Free levelled English reading practice. Read for meaning first, then use the full Speed Reading tool to time yourself and track your progress.
On 10 April 1912, RMS Titanic left Southampton, England, on its maiden voyage to New York. At the time, it was one of the largest and most luxurious passenger ships ever built. Its design included watertight compartments, which helped create a public image of exceptional safety.Four days later, on the night of 14 April, Titanic was sailing through the North Atlantic. The ship had received several warnings about ice in the area. At about 11:40 p.m., lookouts spotted an iceberg directly ahead. The crew turned the ship, but Titanic's starboard side struck the ice. The collision damaged several compartments, allowing seawater to enter.At first, the danger was not obvious to many passengers. However, the ship's designers had calculated that Titanic could remain afloat with only a limited number of compartments flooded. Too many had been opened to the sea, and the bow began to sink lower.The crew started launching lifeboats, but Titanic did not carry enough lifeboat places for everyone aboard. Confusion and disbelief also meant that some early boats left with empty seats. In the early hours of 15 April, the ship broke apart and sank. More than 1,500 people died in the disaster.RMS Carpathia arrived later and rescued more than 700 survivors from the lifeboats. The tragedy led to major changes in international maritime safety. New rules required sufficient lifeboat space, continuous radio watches and better coordination of ice warnings. More than a century later, Titanic remains one of history's best-known maritime disasters.
Comprehension questions
Where was Titanic travelling on its maiden voyage?
Why did Titanic have a strong reputation for safety?
What warnings had the ship received?
Which part of Titanic struck the iceberg?
Why did the ship eventually sink?
What problem existed with the lifeboats?
Which ship rescued the survivors?
What was one result of the disaster?
Useful vocabulary
maiden voyage — a ship’s first journey
watertight compartment — a sealed section designed to stop water spreading
afloat — floating on the water rather than sinking
maritime — connected with ships or the sea
coordination — organising people or information so they work together effectively
