Which of the following would be classified as a peril?

A peril refers to a specific risk or cause of loss that can damage property or lead to injury. In insurance terms, perils are events that are covered under a policy that can cause financial loss. Fire is a classic example of a peril because it can lead to significant destruction of property and is identifiable as a risk covered under many insurance policies.

In contrast, gambling, smoking, and driving too fast do not fit this definition in the same way. Gambling is more associated with the risk of financial loss but does not cause direct damage to property in the way that fire does. Smoking can be considered a behavior that may increase risk but is not classified as a singular peril itself. Driving too fast is also a behavior that can lead to accidents but is not categorized as a peril in insurance terminology. Therefore, fire stands out clearly as a classic example of a peril, which is why it is identified as the correct answer.