Read the nonfiction passage about a historical event. Then answer 5 questions about the passage’s main idea, supporting evidence, and the author’s word choice (including figurative language).
On the evening of October 8, 1871, Chicago was a fast-growing city built largely of wood—wooden sidewalks, wooden roofs, and wooden fences packed close together. The summer had been unusually dry. Weeks passed with little rain, and the city’s boards and shingles had become kindling waiting for a spark.
Sometime after 8:30 p.m., a fire started in a small barn on the city’s southwest side. Within minutes, strong winds pushed the flames from one structure to the next. In some neighborhoods, the fire moved so quickly that people could only grab what they could carry. Witnesses later described embers spinning through the air like fiery snowflakes, landing on rooftops blocks away.
Firefighters responded, but they were already exhausted. The night before, they had battled another large blaze, and equipment was damaged or in the wrong place. Confusing reports about the fire’s location slowed their first response. As the wind intensified, the flames leapt across streets and alleys, and the heat grew so intense that some people said the air itself seemed to burn.
By early morning, the fire reached the heart of the city. Businesses, hotels, and public buildings caught fire one after another. The Chicago River, which many believed would stop the flames, did not hold the line. Sparks landed on boats, lumberyards, and warehouses along the water. For many residents, the river became a terrifying lesson: a barrier can fail when the enemy arrives as flying embers.
The fire raged for more than a day, finally easing on October 10 when the wind died down and rain began to fall. By then, about 100,000 people—roughly one-third of Chicago’s population at the time—had been left homeless. Thousands of buildings were destroyed.
In the months that followed, Chicago rebuilt. City leaders strengthened building codes, and many new structures were made of brick, stone, and iron instead of wood. The tragedy also pushed cities across the United States to improve fire departments and plan for emergencies. In a sense, Chicago’s destruction became the blueprint for its future: the city learned from the ashes and rose stronger than before.
Based on the passage, what inference can you make about why Chicago changed its building codes after the fire? Use two pieces of textual evidence to support your answer.
Which two details best support the main idea that conditions helped the fire spread quickly?
Name the type of figurative language in “embers spinning through the air like fiery snowflakes.”
Which statement best expresses the main idea of the passage?
In the first paragraph, what does the phrase “kindling waiting for a spark” suggest about Chicago?