2 . More than a century after the Titanic sank in April 1912, few new stories are discovered about the accident. The history of the Chinese passengers who escaped the Titanic has largely been forgotten, even in their homeland.

The average survival rate for men in third class was just one in six. But when disaster struck, being a poor sailor with limited English turned into an advantage for the eight Chinese men on board - and six of them survived.

All eight Chinese men came from southern China. They had previously worked on cargo (货物) ships traveling between China and Europe, and they likely planed to move to the US to start a new life. They boarded the Titanic in Southampton, England, on a single ticket listing eight names. This was a common practice for third-class passengers at that time. Like other unmarried third-class men, they were housed in windowless cabins (船舱).

When the ship struck an iceberg, the men living in the worst conditions saw everything with their own eyes. Freezing water flooded into their living cabins, while on the upper levels, the crew (全体船员) were still reassuring (……安心) first-and second-class passengers that nothing was serious. Relying on their own survival skills, the Chinese sailors would have reacted quickly to leave the ship, especially since they likely did not understand orders in English to stay in their rooms.

Five of the six Chinese survivors made it directly onto lifeboats, while the sixth, Fang Lang, was one of the few lucky people picked up by Lifeboat 14, the only boat to return and search for survivors. He was found floating on a door to which he had tied himself. After he was pulled, freezing, he helped row the lifeboat to safety and was praised for his efforts.

The six men's lucky escape is little -known in China, despite the popularity of the Titanic story in the nation.

1. Why did the eight Chinese men board the Titanic?

A．They were working on this ship then.

B．They planned to travel to Europe.

C．They went to the US to earn a living.

D．They meant to make an unforgettable experience.

2. When the ship struck an iceberg, the Chinese men ________.

A．thought nothing was serious	B．helped to comfort other passengers
C．stayed in their rooms calmly	D．realized the ship was in great danger

3. How many Chinese passengers were saved by the searching lifeboat?

A．Eight.	B．Six.
C．Five.	D．One.

4. In the writer's opinion, the key point for their survival is________.

A．survival skills and poor English	B．their confidence and survival skills
C．their kindness and courage	D．their bravery and patience