Characters
Main Idea/Central Message
Key Details
Figurative Language/Vocabulary
Events
100

Who is the main character in I Survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871?

Oscar

100

What is the main idea of I Survived The Great Chicago Fire of 1871?

The main idea is that there was a large destructive fire that happened in Chicago a long time ago and people survived it.

100

 What was Oscar’s prize possession?

A. An arrowhead 

B. A silver dollar 

C. His mother’s locket 

D. His father’s sheriff badge

D. His father’s sheriff badge 

100

True or False: Oscar followed the girl to give her candy. 

False

100

1. Why was Oscar moving to Chicago?  

His new stepfather lived there. 


200

Who helped Oscar get out of the burning building?

Jennie

200

What was something that helped to fuel the fire?

a. the slaughterhouses

b. the wind

c. the horses

b. the wind

200

True or False: Oscar moved from Florida to Chicago.

False, he moved from Minnesota.

200

"...Oscar was in the fire's ferocious grip."


What does ferocious mean?

a. tight

b. cruel

c. bright

d. hot

b. cruel

200

What was the first thing Oscar did when he got off the train in Chicago?

He vomited on the railroad tracks.

300

Who hit Oscar in the face? 

A. Bruno 

B. Jennie 

C. Mr. Morrow 

D. Otis 

D. Otis

300

Effect: Oscar and Mr. Morrow were propelled

onto the north shore.


What is the cause?

There was an explosion that caused a wave of water came up behind them.

300

8. Where did Oscar and Mr. Morrow wait for the flames to die down? 

A. In Mr. Morrow’s cellar 

B. At the Palmer House 

C. In Lake Michigan 

D. Under the bridge 

D. Under the bridge

300

 "And now Otis turned his menacing stare on Oscar."

What does menacing mean?

a. kind

b. threatening

c. shy

threatening

300

How did Oscar react when Jenny and Bruno pulled up to his house?

Oscar was in shock and couldn't believe it was Jenny and Bruno.

400

What is a character trait that describes Earless?

possible answers

ruthless, wicked, cruel, malicious

400

What is the central message? 

Never give up and be brave when times are hard.

400

7. How did Oscar and Mr. Morrow plan to cross the river? 

A. They took a rowboat and planned to row across.

B. They walked over the bridge. 

C. The decided to swim across. 

D. They crawled across the rocks in the water. 


A. They took a rowboat and planned to row across.

400

 “... frantically beating the flames that were crawling

up his arms and reaching out to grab his face."

Which is this an example of onomatopoeia or personification?

personification

400

What did Mr. Morrow and Oscar do that finally helped them find Jennie and Bruno? 

A. They asked other street children to find them. 

B. Mr. Morrow drew their pictures and had them printed in the newspaper.

C. They hired a private detective. 

D. They searched every vacant building. 

B. Mr. Morrow drew their pictures and had them printed in the newspaper.

500

Who was the gang’s real leader?

Earless Max Kildare

500

The central message is to never give up. What is a key trait for never giving up?

a. valiant

b. athletic

c. deceitful

a. valiant

500

What is a key detail that supports the central message of never giving up?

possible answer

Even though the fire was strong and difficult for Oscar to get through, he continued to help others while he did.

500

It looked as though a giant hand had painted the sky.

Is this an example of a simile or alliteration?

simile

500

How do Oscar’s actions contribute to the sequence of events?

Everything a character does directly causes an event to follow. Whatever Oscar does, there is an event that follows.