A
Where did the great fire occur?
Chicago
When did the fire start?
A) October 10, 1871 B) November 10, 1871 C) October 8, 1871 D) November 8, 1871 E) September 8, 1871
C) October 8, 1871
How many square miles of the city were burned?
A) 3 square miles B) 4 square miles C) 34 square miles D) 1 square mile
B) 4 square miles
How many buildings were destroyed?
A) 10,000 buildings B) 20,000 buildings C) 30,000 buildings D) 200,000 buildings
B) 20,000 buildings
How many people were left homeless due to the fire?
A) 100 B) 1,000 C) one-third D) one-half E) three-fourths
C) one-third
How did a disaster like this strike a great American metropolis like Chicago?
What does metropolis mean?
A major city.
Where did the fire start?
A) Barn B) Store C) House D) School
A) Barn
The firefighters arrived at the correct site an hour late. Define site?
A location or place.
Why did the firefighters get to the fire late?
They were given faulty directions.
True or False
Did a cow start the fire?
False
City inspectors began to look for the cause of the fire as soon as the city's ruins had cooled.
Define ruins.
What remains after something has been destroyed.
What was the main reason for the fire getting out of control?
All the buildings were made out of wood.
Which building materials would have withstood the flames better?
Stone or brick
True or False
1871 is within the 18th Century
False
How many people died during the fire?
300
The city was very dry from weeks without rain. What term is used to describe this?
A) Precipitation B) Snow C) Wind D) Tornado E) Drought
E) Drought
Because the firefighters were late to the fire, the small fire had grown quickly out of control and devoured the building.
Define the word devoured.
To eat up quickly until something is gone.
When did nature finally help put out the fire with rain?
A) Monday B) Tuesday C) Wednesday D) Thursday E) April
A) Monday
One culprit responsible for the fire was natural.
Define culprit.
Person or thing responsible for something.
During the fire, winds pushed the flames....
A) North B) South C) East D) West
A) North
Which city is known as "The Windy City"?
Chicago
Which part of the city was spared?
A) North B) South C) East D) West
D) West
Which direction did the fire move?
Northward
The flames raced across the river feeding on flammable waste in the water.
Define flammable.
Something that easily catches fire and burns quickly.
How many hours did the fire rage?
A) 7 hours B) 17 hours C) 20 hours D) 27 hours
D) 27 hours