The Great Fire by Jim Murphy

Read this excerpt from The Great Fire. While this was happening near the fire, more errors were taking place a mile and a half away. Chicago had recently renovated its fire alarm system, making it one of the best in the nation. Each firehouse had a watchman who scanned the immediate neighborhood for flames or smoke during the night. Overlooking the entire city was a watchman in the cupola of the Courthouse, one hundred feet above the ground. If a fire was spotted, an alarm was telegraphed (either from the firehouse or from one of the many alarm boxes situated around town) to the Courthouse; the Courthouse watchman then relayed the location of the blaze to the firehouses nearest to it. For added security, the giant Courthouse bell was also rung. Because of the drought, special Insurance Patrols had been organized and Benjamin Bullwinkle was appointed to head them. These patrols roamed the streets at night, ready to put out small fires with chemical extinguishers and turn in alarms for bigger blazes. While this system sounds very cumbersome to us, back in 1871 it was considered quite speedy and efficient. Which quotation best reflects the main idea of this paragraph?

"Chicago had recently renovated its fire alarm system, making it one of the best in the nation."

According to the excerpt, what caused the fire to spread so quickly? the gusty winds the canvas hose the white steam the firefighters

A - The gusty winds

What caused firefighters to ask spectators to help? Firefighters wanted to go home to check on their own families. There were not enough firefighters to do all of the necessary tasks. Firefighters wanted more people to control the engines and steamers. There were too many people standing around and watching the fire.

B - There were not enough firefighters to do all of the necessary tasks

How does the structure of this paragraph develop the theme that there were several missed opportunities to stop the fire? Choose the best answer. by explaining the consequences Goll faced for lying about sounding the alarm and alerting the courthouse by explaining how Goll's apparent refusal to sound the alarm delayed the firefighters by highlighting each of the mistakes, including Goll's, that were made during the course of the fire by highlighting the fact that Goll did sound the alarm, but it never went off at the central office

B - by explaining how Goll's apparent refusal to sound the alarm delayed the firefighters

What caused Schaffer to instruct his assistant to strike Box 342, accidentally sending firefighters to the wrong place? the leaping flames in the sky the dark, hazy night and the tall buildings the remnants of the previous fire the loud, rumbling engines

B - the dark, hazy night and the tall buildings

Which statement best describes the effect of people shouting, "Fire!"? Most residents ignored the warning and stayed inside. Most residents volunteered to help extinguish the blaze. Most residents came out to watch the blaze. Most residents fled the area to a safer place.

C - Most residents came out to watch the blaze.

What caused the fire engines to head toward the wrong location? The fire was too small for them to see. Several fires were burning at once. Schaffer's assistant refused to correct the signal. Schaffer and his assistant struck multiple boxes.

C - Schaffer's assistant refused to correct the signal.

Which statement best describes the effect of Brown's refusal to strike Box 319? The engines went directly to De Koven Street. Schaffer took it upon himself to send out the correct signal. The engines were sent to an incorrect location. Schaffer found another way to redirect the engines.

C - The engines were sent to an incorrect location.

How does the structure of this excerpt illustrate the central idea that a series of individual mistakes contributed to the spread of the blaze? by comparing and contrasting different people's decisions and abilities by comparing and contrasting the most effective firefighting techniques by clearly explaining the reasons for the misleading alarm and its impact by clearly explaining the reasons the fire started and the way it was put out

C - by clearly explaining the reasons for the misleading alarm and its impact

Something that brings about an action or consequence is a(n)

Cause

Why does Jim Murphy begin The Great Fire by describing the interaction between William Lee and Bruno Goll? to illustrate the fact that the alarm system failure was nobody's fault to highlight the fact that the two men had a history of misunderstanding to help the reader understand who was responsible for starting the fire to show the first human failure that contributed to the spread of the fire

D - to show the first human failure that contributed to the spread of the fire

Read this excerpt from The Great Fire. As soon as the first shouts of "Fire!" were heard, scores of people swarmed toward De Koven Street. Many helped their neighbors fight the fire or drag furniture and clothes to the safety of the street. Most stood by watching the yellow-orange flames leaping from roof to roof and listening to the horrible crackle pop of dry pine being consumed. Fires were extremely common back then and thought to be as exciting and dramatic as a night at the theater. Which statement best describes the effect of people shouting, "Fire!"?

Most residents came out to watch the blaze

Read this excerpt from The Great Fire. Most stood by watching the yellow-orange flames leaping from roof to roof and listening to the horrible crackle pop of dry pine being consumed. Fires were extremely common back then and thought to be as exciting and dramatic as a night at the theater. Which central idea does this excerpt support?

Residents were used to fires and did not think that this one was different from any others.

Which statement best describes the main idea of The Great Fire?

Several key mistakes contributed to the spread of the great fire and stopped it from being put out.

How does the structure of The Great Fire reinforce the central idea that individuals' mistakes contributed to the size of the fire?

The cause-and-effect structure helps the reader understand how specific people's decisions affected the spread of the fire.

How does the structure of The Great Fire reinforce the central idea that there were not enough firefighters to handle the rapidly spreading fire?

The cause-and-effect structure illustrates the ways the firefighters tried to put out the blaze, and the impact of their actions.

Read this excerpt from The Great Fire. Despite this, Chief Marshal Williams had managed to get a thin circle of engines around the fire. He had five steamers at the scene now, plus three hose carts and a hook-and-ladder wagon, all of them pumping water into the fire at various locations. Spectators were asked to help and many responded by chopping up fences and sidewalks, hoping to deprive the fire of fuel. What caused firefighters to ask spectators to help?

There were not enough firefighters to do all of the necessary tasks.

Read this excerpt from The Great Fire. Schaffer's first signal went out at 9:30. Several minutes later, Schaffer realized his mistake and ordered Box 319 struck. This was still seven blocks away from the O'Learys', but close enough that firefighters could see the flames and alter their course. Unfortunately, Schaffer's young assistant, William J. Brown, stubbornly refused to strike Box 319, saying he was afraid it would confuse the situation. Brown was so stubborn about his decision that even after the fire he was able to write arrogantly in a letter that "I am still standing the watch that burned Chicago." These errors had two fatal consequences. The most obvious was that a number of engines and dozens of firefighters were sent on a wild-goose chase and did not get to the fire for many minutes. More critical is that it kept fire companies located near De Koven Street in their stations. Several had seen the eerie, dancing glow beyond the rooftops near them and, even without official notice from Schaffer, prepared to respond. When they heard Box 342 rung, however, they assumed the fire was out of their territory and unhitched the horses. Only two fire companies were not fooled by the misleading alarm. How does the structure of this excerpt illustrate the central idea that a series of individual mistakes contributed to the spread of the blaze?

by clearly explaining the reasons for the misleading alarm and its impact

Why does Jim Murphy begin The Great Fire by describing the interaction between William Lee and Bruno Goll?

to show the first human failure that contributed to the spread of the fire