Share A drink of water - reading
Save to Folder
What was the Great Drought?
It was a time when no rain fell for three months, causing streams to dry up and the land to suffer.
What did the farmers do when they saw no rain?
They looked at the sky, wondering what had happened, and became worried about losing their crops and animals.
How did Manko feel during the drought?
He felt hot, tired, and worried, but he still tried to stay hopeful.
What happened to the trees during the drought?
The trees lost their leaves, and their bark started peeling off as if they were sick.
Why did Manko and his wife want to save money?
They wanted to send their son, Sunny, to college in the city so he could have a better future.
How did the villagers get water?
They collected it from the nearly dry river, boiled it, and added sugar to make it drinkable.
What warning did people give about drinking water?
They told everyone to boil the water first before drinking it.
What happened to some children in the village?
Two children died, and many others got sick because of the poor water quality.
Why did Manko stop working on his land?
The drought was so bad that there was no point in working anymore.
What did Manko hope for his son?
He hoped Sunny would get a good education and become a lawyer or doctor in Trinidad.
What did the people of Las Lomas do for a living?
The people of Las Lomas were farmers. They worked on the land, growing crops and raising livestock.
Do droughts like this happen often in Trinidad? Explain your answer.
No, the drought was unusual. It was called the "Great Drought. The villagers had been expecting rain but instead faced months of dry weather
How does the description of the trees make it clear how unusually bad the drought is?
The trees were described as "naked," with their bark peeling off as if diseased. This imagery shows that the drought was so severe that even the strongest plant
Explain how the villagers got their water and what they did with it.
The villagers collected water from the nearly dry river, where only scummy mud remained. Before drinking they boiled it and added sugar to make it drinkable.
