At the start of "rip van winkle," why is rip popular with the children of the village? a. he teaches them how to read and write. b. he teaches them to fly kites and shoot marbles. c. he plays songs for them on his guitar. d. he gives them rides in his wagon.

Rip Van Winkle is popular with the children of the village at the beginning of the story because he plays with them in an almost peer-like fashion.  Rip Van Winkle, indeed, teaches the children to fly kites and shoot marbles in addition to making toys for them and telling them stories.

the illustration   that would give a reader a clear understanding of the text is a picture of men constructing the frame of a building.the frame is made of iron bars. the text describes the job of blacksmiths'. these were very organised and they had different names: "the driver" and "the heater". the text describes the way in which these men worked ; they worked iron pieces as if they were playing a sport. in fact, the text wants to show the men's skills. the text also puts some emphasis on the use of '' rivets'' in construction. this kind of nails were not always used in the construction of manhattan.

some examples:

"and with an underhand toss he hurled the smoking rivet straight at the catcher, who caught it in mid-air in his catching can." men's skills

"when the driver was ready for a new " the emphasis on the rivet ( special nail used in construction).

" it against a beam to remove any cinders, and jammed it into the waiting hole. " the emphasis on the rivet.