Which quotation from The Great Fire best reflects the central idea that the fire might have been extinguished sooner, if not for several different issues?
Answer
A
“Chicago had recently renovated its fire alarm system, making it one of the best in the nation.”
B
“Later at the official inquiry, all of the mistakes and missed chances that occurred in the opening minutes of the fire would be discussed.”
C
“Like thousands of other people, he was on his way to De Koven Street to watch the fire.”
D
“It must sweep on until it reached a broad street, and then, everybody said, it would burn itself out."
Explanation
The central idea is that multiple mistakes and missed opportunities kept the fire from being stopped earlier. Choice B directly refers to “all of the mistakes and missed chances” in the fire’s opening minutes, so it best supports that idea. Choice A describes the alarm system positively but does not mention the problems that delayed the response.
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