Published on: 01 Jan 1970

Reading.TFNG4

Hot-air ballooning is generally a safe activity, and serious accidents are rare. In the event that something does go wrong, several items of safety gear are useful to have on board. In case, the pilot light and the auxiliary piezo ignition fail, it is a good idea to have a welding torch flint sparker available for the pilot’s use. Given the propane combustion used to propel the hot-air balloon, a fire extinguisher is an absolute necessity. Flame-resistant gauntlets made out of either leather or Nomex are required for the pilot so that a gas valve can be disabled even if an open flame is present. While Nomex is a specially manufactured synthetic form of fire retardant material, synthetic clothing is generally a hindrance to fire safety, and clothing made of natural fiber is a superior option for pilots. Finally, a handling line – a long rope that can be thrown overboard – is a vital precautionary measure that allows people on the ground to steer the balloon away from trouble.

One of the strongest explanations for the severe loss of life has been the fact that the Titanic did not carry enough lifeboats for everyone on board. Maritime regulations at the time tied lifeboat capacity to the ship size, not to the number of passengers on board. This meant that the Titanic, with room for 1,178 of its 2,222 passengers, actually surpassed the Board of Trade’s requirement to carry lifeboats for 1,060 of its passengers. Nevertheless, with lifeboats being lowered less than half full in many cases, and only 712 passengers surviving despite a two-and-a-half-hour window of opportunity, more lifeboats would not have guaranteed more survivors in the absence of better training and preparation. Many passengers were confused about where to go after the order to launch lifeboats was given; a lifeboat drill scheduled for earlier on the same day that the Titanic struck the iceberg was cancelled by Captain Smith to allow passengers to attend church.

Section 1: Questions 1-5

Question (1)

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the reading passage? 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

1

Fatal accidents are more common in hot-air balloons.

  • A
  • B
  • C
2

Safety gears are always available on the hot-air balloons.

  • A
  • B
  • C
3

It is unnecessary to carry a fire extinguisher in the hot-air balloons.

  • A
  • B
  • C
4

Flame-resistant gauntlets made of leather is one of the required items for a pilot.

  • A
  • B
  • C
5

People on the ground use the handling rope to steer the balloon away from trouble.

  • A
  • B
  • C
Next
Section 1
Section 2: Questions 6-10

Question (6)

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the reading passage? 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

6
The Titanic carried 1,178 lifeboats for 2,222 passengers.
  • A
  • B
  • C
7

Out of the total 2,222 passengers, only 712 passengers survived with the help of lifeboats.

  • A
  • B
  • C
8

Lifeboat drills were cancelled by Captain Smith on the very same day when Titanic ended up hitting the iceberg.

  • A
  • B
  • C
9

Captain Smith knew that the Titanic would hit the iceberg.

  • A
  • B
  • C
10

Passengers who survived the tragic accident were already trained and prepared.

  • A
  • B
  • C
Previous
Section 2
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