Tragedy Sparks Change: The Story of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

Questions: 5

Grade: 8

Words: 129

Text

Text & Questions

Text, Questions & Answers

Once upon a time, in the bustling city of New York, there stood the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. Every day, hundreds of workers, mainly young immigrant women, toiled under harsh conditions, sewing blouse after blouse for meager pay. On March 25, 1911, a disastrous fire engulfed the factory. With the exit doors locked and fire escape broken, many workers tragically lost their lives. This incident was a wake-up call for the nation, leading to significant reforms in labor laws and safety regulations. It sparked a movement that led to the creation of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Today, we enjoy safer work environments and rights, all thanks to the lessons learned from this tragic incident. What do you think? How could such tragedies be avoided in the future?

Question 1

What does the term 'meager' mean in this context?

Large

Abundant

Plentiful

Scanty

Explanation. In this context, 'meager' means small or insufficient. The workers were getting little pay for their work.

Rich

Question 2

What was the result of the tragic fire in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory?

The building was renovated

The factory was shut down

Safety regulations and labor laws were reformed

Explanation. The fire caused significant changes in labor laws and safety regulations, leading to the creation of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The workers went on strike

The factory owners were imprisoned

Question 3

What inference can be made about the working conditions at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory before the fire?

The conditions were safe and comfortable

The workers were well paid

The factory had state-of-the-art safety measures

The conditions were dangerous and the pay was low

Explanation. The text mentions that the workers toiled under harsh conditions for meager pay, and that many lost their lives in the fire due to locked exit doors and a broken fire escape.

The factory was regularly inspected for safety

Question 4

What sequence of events led to the creation of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)?

Workers' strike, factory fire, labor laws reforms

Factory fire, workers' strike, labor laws reforms

Factory fire, labor laws reforms, creation of OSHA

Explanation. The text indicates that there was a disastrous fire at the factory, which led to significant reforms in labor laws and safety regulations, and ultimately to the creation of OSHA.