Shackleton reading: learn how Ernest Shackleton and the Endurance crew survived after their ship became trapped in Antarctic ice.
The Endurance expedition in Antarctic ice. Historic image.
Free levelled English reading practice. Read for meaning first, then use the full Speed Reading tool to time yourself and track your progress.
In 1915, Ernest Shackleton's ship Endurance became trapped in sea ice in the Weddell Sea. The crew could not simply sail home. For months, the men lived beside the frozen ship while the ice carried them slowly across the sea. Eventually the pressure crushed Endurance and the crew camped on drifting ice. They had to protect food, equipment and small lifeboats while facing cold, wind and uncertainty. When the ice finally broke apart, they reached remote Elephant Island. Shackleton and five companions then sailed a small boat about 1,300 kilometres to South Georgia to find help. Despite the extraordinary conditions, every member of the Endurance crew survived. Their story remains a famous example of preparation, teamwork and leadership under pressure.
