The Great Fire and a City Rebuilt
In the early hours of September 2, 1666, a fire started in a bakery on Pudding Lane in London. By the time it was stopped several days later, much of the city had been destroyed. How could a fire in one building spread so far?
London was crowded, and many buildings were made partly of wood. Houses stood close together along narrow streets, sometimes with upper floors jutting out toward one another. A long dry spell had left buildings ready to burn, and strong winds carried flames and sparks from place to place. These conditions helped the fire spread; no single factor explains why it became so large.
People tried to fight the flames with buckets of water and simple pumps. They also pulled down buildings to create gaps called firebreaks. The hope was that the fire would run out of things to burn before it could reach the next building. But the wind and the speed of the fire made it difficult to stop.
As the flames advanced, families hurried to save what they could. Some loaded belongings onto carts or boats on the River Thames. Others carried possessions to open spaces outside the threatened area. Many people lost their homes and had to find shelter elsewhere.
- contemporary:
- From the same time as the event being discussed.
- evidence:
- Information or objects that help show what happened.
- interpretation:
- An explanation of the meaning of something.
- rubble:
- Broken pieces left after buildings are damaged or destroyed.
- timber:
- Wood prepared for use in building.
- vulnerable:
- Likely to be harmed or damaged.
- brigades:
- Organized groups of people formed to do a particular job.
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.
Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Purpose
Analyze what the author aims to do and how choices serve audience and purpose.
Structure
Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.
Vocabulary
Practice words from the passage with a printable worksheet.
Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
Fix the Sentence
Practice editing sentences drawn from this passage with a printable worksheet.
Ready to use this passage in class?
Start free with the Mixed worksheet and 3 PDF downloads each week. Focused skill sets depend on plan.
Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1How did the layout of London help the fire spread?
- 2Why does the passage say no single factor explains the size of the fire?
You Might Also Like
About this explanatory article passage for Upper Elementary
“The Great Fire and a City Rebuilt” is a explanatory article reading passage about Great Fire of London, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 3 minutes to read (487 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.