Chicago was a sprawling metropolis in 1871. It was the greatest cattle market in the United States—and it was ripe for disaster. Chicago was built almost entirely of wood. Wooden grain elevators, lumber mills, hotels, dilapidated houses and barns, and even streets paved with pine blocks were perfect firetraps. If this invitation to danger was not enough, Chicago also made, sold, and stored a surplus of inflammable goods. As a result, in the hot, dry summer of 1871, Chicagoans had good reason to be concerned.
By early October, Chicago’s firefighters had spent several grueling months dealing with as many as four fires a day. On the evening of October 8, they were called to a fire in one of the city’s many cattle-barns. This barn belonged to a Mrs. O’Leary, and what began as rumor has become legend: it is said that around 8:30 p.m., Mrs. O’Leary’s cow kicked over a lantern in the barn—and thus began the Great Chicago Fire. In just a few minutes the barn was ablaze. In an hour the entire block was burning. Building after building caught and blazed. All efforts to control the fire proved futile. By morning, much of Chicago lay in ashes.
The Great Chicago Fire was eventually extinguished on October 10 by heavy rain. The losses were staggering. Three hundred deaths were reported, over 100,000 people were made homeless, and 17,500 buildings were destroyed.
Chicago has never been a town hospitable to pessimism. In the wake of the disaster, architects and urban planners flocked there, eager to plan a new city and build it. Chicago became the beneficiary of bold new ideas in construction, city planning, and technology. In just a few years Chicago became the city of skyscrapers, grand boulevards, and parks that it remains to this day. can you answer some questions
Of course! Please go ahead and ask your questions about the Great Chicago Fire.
Which word means the opposite of futile in paragraph 2?
a.laborious
b.effective
c.hopeful
d.ineffective
b. effective
What does dilapidated most likely mean as it is used in paragraph 1?
a.badly-built
b.run-down
c.chaotic
d.inflammable
b. run-down
What is the meaning of grueling as it is used in paragraph 2?
a.dutiful
b.long
c.busy
d.tortuous
b. long
4. Which word is closest in meaning to surplus as it is used in paragraph 1?
a.overabundance
b.supply
c.stock
d.shortage
a. overabundance
Hospitable comes from the Latin word hospes. Hospes most likely means
a.law
b.obligation
c.permission
d.host