Read this excerpt from The Great Fire.

When the Waterworks burned down at around three in the morning, the pumping machines went dead, and the water supply to the city stopped. The men at the Tribune would do their best to stamp out and smother the burning embers that landed on the roof, but eventually, the fire won out. The shock felt by White and other citizens when they learned the Tribune was a gutted skeleton was captured perfectly by Charles Mackintosh. After describing at great length how solid and fireproof the Tribune Building was, Mackintosh paused and, with a sad sigh, he concluded, "That is, it was fireproof up to the date of its destruction."

Which statement best reflects the theme of this paragraph?

._.

as in the last answer- d. people were surprised by the strength and power of the fire-?

The last one.

The theme of this paragraph is the destructive power of fire and its ability to overcome seemingly indestructible structures.

The theme of this paragraph could be the devastating impact of the Great Fire on the city and its institutions. The excerpt highlights the loss of the Waterworks and the interruption of the water supply, which had a significant impact on the efforts to control the fire. Additionally, the destruction of the Tribune Building, described as solid and fireproof, captures the shock and loss experienced by the citizens. The theme could be further explored as the destructive power of the fire and its ability to overcome seemingly secure structures.