Final answer:
Boston was hit by a "great" fire in 1872, following the Great Chicago Fire of the previous year, making a) Fire the correct answer. Both disasters were exacerbated by the urban architecture of the time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Like Chicago the year before, Boston was hit by a "great" one of these in 1872, and the answer is a) Fire. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 was one of the worst fires in American history. This catastrophe was enabled by the city's architecture, with many buildings being made of wood and tightly packed together, combined with the prevalent use of open flames like candles and kerosene lighting. After the Chicago Fire, which started on October 8 and lasted two days, over 100,000 people were left homeless, over 300 were dead, and there was extensive property damage amounting to $200 million. A year later, in 1872, Boston experienced its own devastating fire, reinforcing the tragic pattern of urban conflagrations during the era.