De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Chicago Fire [Pdf]

"Chicago Fire" is a one page, nonfictional, reading passage about the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 including information about the fire and the changes made as Chicago was rebuilt. It is followed by constructed-response questions which require students to provide evidence from the story; it includes: determining the main idea and underlining supporting text. This passage aligns with Common Core Anchor Reading Standards 1 and 2 requiring close reading, textual evidence, main idea, and summarizing.