Understanding the Great Plague of London

The Great Plague of London (1665-1666) was a devastating epidemic caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, transmitted by fleas on rats. It began in a poor area outside London's walls and spread rapidly, causing symptoms like fever and painful buboes. The unsanitary conditions in poorer areas led to higher mortality rates. The rich fled the city, while the poor remained. Quarantine measures were enforced, with infected families locked in their homes. The death toll reached up to 100,000. The Great Fire of London in 1666 may have helped reduce the rat population, ending the plague.

Where did the Great Plague of London begin?

• In the royal palace

• In the heart of London

• In the parish of Saint Charles in the fields

• In the countryside

What bacterium causes the bubonic plague?

• Staphylococcus aureus

• Yersinia pestis

• Bacillus anthracis

• Escherichia coli

Which symptom is NOT associated with the bubonic plague?

• Painful buboes

• Hair loss

• Coughing up blood

• Fever

Why were the poorest areas hit hardest by the plague?

• They had more people

• They had no doctors

• They were more unsanitary

• They had more rats

What did the rich do during the plague?

• Stayed in the city

• Fled the city

• Helped the poor

• Built new houses

What was painted on the doors of infected houses?

• A black cross

• A red cross

• A white cross

• A blue cross

What was a common sight during the plague?

• Doctors treating patients

• People fleeing the city

• Drivers of dead carts calling 'bring out your dead'

• Markets full of people

When did the spread of the disease slow down?

• In the summer of 1665

• In the winter of 1665

• In the spring of 1666

• In the autumn of 1666

Approximately how many people died in London due to the Great Plague?

• 150,000

• 100,000

• 75,000

• 50,000

What event followed the Great Plague and may have helped reduce the number of rats and fleas?

• A mass exodus

• A severe winter

• A royal decree

• The Great Fire of London