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Facilities:

The Titanic was a luxury ocean liner believed to be unsinkable due to its huge size.

Measuring in at 269m long, it was the largest passenger ship of its time. Therefore, would

you believe that this vessel actually sank on its maiden voyage in 1912? While sailing in

freezing waters, it struck an iceberg and filled with water, causing the ship to sink to the

bottom of the ocean and killing hundreds of passengers.

The passenger facilities aboard the Titanic met the highest standards of luxury for the

time. This magnificent ship could accommodate 833 First Class passengers, 614 in Second

Class and 1,006 in Third Class, totalling a huge 2,453 passengers.

Her interior design mirrored a high class hotel with First Class cabins finished in a French

style. Costing around £512, these were massively expensive for the time. Third Class

accommodations consisted of little more than open bedrooms at the front end of the ship.

It also included their own dining rooms, public gathering areas and an outdoor space known as

the poop deck. Unlike the First Class areas, Third Class confined hundreds of people to

extremely small spaces often without adequate food or toilet facilities. Although they were

not as glamorous as spaces in First Class, they were still impressive at the time.

Leisure facilities were provided for all classes. These included a library, smoking rooms and

a gymnasium. As well as the indoor facilities, passengers liked to socialise on the open deck

by relaxing in hired deck chairs or wooden benches. If you were privileged enough to be a

First Class passenger, you will have had access to a seven foot deep swimming pool, a squash

court and a Turkish bath. There was also a fine dining restaurant and French style café

available to the higher classes.

DIFFICULTY : MEDIUM

Reading Comprehension

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Captained by Edward smith, The Titanic was crossing the Atlantic Ocean when the lookout in

the crows nest spotted an iceberg immediately ahead of the ship. He alerted the bridge. At

11:40pm on 14th April, officers ordered the ship to be steered around the obstacle but it was

too late. One side of The Titanic disastrously struck the iceberg and it ripped several holes in

the ship. Before long, it became clear to the crew that The Titanic was doomed and would

certainly sink. Over the next few hours, she began sinking with water flooding each

compartment as her bow lowered into the water and her stern lifted into the air.

Unbelievably, The Titanic only had enough lifeboats to carry half of the passengers on board.

As well as not having enough lifeboats, the crew were also unprepared and had not been

trained in carrying out an evacuation in the event of a flood. Sadly, Third Class passengers

were largely left to fend for themselves and that caused many of them to become trapped

below deck. At 2:20 am, after the ship had broken in half, the vessel sank to the bottom of

the ocean and the remaining passengers and crew were left in the deathly cold water to perish.

At least 1,500 people lost their lives during the tragedy on the 15th April 1912, proving the

unsinkable ship to be undoubtedly sinkable. However, the disaster did trigger many new

regulations to be put in place in order to improve safety during voyages in the future. Still

sitting at the bottom of the ocean, the remains of The Titanic is a stark reminder to

everyone of that disastrous day in the Atlantic Ocean and how better preparation could have

saved the lives of many.

The sinking:

Reading Comprehension

DIFFICULTY : MEDIUM

Questions

2. Why was the titanic considered unsinkable?

1. Name two differences between First Class accommodation and Third Class accommodation.

1.

2.

3. What caused the titanic to sink?

4. Draw lines to match the number to its description.

1,500

269

512

number of passengers on board

number of passengers who died

length, in meters, of The Titanic

2,453 The cost of first class accommodation

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DIFFICULTY : MEDIUM

Questions

5. ‘Unlike the First Class areas, Third Class confined hundreds of people to extremely small spaces

often without adequate food or toilet facilities. Although they were not as glamorous as spaces in

First Class, they were still impressive at the time.’

Find and copy the word that tells the reader that Third Class accommodation was good for the time.

6. Name one thing that could have reduced the number of deaths.

8. What was triggered by the sinking of The Titanic?

7. Number the events in order from 1-5. The first one has been done for you.

The lookout spotted an iceberg in the ocean.

The ship hit the iceberg and this created holes.

The officers ordered the ship to steer around the iceberg.

The Titanic sank completely to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

The ship broke in half.

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1

DIFFICULTY : MEDIUM

Questions

unpleasant

harsh

sure

obvious

10. ‘Still sitting at the bottom of the ocean, the remains of The Titanic is a stark reminder to everyone of that disastrous day in the Atlantic Ocean and how better preparation could have saved the lives of many.’

Tick the word closest in meaning to stark.

It was so big.

It was considered unsinkable.

Not many ships sank.

It was a strong ship.

9. Why is it surprising that The Titanic sank on its first voyage? Tick one.

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DIFFICULTY : MEDIUM

Answers

2. Why was the titanic considered unsinkable?

1. Name two differences between First Class accommodation and Third Class accommodation.

3. What caused the titanic to sink?

4. Draw lines to match the number to its description.

1,500

269

512

number of passengers on board

number of passengers who died

length, in meters, of The Titanic

2,453 The cost of first class accommodation

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Fine dining restaurant, French style café, swimming pool, Turkish baths, squash or any reference to the cramped conditions of Third Class.

Because of its huge size.

It hit an icebergAn iceberg ripped holes in the ship

DIFFICULTY : MEDIUM

Answers

5. ‘Unlike the First Class areas, Third Class confined hundreds of people to extremely small spaces

often without adequate food or toilet facilities. Although they were not as glamorous as spaces in

First Class, they were still impressive at the time.’

Find and copy the word that tells the reader that Third Class accommodation was good for the time.

6. Name one thing that could have reduced the number of deaths.

8. What was triggered by the sinking of The Titanic?

7. Number the events in order from 1-5. The first one has been done for you.

The lookout spotted an iceberg in the ocean.

The ship hit the iceberg and this created holes.

The officers ordered the ship to steer around the iceberg.

The Titanic sank completely to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

The ship broke in half.

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impressive

Enough lifeboats for every passenger or evacuation training for crew members

1

3

2

5

4

DIFFICULTY : MEDIUM

Answers

unpleasant

harsh

sure

obvious

10. ‘Still sitting at the bottom of the ocean, the remains of The Titanic is a stark reminder to everyone of that disastrous day in the Atlantic Ocean and how better preparation could have saved the lives of many.’

Tick the word closest in meaning to stark.

It was so big.

It was considered unsinkable.

Not many ships sank.

It was a strong ship.

9. Why is it surprising that The Titanic sank on its first voyage? Tick one.

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