A Young Tinkerer Builds a Windmill

Down the hill, the village handyman started building his own windmill after secretly studying Mr. Kamkwamba’s. A gust of wind blew the blades off the man’s first few attempts. Mr. Kamkwamba offered to help him rebuild, but got no reply. How do these details help the writer develop Mr. Kamkwamba’s character?

• a. They provide an example of his generosity and his desire to help others.

• b. They provide an example of his shyness and challenges with making friends.

• c. They show that he is jealous and does not want anyone else to build windmills.

• d. They show that he is very clever but unable to share what he knows with others.

On a continent woefully short of electricity, 20-year-old William Kamkwamba has a dream: to power up his country one windmill at a time. So far, he has built three windmills in his yard here, using blue-gum trees and bicycle parts. His tallest, at 39 feet, towers over this windswept village …. The machine draws in visitors from miles around. What is the most likely reason for including this information at the beginning of the article?

• a. to explain the outcome early so readers can focus on Mr. Kamkwamba’s interesting story

• b. to build tension by showing why people were opposed to Mr. Kamkwamba’s efforts

• c. to set the scene by explaining why poor parts of the world lack electrical supplies

• d. to make readers curious about how Mr. Kamkwamba might achieve his dream

A Young Tinkerer Builds a Windmill, Electrifying a Nation is a news article about about which person?

• Juliane Koepcke

• Jesús Colón

• William Kamkwamba

• Langston Hughes

In the reading "A Young Tinkerer Builds a Windmill, Electrifying a Nation": How did William’s family react when he first decided to build a windmill?

• They laughed and thought that he was wasting his time.

• They were proud and told all the villagers about his plans

• They were unsure about its purpose but applauded his effort

• They helped him with the project

Based on the story, what is the main problem that Mr. Kamkwamba is trying to solve?

• His family’s expensive electricity bills

• The pollution caused by electrical plants in Malawi

• The lack of access to electricity in his country

• His poorness

According to the story, how did Mr. Kamkwamba first learn about windmills?

• He asked some foreigners visiting his village to help make his windmills.

• He figured it out himself after seeing a picture of a windmill in a textbook.

• He watched and then copied another villager who made windmills.

• He had learned about windmills before dropping out of school

According to the story, why do people visit the Kamkwamba family compound?

• They want to see the windmills

• They want to borrow money from Mr. Kamkwamba

• They want to stay at the compound and help make windmills

• They want to give Kamkwamba money

What is the main theme of 'A Young Tinkerer Builds a Windmill'?

• Innovation and perseverance

• Friendship and loyalty

• Wealth and power

• Tradition and culture

Which literary device is primarily used in the title 'A Young Tinkerer Builds a Windmill'?

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Alliteration

• Personification

In the context of the story, what does the windmill symbolize?

• A new beginning

• A failed attempt

• A source of conflict

• A dream realized