Chapters 8 & 9 Comprehension Questions

 The football team is suspended from all games for 1958 season.  Big Creek is restructuring beginning with the junior class to a more challenging curriculum as a result of Sputnik and the worry of how badly educated America’s children were compared to Russian kids.

 Buck is despondent, believing he will never get a football scholarship  Jim blames Homer and vows he will never forgive him.

 Sonny secures materials from mine carpentry and welding shops.  Learns to barter with townspeople for other items

Mr. McDuff Scrap lumberNails Reverend Richard Tin (result of planting dirt for Mrs. Jones) Mrs. Jones Collected planting dirt in return for shingles

Jake Mosby Junior engineer who comes to Coalwood from Ohio mill Dad owns about 20% of the steel mill that owns Coalwood

 Sonny first meets Jake in the 9 th grade, while trying to get him to subscribe to the Telegraph, Coalwood newspaper.  He invites a reporter from a small newspaper to watch the launch of Auk V, who then favorably publicizes the BCMA  Jake invites the boys to view space through his telescope and gives Sonny his old trig book, so he can learn how to calculate how high the rockets go.

 Auk V climbs 50 feet, then veers directly toward spectators.  The spectators get out of the way quickly.  The boys’ spirits and enthusiasm begin to rise.

 Mr. Dubonnet suggest to let the powder cure for at least two weeks.

 They must allow the powder to dry completely for using it.  They must learn how to make the rockets fly straight.

 Sonny’s life: He has a clear vision of his future in space, but his life in Coalwood seems to be a blur.