88 pages • 2 hours read
Erik LarsonA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Multiple Choice
1. B (Part 2)
2. A (Various parts)
3. D (Part 6)
4. A (Part 2)
5. B (Part 1)
6. C (Part 4)
7. C (Part 3)
8. A (Prologue)
9. C (Part 6)
10. B (Part 6)
11. D (Various parts)
12. A (Part 1)
13. C (Various parts)
14. B (Part 4)
15. A (Part 5)
Long Answer
1. The hurricane tipped the balance in Houston’s favor, and Galveston never fully recovered its status as “the New York of the gulf.” Shortly after the hurricane, oil was discovered in the surrounding areas, securing Houston’s position as the center of economic power. (Part 6)
2. No, despite Isaac’s expertise and accomplishments in atmospheric sciences, Larson considers him one of history’s “little men” because he failed to rise to the occasion when he was most needed. Though Larson seems to place a lot of blame on Isaac, he also acknowledges the impact of the prevailing societal attitude of hubris and overconfidence prevalent at the turn of the century.
By Erik Larson