Question

A．Williams, who knew the dangers of the area, had refused to consult charts or maps and had become utterly lost in the bad weather.

B．When the Titanic sank, the stories of the courage mainly showed in the face of inevitable(不可避免的) death moved the world.

C．Major Sexton ordered the survivors on deck, and in one of the more remarkable displays of courage seen, the soldiers stood silently to attention as the women and children were loaded into the life-boats.

D．Within fourteen minutes t had sunk, taking with it 1,012 ordinary people.

E．Their behavior was shocking.

F．There were about six hundred and eighty on board, of whom fifty were women and children.

The Best and the Worst

　　　 Under the extreme conditions of a disaster, human beings display the best and worst they are capable of. In the midst of chaos “women and children first” is the traditional way of doing things.

71 . Sixty years before that, the passengers of another ship had shown even greater discipline and nobility in terrible circumstances.

　　　 The ship was the Birkenhead, a steam-powered troopship transporting British troops to South Africa. On 26 February, 1852, the ship hit an uncharted rock while rounding the Cape of Good Hope. 72　 . The remainders were soldiers and officers of the 74^th Highlanders, led by Major Alexander Sexton. In addition, the ship was laden with horses.

　　　 The initial collision had already caused dozens of the troops to be drowned as they slept below decks. 73　 . The ship was sinking rapidly and leaning, but they continued to stand until all the women and horses were driven over-board to give them a chance. Only then, at the order from Major Sexton, did they break ranks and try to save their own lives. But the ship broke up, and four hundred and eighty-eight of the soldiers died.

　　　 In complete opposition to this bravery, was the occasion when nearly all the casualties(人员伤亡) were women and children. This happened on 1 April, 1873. The White Star liner Atlantic, under the command of the incompetent Captain Williams, was wrecked on rocks off the coast of Nova Scotia. 　74　 . In the panic, the male passengers deserted their families and tried to escape ashore.　 75　 . There were five hundred and sixty deaths. Of the four hundred survivors, not one was a woman.

Answer 1

BFCAE