The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind

Prologue- Chapter 2

Reading Check

1. A secret gang of dancers (Chapter 1)

2. A president of Malawi (Chapter 2)

Short Answer

1. William is afraid he would be cursed by the sing’anga, or witch doctor. (Chapter 1)

2. The problem with getting haircuts at the trading center is that the power is often off. (Chapter 2)

3. “When planning misfortune for your friends, be careful because it will come back to haunt you.” (Chapter 2)

Chapters 3-6

Reading Check

1. Tuberculosis (Chapter 3)

2. For food (Chapter 4)

3. Boarding schools are well-funded (Chapter 5)

Short Answer

1. William’s father is concerned about handing over the family business to Jeremiah because Jeremiah does not like hard work and can often be found drinking. (Chapter 3)

2. January is known as the “hungry season” because this is the time of year when people usually run out of food right before the new harvest. (Chapter 4)

3. Most Malawians have no electricity, so they go to bed after sundown. (Chapter 5)

4. Genders eat separately because it is a cultural tradition that has been passed down throughout the generations. (Chapter 5)

Chapters 7-10

Reading Check

1. Shoes (Chapter 7)

2. Chlorine (Chapter 8)

3. In the junkyard (Chapter 9)

4. Gilbert (Chapter 10)

Short Answer

1. William was disappointed to learn he was going to Kachokolo because it was one of the worst secondary schools. (Chapter 7)

2. The farmers know the dowe is ready when the kernels are firm to the touch. (Chapter 8)

3. William catches up by reading books from the library and borrowing Gilbert’s notes. (Chapter 9)

4. William ties Khamba to a tree so he doesn’t have to watch Khamba die of starvation. (Chapter 9)

Chapters 11-13

Reading Check

1. William’s father’s (Chapter 11)

2. Rose (Chapter 12)

3. Making a transmitter (Chapter 13)

Short Answer

1. Because of the success of the windmill, the villagers no longer think William is thinking irrationally. (Chapter 11)

2. The wiring system is dangerous because the wires are not insulated and often sparked. (Chapter 12)

3. William tries to capture biogas because deforestation is a threat in Malawi, and he wants to find alternative fuel sources. (Chapter 13)

Chapter 14-Epilogue

Reading Check

1. TED (Chapter 14)

2. Tom Rielly was the person who organized all the corporate sponsors for the TED conference. (Chapter 15)

3. Cambridge, England (Epilogue)

Short Answer

1. Dr. Mchazime changes William’s life by getting him to the TED conference and back into school. (Chapter 14)

2. William was rejected by many secondary schools because he was considered too old. (Chapter 15)

3. William admires Bingu wa Mutharika because Mutharika has a genuine concern for the farmers of Malawi. (Epilogue)