a powerful force.

• Giants use steam.

• The kettle was strong.

Which detail shows how steam power was underestimated before?

• People used kettles every day.

• Steam was only used to heat food.

• People laughed and didn’t believe it could power machines.

• People kept steam in barrels.

Why does the author include the grandmother’s reactions?

• To show how she invented steam power

• To explain how she helped build machines

• To show that adults didn’t always understand James’s questions

• To prove she loved tea