Chapter 9- The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

What was the primary reason William was unable to return to Kachokolo Secondary School even after classes resumed?

• He had lost interest in academics after the famine.

• His family could still not afford his school fees.

• He preferred to spend his time playing bawo and chess.

• The school was still closed due to the famine's aftermath.

To what resource did William turn to keep his mind occupied and avoid intellectual stagnation after dropping out of school?

• Playing more demanding traditional games with his friends.

• Engaging in strenuous physical labor in the fields.

• The small library in Wimbe Primary School, stocked with books donated by the American government.

• Seeking informal lessons from former teachers in the trading center.

Which of the following best describes the variety of books William discovered in the library?

• Only primary readers and basic textbooks that he found boring.

• A limited selection primarily consisting of Malawian fiction.

• American textbooks on various subjects, secondary texts from neighboring countries, and novels for leisure.

• Mostly outdated agricultural manuals and farming guides.

How did Gilbert contribute to William's independent study efforts?

• He provided William with money to buy new textbooks.

• He helped William find specific books in the unorganized library.

• He met William after school daily to share notes and explain what they covered in class.

• He tutored William in English to improve his reading comprehension.

What concept from the Malawi Junior Integrated Science book initially sparked William's interest in generating electricity?

• The process of photosynthesis in plants.

• How water turned a giant wheel (turbine) at hydro plants to produce electricity, similar to a bicycle dynamo.

• The mechanics of car engines and vacuum brakes.

• The formation of the earth's magnetic fields.

Despite the difficulty of the 'Explaining Physics' textbook, how did William manage to grasp its complex concepts?

• He only read the easier chapters and skipped the difficult ones.

• He relied solely on Mrs. Sikelo to translate every word.

• He focused on understanding the illustrations and found context by studying sentences around labeled figures.

• He memorized the definitions without truly understanding the principles.

What discovery about magnets from the 'Explaining Physics' book was most crucial to William's developing idea of a windmill?

• Magnets were used to make speakers in radios.

• That electromagnets could be used to generate electricity in simple motors, and that a spinning coil in a magnetic field produces electricity (electromagnetic induction).

• The concept of north and south poles and how they attract or repel.

• How to make magnets from everyday objects like nails and wire.

The book 'Using Energy' introduced William to the concept of windmills. What realization did he have about windmills that connected to his prior knowledge and observations?

• Windmills were only used for decorative purposes in Europe and the Middle East.

• The blades of windmills were driven by wind, much like the pinwheel toys he made, and this wind could spin a dynamo to create electricity.

• Windmills were too large and complex for an individual to build.

• Windmills were primarily useful for generating heat, not electricity or pumping water.

Beyond generating electricity for light, what critical benefit did William foresee a windmill providing for his family and the community, especially in the context of the recent famine?

• It would provide entertainment and music for the entire village.

• It would allow them to harvest twice a year by powering a water pump for irrigation, ensuring food security.

• It would allow him to return to school immediately without needing to sell tobacco.

• It would help them earn a lot of money by selling excess electricity.

What was William's primary challenge in constructing his first experimental windmill model, and how did he overcome it?

• Finding suitable wood for the blades; he used old wooden planks from abandoned houses.

• Making the blades long enough for the wind to move the contraption; he used PVC pipes flattened and cut into blades.

• Attaching the motor to the blades; he used strong glue.

• Obtaining a functioning dynamo; he had to buy one from a local trader.