Question

In the 1995 heat wave, most deaths in Chicago occurred to people living ______________.

A. on the top floors of buildings
B. on the ground floor
C. in the basement where ventilation is poor
D. There was no preferential floor for deaths.
E. out in the open, sleeping in parks or under bridges

Answer 1

During the 1995 heat wave in Chicago, most deaths occurred to people living on the top floors of buildings due to lack of proper ventilation and air conditioning, and factors contributing to higher temperatures on upper floors.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the 1995 heat wave, most deaths in Chicago occurred to people living on the top floors of buildings. The heat wave was one of the deadliest in US history, with extreme temperatures reaching 105° in July 1995. Back then, many of the buildings lacked proper ventilation and air conditioning, which made the upper floors particularly hazardous during the heatwave. This was further exacerbated by factors like the thermal properties of buildings where heat rises, the accumulation of heat throughout the day in structures made from materials that retained heat, and the urban heat island effect which can cause cities to be warmer than surrounding rural areas.