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The boy who harnessed the wind

Total questions: 25

Worksheet time: 3615secs

Name
Class
Date
1.

What country in Africa does the story take place?

a)

Zambia

b)

Tanzania

c)

Malawi

d)

Zimbabwe

2.

What did William dream about?

a)

Farming

b)

Building things and taking them apart

c)

Playing with his friends

d)

Becoming a soccer player

3.

After William saw lucky students going to school, what did he suddenly remember?

a)

There was a library nearby

b)

His dad told him to work

c)

There was a farm at the school

4.

After visiting the library and reading books, what sentence did William build?

a)

"Reading is fundamental."

b)

"Learning is fun."

c)

"Windmills can produce electricity and pump water."

d)

"I have a dream."

5.

The windmill was more than a machine. It was a _________________________ .

a)

"...magical invention."

b)

"...cool and interesting idea."

c)

"...weapon to fight hunger."

6.

What did William say after he lit a light bulb?

a)

"I know magic."

b)

"I have made electric wind."

c)

"I did it?"

7.

What part does William need from his teacher's bike to create electricity?

a)

the pedals

b)

the handle bars

c)

the spokes

d)

the dynamo

8.
William's sister asks William what happens if the wind stop's blowing.  He replies, "The light will go off." What is his solution to this problem?
a)
kerosene lamps
b)
flashlights
c)
a car battery
9.
Why does William try to avoid having the wires in his house cross each other?
a)
Crossed wires could cause a fire.
b)
Crossed wires would burn out the light bulbs.
c)
Crossed wires would break the dynamo.  
10.
The bike chain kept on coming off the windmill, causing William to have to climb up and put it back on, sometimes resulting injury. What does Geoffrey suggest he use instead of a chain? 
a)
A rubber belt.
b)
A thick wire.
c)
A strong strip of fabric. 
11.
What does William attempt to build next?
a)
a bike
b)
a water pump
c)
a radio station
12.

What must William's father sacrifice in order for William to make the windmill work?

a)

his money

b)

his bicycle

c)

his tools

d)

his land

13.
Why was it so important for William to pass his final exams and advance to secondary school (middle school)?
a)
He wanted to continue his schooling to study in a special science program
b)
he wanted to avoid the hard work of farm life
c)
He wanted to study to go to America
d)
He needed money
14.
What character trait caused William to begin taking apart radios and learning about science?
a)
Determination
b)
Humility
c)
Impulsiveness
d)
Curiosity
15.

"Where others see garbage, I see opportunity."


What does William mean when he says the quote ?

a)

People should recycle.

b)

He knew everyday materials could be used to make things that were useful and could benefit their situation.

c)

He knew nothing could be done to benefit their situation.

d)

Collecting garbage is a job opportunity.

16.

Why was William forced to drop out of school?

a)

Because his Father needed help at the farm

b)

Because he did not know anything

c)

Because there was a limit to how many people could attend the school

d)

Lack of money

17.

What do you think William was feeling when he got kicked out of school?

4 lines
18.

Why do you think that Williams Father cared a lot about his education?

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19.

Why did William not buy the elctricity instead of making it himself?

4 lines
20.

How does William begin to gather the pieces for his invention? How does his community react to him as he goes about getting all the parts together? What is his reaction to them?

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21.

What does William’s windmill allow him to have that he didn’t before? How does life change for him and his family?

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22.

What is one problem William encounters, after inventing the windmill, that he uses curiosity and ingenuity to solve?

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23.

William explains the connection between superstition, magic, and science. Why do you suppose people in his community relied on magic to explain what they didn’t understand?

4 lines
24.

How does William’s world expand as he travels outside Malawi? What does he begin to dream or imagine as a result of meeting new people, seeing new places, and furthering his education?

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25.

After watching this movie you have any idea to invent something to solve your community/family/personal problem?

4 lines