88 pages 2 hours read

Erik Larson

Isaac's Storm

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1999

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Exam Answer Key

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.