Exploring Chapter 5: Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions

The transcript describes the onset of a famine in Maui due to a severe drought, leading to food shortages and rising prices. Families struggle to cope, selling possessions and reducing meals. The government fails to provide relief, exacerbating the crisis. Personal stories highlight the community's resilience and the harsh realities faced during this period.

What did Gilbert's father do when people came to ask for food?

• He turned them away.

• He gave them money.

• He fed them.

• He asked them to work in his fields.

What caused the price of maize to double in the market?

• A festival.

• The drought.

• The government's intervention.

• A surplus of maize.

What did people start eating when food became scarce?

• Cooked meat.

• Fresh vegetables.

• Pumpkin leaves and green mangoes.

• Ripe mangoes.

What is 'gaga' and how was it used during the famine?

• Outer layers of maize kernels, usually fed to animals.

• A type of grain.

• A type of fruit.

• A type of fish.

Why did the narrator's father decide to sell their goats?

• To buy new clothes.

• To pay school fees.

• To get money for food.

• To buy a new house.

What was the family's strategy to manage their limited food supply?

• Eat only supper.

• Eat only lunch.

• Eat three meals a day.

• Eat only breakfast.

What did the narrator's mother do with the last of their flour?

• Made bread for the family.

• Sold it in the market.

• Made cakes to sell.

• Gave it to the neighbors.

What did the narrator experience at the government store in Chama?

• An empty store.

• A peaceful queue.

• A chaotic mob.

• A friendly gathering.

How did the family ensure they had enough food for a week after the trip to Chama?

• By making and selling cakes.

• By buying more maize.

• By borrowing from neighbors.

• By selling their furniture.

What did the narrator and his cousin Charity eat on Christmas?

• Chicken and rice.

• Roasted ants.

• Goat meat.

• Goat skin.