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On April 10, 1912, the ocean liner Titanic set off on its first voyage with more than 2,200 people on board. It was a historic moment. The ship was the largest passenger ship in the world.
But on the night of April 14, the Titanic struck a giant iceberg. Within hours, it sank to the bottom of the ocean. There were only enough lifeboats for about half the people on board. More than 1,500 passengers and crew members died.
The tragedy made headlines around the world. The tale of the ship has inspired many books, plays and movies. That includes 1997’s Titanic---one of the most popular films in history.
Now, more than a century later, a replica (复制品) of the ship is being built. The Titanic II is expected to follow the route of the original ship. It is scheduled to launch in 2022 and sail from Southampton, England, to New York City.
In many ways, the Titanic II will be hard to tell apart from the original ship. It will have the same cabin layouts (布局) and serve the same fancy meals. But according to the Blue Star Line, the company building the ship, there will be some important differences. The Titanic II will have the latest technology and safety features---including enough motor-driven lifeboats for everyone on board. Though the ship itself will be more modern, sailing on it will be a journey back in time, says Clive Palmer, the Owner of Blue Star Line.
“It is a tribute (致敬) to the spirit of the men and women who worked on the original Titanic,” he says.
1. What do we know about the Titanic?
A. It was the largest passenger ship of its day.
B. More than 2,200 people died when it sank
C. It set sail from New York City.
D. It sank the first day after it set sail.
2. Why does the author mention the 1997 movie Titanic?
A. To describe the ship’s design.
B. To highlight the public’s interest in the ship.
C. To explain why the Titanic sank.
D. To compare the new ship with the original one.
3. How will the Titanic II differ from the original ship?
A. It will follow a new route across the Atlantic Ocean.
B. It will serve fancy meals to passengers.
C. It will have enough lifeboats for all passengers.
D. It will have smaller cabins for passengers.
4. What is the best title for the text?
A. The Unsinkable Titanic
B. The Titanic Sails Again
C. Titanic Stories Will Go on
D. The Reconstruction of Titanic
