Question

A count done by the city building commission reported that by the end of 1871 there were over 6,000 wooden shanties, 2,000 solid wood-frame buildings, and 500 structures of brick or stone already up or nearing completion. No wonder historian Alfred T. Andreas seemed overwhelmed when he reported: "It [was] common to see ten or a dozen or fifty houses rising at once; but when one looks upon, not a dozen or fifty, but upon ten thousand houses rising and ten times that number of busy workmen coming and going, and listens to the noise of countless saws and hammers and chisels and axes and planes, he is bewildered."

Which statement best reflects the theme of this paragraph?

A. Rebuilding too soon after a disaster can have negative consequences.
B. It is possible to rebuild after a disaster if many people participate in the effort.
C. People often become confused when a city changes extremely quickly.
D. After a negative event, it is important for people to resume their daily routines.

Answer 1

B. It is possible to rebuild after a disaster if many people participate in the effort.

This is tricky but I believe B is the best choice

Answer 2

C. People often become confused when a city changes extremely quickly.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that best reflects the theme of this paragraph is that people often become confused when a city changes extremely quickly because in the paragraph it is mentioned that Alfred T. Andreas seemed overwhelmed and bewildered when he reported the big amount of structures that were being built. From this, you can inferred that people were confused about the changes.

The other options are not right because the paragraph doesn't talk about negative consequences and it doesn't mention a disaster or a negative event.