Question

end of unit 1 assessment: figurative language, central idea, and sentence structure: the boy who harnessed the wind directions: read chapter 8 of the boy who harnessed the wind. then, answer the questions below. 1. part a \doctors said the sickness started in southern malawi back in november. a farmer visiting a funeral brought it north, where it spread like grassfire. within days, hundreds of people were sick and twelve had died\ (128). which best describes the meaning of the simile \it spread like grassfire\ as it is used in the excerpt? a. the sickness was occurring all over malawi. b. the sickness was deadly. c. the sickness was occurring only in farmers. d. the sickness was moving quickly. part b which word or phrase from the excerpt best help the reader to understand the meaning of the simile \it spread like grassfire\? a. farmer visiting a funeral b. within days c. hundreds of people d. started in southern malawi

Explanation:

Part A

To determine the meaning of the simile "it spread like grassfire", we analyze each option:

• Option a: The excerpt says it spread from southern to north, not all over Malawi yet, so a is incorrect.
• Option b: The simile focuses on spread speed, not deadliness, so b is incorrect.
• Option c: The text doesn't say only farmers were sick, so c is incorrect.
• Option d: Grassfires spread quickly, so the simile implies the sickness moved fast, which matches "within days, hundreds of people were sick".

To find the phrase that clarifies the simile, we check:

• Option a: "farmer visiting a funeral" explains how it spread north, not the speed of spread.
• Option b: "within days" shows the short time for hundreds to get sick, emphasizing quick spread, matching the grassfire simile's speed.
• Option c: "hundreds of people" shows the outcome, not the spread speed.
• Option d: "started in southern Malawi" shows the origin, not spread speed.

Answer:

d. The sickness was moving quickly.

Part B