Question 13

The Peshtigo Fire received little news coverage because it happened on the same day as a fire in a much bigger city.

On the same day that the Peshtigo Fire occurred, the Great Chicago Fire was capturing all the headlines, overshadowing the devastating effects of the fire in Peshtigo, Wisconsin.

A) The damage from the Peshtigo Fire was not as widespread as the damage from the Great Chicago Fire

This option is incorrect because the passage indicates that the Peshtigo Fire burned an extensive area of 1.5 million acres. Although the Chicago Fire affected a large urban area, the statement does not accurately reflect the scale of destruction caused by the Peshtigo Fire.

B) Because it was a forest fire, the Peshtigo Fire really did not affect too many people

This option is misleading as it downplays the severity of the Peshtigo Fire. The passage notes that it was the deadliest fire in American history, implying that it had a significant impact on lives, contrary to this statement's suggestion.

C) The Peshtigo Fire happened on the same day as a fire in a much bigger city

This option accurately reflects the reason for the lack of news coverage. The extract explicitly states that the Peshtigo Fire coincided with the Great Chicago Fire, which dominated media attention and caused the Peshtigo incident to be overshadowed.

D) Residents of Peshtigo never reported that the fire had occurred

This option is incorrect because the passage does not suggest that residents failed to report the fire. Instead, it highlights that the media's focus was on the Chicago Fire, resulting in little coverage for the Peshtigo Fire.

Conclusion

The correct answer is C, as it directly correlates with the passage's explanation of why the Peshtigo Fire received minimal news coverage. All other options either misinterpret the scale of destruction or the circumstances surrounding the reporting of the fire, failing to acknowledge the overshadowing effect of the Great Chicago Fire.