Chapters 14 – 16 Comprehension Questions

 Two-footers reached an altitude of around 3,000 feet.  The three-footers reached an altitude of around 2,000 feet.

 When going for altitude, bigger is not always better.

 Sonny and Quentin want to learn calculus and differential equations in order to get all they can out the book Miss Riley gave Sonny.

 He believes Quentin is the only one of the six boys in the BCMA capable of learning calculus.  He does not believe Mr. Turner will authorize the class.  Mr. Hartsfield states Big Creek is a football and coal miner’s school.

 The state troopers believe their rockets started a forest fire and burned the top off of Davy Mountain and almost got to the houses on 52.

 Miss Riley pulled out a map and had Sonny point out the location of their launches and the troopers where the fire was.  She showed the troopers there was a 10 mile difference.

 Quentin proves it’s an aeronautical flare, which must have been dropped from a plane since the Welch airport is just beside Davy Mountain.

 Auk XX’s casement proves the need for seamless tubing.

 The school board has only approved six spots for students in the calculus class.  Seven students signed up for the class, and since Sonny has the lowest grades he was the one who was declined.

 Quentin will teach him calculus, but most importantly after discovering his dad’s book realizes he can learn it on his own as well.

 He is the BCMA boy who most vigorously campaigned for the class, but because seven students sign up for the six-student class, his grades are the lowest of the seven, he does not get to join.  Ironically, the student who prevents his joining the class is Dorothy Plunk, the “love of his life.”

 Quentin believes it will give each of the boys the recognition and acknowledgment they need to help them get out of Coalwood and ultimately into college.

 Elsie pensively continues to work on her mural, putting a house on the beach.  This symbolizes her desire to escape from the mine’s demands.

 To Homer’s reply that he might come when he has time, Sonny replies that he always has time for Jim.

 The ensuing confrontation reveals Homer’s continuing desire for Sonny to become a mining engineer and his accusation that Sonny will do nothing Homer wants him to do.  Sonny experiences inner conflict between what his father wants and his own dreams.  He begins to doubt his own vision of a future away from Coalwood.

1.) Quentin and the other BCMA boys’ future 2.) His anger towards Homer to “show” his father