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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind Ch 1-8

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 29mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
What character trait caused William to begin taking apart radios and learning about science?
a)
Determination
b)
Humility
c)
Impulsiveness
d)
Curiosity
2.
Where does William live?
a)
South America
b)
Malawi
c)
South Africa
d)
Egypt
3.
What tragic loss did William's family endure at the beginning of the chapter? 
a)
William's brother died.
b)
Uncle John died.
c)
The windmill fell over.
d)
"Magic spirits" killed the family dog.
4.
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
5.

What game did William begin playing as he started to grow up?

a)

Chigora Danda

b)

Kudoda

c)

Bawo

d)

Tsoro Yematatu

6.

How does deforestation affect ESCOM ability to produce electricity?

a)

They have to use firewood to cook and bathe.

b)

Without trees the flash floods carry soil, minerals and trash into the river which clog the turbines.

c)

ESCOM uses the wood to power the turbines.

d)

Deforestation does not affect the productions of electricity.

7.

People started getting sick because the traders began mixing the gaga with.....

a)

nsima

b)

maize chaff

c)

sawdust

d)

fertilizer

8.

What happened when Mrs. Kamkwamba set up her stand for the day?

a)

People started rushing her and knocked over the stand

b)

one man stole three cakes and ate them without paying

c)

Two ladies began to fight about how many they wanted to buy

d)

It started raining and the sun dried up all her goods. She earned nothing that day.

9.

"....maybe you should eat faster." Why did Rose make this statement?

a)

She wanted more and so she ate faster

b)

She was mad at her sister for eating too slow

c)

She started shouting at her mother to cook more

d)

She had grabbed a big handful of nsima before anybody else

10.

Who was "Mister W. M. Phiri"

a)

The teacher

b)

The accountant for the school

c)

The school master

d)

The principal

11.

Which inference is best supported by the phrase “Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope” in the excerpt’s title?

a)

A. The author has more interest in inspiring his countrymen than he does in developing new power sources.

b)

B. The discovery of windmills could change the way science is taught in Malawi.

c)

C. The windmills have the potential to provide an escape from poverty.

d)

D. The people of Malawi believe their standard of living can be improved through prayer.

12.

Which of the following best explains why the author spends so much time in the library?

a)

A. He and Gilbert go just because they enjoy pestering Mrs. Sikelo.

b)

B. He enjoys reading and needs extra time to sort through the disorganized books.

c)

C. It is the only public place in his region of Malawi that has adequate lighting and heating.

d)

D. He has hopes of one day arranging all the books in the library alphabetically.

13.

What is a synonym for HOSTILE?

a)

unfriendly

b)

nice

c)

awesome

d)

great

14.

What is a synonym for MAIZE?

a)

tortillas

b)

corn

c)

bread

d)

shoes

15.

“In most other parts of Africa, dogs are used to protect homes and farms. No one buys them as pets like they do in America, and they certainly don’t lavish them with rubber toys and fancy food” (38).


Part A: Which best describes the meaning of the word lavish as it is used in the excerpt?

a)

bathe

b)

pamper

c)

tease

d)

scold

16.

Reread an excerpt from chapter 2 of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, starting on page 40 (“One morning after the rains . . .”) and ending on page 41 (“. . . waistband of my trousers”).

Which of the following is something the reader can infer about William’s character from the excerpt?

a)

He is resourceful and good at building tools.

b)

He is faithful to his dog Khamba.

c)

He is hard-working, spending long days hunting.

d)

He is generous and will share the food he hunts with his family.

17.

What happened to William's family because of the drought? (Drought means a long period of time without rain)

a)

They did not have food

b)

They only ate once a day

c)

Only the children ate

d)

Only the grown up ate

18.

What was William forced to do because his parents did not have money?

a)

Sell his clothes

b)

Work in the fields

c)

Drop out of school

19.

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

20.

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

a)

"...magical invention."

b)

"...cool and interesting idea."

c)

"...weapon to fight hunger."