And this great crisis was only the bursting into flame of many smaller fires that had long been smoldering. For generations the two sections had been drifting apart. Since the middle of the seventeenth century, Mason and Dixon's line had been a line of real division separating two inherently distinct portions of the country.

This excerpt introduces the idea that the Civil War was predictable by comparing the events leading up to it to

slow-burning fires

quickly-lit fires

easily-extinguished fire

Question

And this great crisis was only the bursting into flame of many smaller fires that had long been smoldering. For generations the two sections had been drifting apart. Since the middle of the seventeenth century, Mason and Dixon's line had been a line of real division separating two inherently distinct portions of the country.

This excerpt introduces the idea that the Civil War was predictable by comparing the events leading up to it to

 slow-burning fires

 quickly-lit fires

 easily-extinguished fire

anonymous · Answer

i say the first one.

anonymous · Answer

okay thanks may you help me with another one

anonymous · Answer

of course

anonymous · Answer

For many months, the gigantic struggle then imminent, had been painfully discernible to far-seeing men.

Based on the context, which is a synonym for "imminent"?

 Approaching

 Essential

 Indefinite

 Natural

anonymous · Answer

the answer to the first question is  slow-burning fires, scarymary101 is right.