Pause th Gr. ELA Quick Check (AKS 15 & 18) / 1 of 6
Use the passage to answer the question,
How does the word choice in paragraph 5
develop the author's purpose?
O A It provides criticism for the lack of support the
community received.
The Oldest Fire in the World
by Laura Bresko
OB. It explains with a scientific tone the effects of
the fire on the residents.
1
OC It expresses the devastating effects of the fire
on the community and city.
The oldest fire in the world has been burning right
here in the United States for more than fifty years, and
it will probably continue burning for many more. In
1962, a fire started in a landfill that was part of an
abandoned coal-mining pit. Tunnels in the walls of the
pit led to an enormous layer of anthracite, an
extremely dense form of coal. Flames from burning
trash traveled through one of the mining tunnels and
ignited the coal. Although the fire remained
underground, it spread for acres and caused incredible
damage. From the late 1960s through the early 1990s,
the resulting fumes, heat, and ground instability forced
local residents to evacuate. Unfortunately, no known
technology can extinguish the subterranean fire.
OD. It demonstrates the author's excitement about
exploring such a dangerous area.
2 Until 1828, few people knew how to ignite anthracite
and use it for fuel. That was because anthracite was so
compact that no ordinary flame could make it burn,
Then, a Scotsman named James Neilson invented the