• IELTS

A Disaster of Titanic Proportions Reading Answers- IELTS Academic Reading

1944 Reads
3 min Read

By:CANAM Group
Updated On:Nov 30,2023 05:39 PM IST

This reading passage delves into a riveting account of historical significance, which explores the tragic events of the Titanic disaster and tests comprehension with the provided answers. Embrace this opportunity to excel in IELTS preparation and boost the readiness for the exam with Canamprep, the leading IELTS trainer.

• Reading Strategies for Solving 'A Disaster of Titanic Proportions - reading answers'.

‘A Disaster of Titanic Proportions - IELTS Reading Answers’ blog has been developed to provide students with the practice for the IELTS reading module. Skills like eye for detail, skimming, logic and reasoning will be tested in the IELTS Reading section.

It is all about how the Titanic sank because of irregularities between staff members and other outer pressures and what measures should be taken at that time.

Reading Strategies for Solving 'A Disaster of Titanic Proportions - reading answers'.

Reading tests in IELTS General Training Vs Academic are slightly different in terms of complexity and content, although the question format is similar in both. Hence, candidates are suggested to prepare accordingly. Below are some of the important things to consider:

• A Disaster of Titanic Proportions passage is taken from the Academic Test 11, Reading Passage 1.

• One must have a clear knowledge of the reading exam pattern, its time duration, number of questions, question types, etc., to score better in an IELTS exam.

• For solving short answer questions, one must read the instructions and word limit carefully.

• The passage contains information about how the Titanic sank and the factors responsible for that catastrophic event.

• To answer question types such as True/False/Not Given easily, one needs to improve vocabulary, grammar and reading skills.

Given the frequency of the IELTS exam in a year, candidates can apply for this exam throughout the year according to their convenience.

One should spend about 20 minutes on questions 1-13, which are based on Reading Passage 1 below.

A Disaster of Titanic Proportions

Lookouts, Frederick Fleet, and Reginald Lee on the Titanic’s front mast spotted an eerie, black mass approaching into view immediately in front of the ship at 11:39 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, 1912. “Iceberg, right ahead!” Fleet exclaimed as he picked up the phone at the helm and waited for Sixth Officer Moody to answer. The worst maritime calamity in history was about to be set in motion.

The Titanic struck a piece of submerged ice 37 seconds later, shattering rivets in the ship’s hull and filling the first five watertight compartments, despite the attempts of personnel in the bridge and engine room to manoeuvre around the iceberg. Thomas Andrews, the ship’s designer, conducted a visual survey of the ship’s damage at midnight and warned Captain Smith that the ship would sink in less than two hours.

After Smith had given the order for the lifeboats to be opened and swung out 15 minutes earlier, the lifeboats were being loaded with women and children by 12:30 a.m. Only 28 of the 65 seats in the first lifeboat were occupied when it was successfully lowered 15 minutes later. The waterline was beginning to reach the Titanic’s name on the ship’s bow by 1:15 a.m., and every lifeboat would be released over the next hour as commanders tried to maintain discipline amid the mounting fear on board.

The dosing moments of the Titanic’s sinking occurred shortly after 2:00 a.m. when the last lifeboat was lowered, and the ship’s propellers were taken out of the water, leaving 1,500 passengers to surge towards the ship’s stern. Harold Bride and Jack Phillips sent their final wireless message at 2:17 a.m. after being relieved of their duties as the ship’s wireless operators and the ship’s band ceased performing. Less than a minute later, lifeboat occupants saw the ship’s lights flash once, then go out, and heard a tremendous roar that indicated the Titanic’s cargo was diving towards the bow, causing the front half of the ship to break off and sink. The bow of the Titanic briefly rose, and at 2:20 a.m., the ship finally sank beneath the frigid waters.

What or Who was responsible for the magnitude of the catastrophic event? There are numerous explanations, some of which focus on minute minutiae. Because of the last-minute change in the ship’s officer line-up, iceberg lookouts Frederick Fleet and Reginald Lee were forced to make do without a pair of binoculars that an officer transferred off the ship at Southampton had left in a cupboard onboard, unbeknownst to any of the ship’s crew. Fleet, who survived the sinking, claimed at a subsequent investigation that if he had owned the binoculars, he could have discovered the iceberg in time to avert disaster.

Less than an hour before the Titanic collided with the iceberg, wireless operator Cyril Evans in California, about 20 miles to the north, attempted to reach Titanic operator Jack Phillips to warn him of the approaching pack ice. Phillips responded, “Shut up, shut up, you’re jamming my signal.” “I'm occupied.” Phillips was clearing a backlog of personal messages that passengers had requested to be transmitted to family and friends in the United States after the Titanic’s wireless system had gone down for several hours earlier that day.

Despite several warnings of ice ahead, Captain Smith kept the ship moving at 22 knots. However, it has been alleged that Smith was under pressure to make headlines by landing early in New York. Maritime historians such as Richard Howell have refuted this notion by pointing out that Smith was just adhering to a standard procedure at the time and was not acting irresponsibly.

The Titanic did not have enough lifeboats for everyone on board, which is one of the most compelling explanations for the massive loss of life. Maritime regulations at the time considered that the lifeboat capacity was determined by the size of the ship, not the number of passengers on board. This meant that with the space for 1,178 of its 2,222 passengers, the Titanic actually exceeded the Board of Trade’s requirement that it carries lifeboats for 1,060 passengers.

Despite the fact that lifeboats were lowered with less than half full in many situations, and only 712 passengers survived despite a two–and–a–half–hour window of chance, more lifeboats would not have ensured more survivors in the absence of improved training and planning. After the order to launch lifeboats was given, many passengers were puzzled about where to go; a lifeboat drill that had been scheduled for earlier on the same day the Titanic struck the iceberg was cancelled by Captain Smith to allow passengers to attend church.

A Disaster of Titanic Proportions IELTS Reading Questions.

Most of us are aware of the fact how reading can improve English language proficiency, so after reading the above passage carefully, one can easily locate the keywords to find answers and fill in the below-given table accordingly.

Questions 1-6

Complete the table below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer.

Write the answers in blank spaces next to 1-6 on the answer sheet.

Time	Person	Position	Action
11:39 pm	1. ----------	2.---------	A Reported Sighting of an Iceberg
3. --------	Andrews	Ship's Designer	Reported how long the titanic could stay afloat
12:15 am	Smith	Captain	Ordered 4. ------- to be released
2:17 am	Bride & Phillips	5. --------	Relayed final 6. ------

Questions 7-10

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?

In boxes 7-10 on the answer sheet, write

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

7. The binoculars for the men on watch had been left in a crew locker in Southampton.

8. The missing binoculars were the major factor leading to the collision with the iceberg.

9. Philips missed notification about the ice from Evans because the Titanic’s wireless system was not functioning at the time.

10. Captain Smith knew there was ice in the area.

Questions 11-13

Answer the questions below:

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND / OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

11. What was the ship’s speed despite repeated prior warnings about ice?

12. Instead of the lifeboat drill, Captain Smith allowed passengers to attend what?

13. How long did it take the Titanic to collide with a piece of submerged ice?

A Disaster of Titanic Proportions IELTS Reading Answers with explanations

The careful follow-up of the given method of reading with keyword allocation and then forming answers can raise the scores on the reading test and help students understand how to prepare for the IELTS exam.

A Disaster of Titanic Proportions reading answers with explanations can assist in rectifying errors and identifying the required information for the answer.

Fleet

Explanation- Paragraph A, line 2 puts forward the information that “Fleet picked up the phone to the helm, waited for Sixth officer moody to answer, and yelled: “Iceberg, right ahead!” The greatest disaster in maritime history was about to be set in motion.” Hence, we can infer that Frederick Fleet and Reginald Lee had noticed a dark mass approaching the ship from the front, and Fleet had informed the ship’s Sixth Officer Moody.

Lookout

Explanation- Paragraph A, Line 1 infers that “at 11:39 p.m. on the evening of Sunday, 14 April 1912, lookouts Frederick Fleet and Reginald Lee on the forward mast of the Titanic sighted an eerie, black mass coming into view directly in front of the ship.” Here, Lee and Fleet were both lookouts who had noticed the iceberg first, which meant they were assigned to the lookout post.

Midnight/ 12:00 a.m.

Explanation- Paragraph B, Line 2 has been paraphrased here. In the passage, it states that “the ship’s designer, Thomas Andrews, carried out a visual inspection of the ship’s damage and informed Captain Smith at midnight that the ship would sink in less than two hours.” Hence, we can deduce that Captain Smith was notified by the ship designer, Andrews, regarding the sinking at 12:00 a.m.

Lifeboats

Explanation- Paragraph B, Line 3 describes, “By 12:30 a.m., the lifeboats were being filled with women and children after Smith had given the command for them to be uncovered and swung out 15 minutes earlier.” Here, it can be learnt that Captain Smith promptly ordered the discharge of lifeboats after learning that the ship would sink in less than 2 hours at midnight and the lifeboats were being filled with passengers by 12:10.

Wireless operators

Explanation- The answer is clearly mentioned in line 2 of paragraph C. In the passage, it is said that “at 2:17 a.m., Harold Bride and Jack Philips tapped out their last wireless message after being relieved of duty as the ship’s wireless operators and the ship’s band stopped playing.” So Harold Bride and Jack Philips were working under the position of wireless operators as they typed their last message before getting relieved from duty at 2:17 a.m.

Wireless (messages)

Explanation- Paragraph E, line 3, refers to” the Titanic’s wireless system had broken down for several hours earlier that day, and Philips was clearing a backlog of personal messages that passengers had requested to be sent to family and friends in the USA.” As mentioned earlier, Harold Bride and Jack Philips (wireless operators) were clearing a backlog of wireless messages that passengers and their relatives sent before getting relieved.

False

Explanation- Paragraph D, line 2 describes, “Due to a last-minute change in the ship’s officer’s line-up, iceberg lookouts Frederick fleet and Reginald Lee were making do without a pair of binoculars that an officer transferred off the ship in Southampton had left in a cupboard onboard, unbeknownst to any of the ship’s crew.” Due to the urgency of the situation, the pair of binoculars were left in a cupboard on board and not in a crew locker in Southampton.

Not given

Explanation- None of the passages confirms or denies that the missing binoculars were the major factor leading to the collision with the iceberg.

False

Explanation- Paragraph E, line 1 infers that “less than an hour before the Titanic struck the iceberg, wireless operator Cyril Evans on California, located just 20 miles to the north, tried to contact operator Jack Philips on the Titanic to warn him of pack ice in the area. “Shut up, shut up, you’re jamming my signal,” Philips replied. “I’m busy.” “From the given information, we can deduce that Philips responded “I’m busy,” indicating that he did not miss Evans’ notification. And the wireless system had failed several hours earlier that day rather than “at the moment.”

True

Explanation- Paragraph E, line 4 mentions that “nevertheless, Captain Smith had maintained the ship’s speed of 22 knots despite multiple earlier warnings of ice ahead.” Here, it is mentioned that Captain Smith received multiple warnings of ice ahead, which confirms that he knew there was ice in the area.

Knots

Explanation- Paragraph E, last line, puts forward the information that “Despite several warnings of ice ahead, Captain Smith kept the ship moving at 22 knots.” Hence, the answer is 22 knots.

Church

Explanation- In Paragraph F, in the last third line, it can be pointed out that “a lifeboat drill that had been scheduled for earlier on the same day the Titanic struck the iceberg was cancelled by Captain Smith to allow passengers to attend church.” Hence, the answer is church.

37 seconds

Explanation- Paragraph B, first line, puts forward the information that “The Titanic struck a piece of submerged ice 37 seconds later, shattering rivets in the ship’s hull and filling the first five watertight compartments, despite the attempts of personnel in the bridge and engine room to manoeuvre around the iceberg.” Hence, the answer is 37 seconds.

Conclusion

The IELTS Academic Reading Test, “A Disaster of Titanic Proportions”, has elaborately clarified the method of efficiently looking up for answers. The attempt at explanations for each answer will provide a complete understanding of how each answer has been derived from the passage. To practice more such topics and get detailed insights on the IELTS Academic test, contact the expert language trainers of Canamprep.

FAQ

How to answer the IELTS Academic reading test?

One should skim through the passage and identify the keywords. Students must read all questions before reading the passage and then begin answering. In this way, students can practice answering reading passage questions.

Can candidates retake IELTS reading only?

Candidates can retake any one section of the IELTS test, whether it is Listening, Reading, Writing, or Speaking. The format and timing of that IELTS One Skill Retake test is the same as that individual skill in a full IELTS test.

How is the IELTS academic reading score calculated?

The IELTS Reading test contains 40 questions. Each correct answer is awarded 1 mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale. Scores are reported in whole and half bands.

How to identify keywords in IELTS reading?

While reading the passage, one can underline the keywords. Taking a mental note of keyword synonyms is better as there is not much time to note down the synonyms for each keyword. Keywords help to locate the place in the text where the answer lies.

How can one avoid mistakes in IELTS reading?

One can avoid mistakes in IELTS reading by not trying to read every word of the passage and also not reading questions casually. Candidates must not assume anything and follow the rule of time management.

Get great articles direct to your inbox

The latest news, articles, and resources, sent straight to your inbox every month.

Popular Universities to Study Abroad

World class education waiting for you.

Coast Mountain College - Terrace Campus

British Columbia, Canada • 27 Programmes

Tuition Fee : CAD 12000-23000 / year

TCS - The Chicago School of Professional Psychology - Anaheim Campus

California, USA • 4 Programmes

Tuition Fee : USD 0-0 / year

Shorelight Group - Robert Morris University

Pennsylvania, USA • 56 Programmes

Tuition Fee : USD 32000-32500 / year

Study Group - Durham University International Study Centre - Queens Campus

England, UK • 188 Programmes

Tuition Fee : GBP 22000-24000 / year

Evergreen College - West Campus

Ontario, Canada • 15 Programmes

Tuition Fee : CAD 10500-21500 / year

University of Winchester

England, UK • 153 Programmes

Tuition Fee : GBP 14000-19000 / year

Navitas Group - Wilfrid Laurier International College

Ontario, Canada • 38 Programmes

Tuition Fee : CAD 32000-33000 / year

Assiniboine Community College - Parkland Campus (Dauphin)

Manitoba, Canada • 14 Programmes

Tuition Fee : CAD 15000-19000 / year

View All Universities

Latest at CANAM

Events, webinar, college / university visits and more.

The International Education Fair

Study in Canada, UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Dubai, Singapore, Germany, Ireland

Amritsar • 11:00AM

In-Person Event

University Visit - Huron at Western University

Study in Canada • University Visit

Mumbai - Andheri West • 11:00AM

In-Person Event

Canada Application Day 24

Study in Canada • Application Days

Jalandhar • 02:00PM

In-Person & Virtual Event

Top countries destinations

Popular university and colleges for Studying abroad.

Bond University Queensland
Central Queensland University - Rockhampton, North Campus Queensland
Charles Sturt University - Wagga Wagga Campus New South Wales
Deakin University - Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus Victoria
Engineering Institute of Technology - Perth campus Western Australia
Griffith University - Nathan Campus Queensland
La Trobe University - Bendigo Campus Victoria
LCI Melbourne - Art & Design School Victoria

Ara Institute of Canterbury - City Campus Southland
Aspire 2 International - Auckland Campus Auckland
Auckland University of Technology - City Campus Auckland
Eastern Institute of Technology - Hawke Bay Campus Hawke's Bay
Manukau Institute of Technology -Manukau Campus Auckland
Massey University - Auckland Campus Auckland
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) - Nelson Campus Southland
New Zealand Institute of Business & Technology (NZIBT) Auckland
The University of Waikato - Hamilton Campus Hamilton

Kent state university Ohio
San Jose State University California
Wright State University Ohio
Clark University Massachusetts
Rowan University New Jersey
Arkansas State University Arkansas
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Wisconsin
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Illinois
University of Findlay Ohio

Popular English Language Proficiency Exams

IELTS Online

- Live Classes

Blogs and Articles

Curated content to keep you updated on the latest education trends, news and more.

September Intake in USA 2025 : Universities, Requirements, Timeline & How to Apply

For many students worldwide, the USA is a dream place, boasting a well-known education system, diversified academic programs, and opportunities for pe...

Updated on • Oct 17,2024 05:59 PM IST • USA

Tips for Packing When Going to Study in Canada

IntroductionImagine you have just received your acceptance letter to study in Canada- exciting right? Of course! That adrenaline rush is for real, the...

Updated on • Oct 17,2024 03:46 PM IST • Study Abroad Guidance

Study in Dubai for Indian Students

Dubai, the City of Gold, has everything that you need to enjoy the wonders of the world without leaving the city. Think of anything, and Dubai will ha...

Updated on • Oct 17,2024 11:31 AM IST • Study in Dubai

Job Opportunities in Canada for Indians: Salaries, Best Job Sites & More

Canada has always been a highly sought-after destination for international students, thanks to its exceptional education, abundant job prospects, and ...

Updated on • Oct 09,2024 04:03 PM IST • Study in Canada

Student Visa for UK

Hey there, future globetrotters! Would you like to sip tea by the Thames while acing your studies? Then, the UK is definitely calling your name! With ...

Updated on • Oct 09,2024 01:23 PM IST • UK

Australia Study Visa - Requirements, Process, Fee, How to Apply & More

Australia is one of the top destinations for international students offering excellent quality of education, rich cultural diversity, and hospitality....

Updated on • Oct 08,2024 11:22 AM IST • Australia

Canada Study Visa - Fee, Requirements, How to Apply & More

Canada has now emerged as one of the most preferred destinations for international students. With ideal combinations of quality education and living c...

Updated on • Oct 05,2024 05:16 PM IST • Study in Canada

Study Intakes in USA - Universities, Timelines, Benefits & More

Are you thinking of pursuing your education in the USA? It is undoubtedly a preferred study destination for international students due to it...

Updated on • Oct 04,2024 05:10 PM IST • USA

May Intake in UK 2025: Universities, Courses, Requirements & More

Among all the popular study-abroad destinations, most international students prefer to study in the UK because of its esteemed institutes that offer e...

Updated on • Oct 04,2024 04:13 PM IST • study in the UK

Study intakes in Canada - Fall, Winter & Summer

One of the fascinating things for youngsters these days is to study abroad. And when it comes to studying in a different country Canada is a top prior...

Updated on • Oct 03,2024 12:51 PM IST • Study in Canada

Letter of Recommendation (LOR) for Canada: University Requirements, Sample and Writing Tips

In terms of Canadian Universities, they are very particular about application documents, and it is observed that references are required majorly for o...

Updated on • Sep 26,2024 05:26 PM IST • Study in Canada

Study Intakes in UK - Universities, Courses & Benefits

The UK is one of many top study destinations worldwide. Every year, thousands of students aspire to study in Great Britain. One of the queries they of...

Updated on • Sep 26,2024 05:10 PM IST • UK

Intakes in New Zealand 2025: Timeline, Courses, Universities & Requirements

Are you thinking of studying in a country with a world-class education, an open culture, and beautiful landscapes? Well, New Zealand has all that and ...

Updated on • Sep 24,2024 05:08 PM IST • New Zealand

Highest Paying Jobs in New Zealand for International Students

Many students aspire to live and work in a country like New Zealand. And why not? Alongside its stunning scenery and vibrant culture, New Zealand is a...

Updated on • Sep 24,2024 04:44 PM IST • New Zealand

Highest Paying Jobs in Australia for International Students

Do you know that if you visit one new beach in Australia every day, it’ll take you over 27 years to visit them all? This fascinating...

Updated on • Sep 23,2024 05:52 PM IST • Australia

Study Intakes in Australia for International Students

Australia, a land of stunning landscapes, diverse cultures, and world-class education, has long been a top choice for international students...

Updated on • Sep 23,2024 04:22 PM IST • Australia

New Zealand Student Visa: Eligibility, Requirements, Documents & Types of NZ Study Visa

For students dreaming of studying abroad in the stunning landscapes of New Zealand, the New Zealand student visa is their passport to world-class educ...

Updated on • Sep 21,2024 04:44 PM IST • New Zealand

50 IELTS Speaking part 3 Topics & Question with suggested answers

The IELTS examination is the basic requirement if you want to study abroad, and IELTS Speaking Part 3 is a difficult task compared to others. The...

Updated on • Sep 21,2024 01:03 PM IST • IELTS

How to Get a Job in USA

International students who want to work in the USA can start with optional practical training (OPT), where they are allowed to work as practical train...

Updated on • Sep 17,2024 05:51 PM IST • USA

Master of Information Technology in New zealand

New Zealand is a leading destination for IT education because of its well-known innovation and advancements in technology. The Master of Information T...

Updated on • Sep 16,2024 04:55 PM IST • New Zealand

A Disaster of Titanic Proportions Reading Answers- IELTS Academic Reading

Table of Contents

Reading Strategies for Solving 'A Disaster of Titanic Proportions - reading answers'.

A Disaster of Titanic Proportions

A Disaster of Titanic Proportions IELTS Reading Questions.

Questions 1-6

Questions 7-10

Questions 11-13

A Disaster of Titanic Proportions IELTS Reading Answers with explanations

Fleet

Lookout

Midnight/ 12:00 a.m.

Lifeboats

Wireless operators

Wireless (messages)

False

Not given

False

True

Knots

Church

37 seconds

Conclusion

FAQ

Events, webinar, college / university visits and more.

Popular university and colleges for Studying abroad.

Bond University Queensland

Central Queensland University - Rockhampton, North Campus Queensland

Charles Sturt University - Wagga Wagga Campus New South Wales

Deakin University - Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus Victoria

Engineering Institute of Technology - Perth campus Western Australia

Griffith University - Nathan Campus Queensland

La Trobe University - Bendigo Campus Victoria

LCI Melbourne - Art & Design School Victoria

University Canada West British Columbia

University of Windsor Ontario

Dalhousie University Nova Scotia

Carleton University Ontario

Cape Breton University Nova Scotia

University of ottawa Ontario

University of saskatchewan Saskatchewan

University of regina Saskatchewan

University of guelph Ontario

Ara Institute of Canterbury - City Campus Southland

Aspire 2 International - Auckland Campus Auckland

Auckland University of Technology - City Campus Auckland

Eastern Institute of Technology - Hawke Bay Campus Hawke's Bay

Manukau Institute of Technology -Manukau Campus Auckland

Massey University - Auckland Campus Auckland

Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) - Nelson Campus Southland

New Zealand Institute of Business & Technology (NZIBT) Auckland

The University of Waikato - Hamilton Campus Hamilton

University of Warwick England

De Montfort University England

University of West London England

University of Strathclyde Scotland

Aston University England

University of Bath England

University of Liverpool England

Durham University England

Newcastle University England

Kent state university Ohio

San Jose State University California

Wright State University Ohio

Clark University Massachusetts

Rowan University New Jersey

Arkansas State University Arkansas

University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Wisconsin

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Illinois

University of Findlay Ohio

Popular English Language Proficiency Exams

IELTS Online