Question 1
EasyWhat did the Titanic strike before it sank?
- A reef
- Another ship
- An iceberg (Correct answer)
- A sandbank
Source: The Titanic struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic, tearing open its hull below the waterline.
The Titanic remains one of history's most haunting maritime disasters, a tragedy that unfolded on a single April night in 1912 and claimed over a thousand lives. The ship's sinking exposed the hubris of the Edwardian era—a supposedly unsinkable vessel, inadequate lifeboats, and a culture of class distinction that determined who survived. From the ship's construction in Belfast to the wreck's discovery decades later on the ocean floor, the Titanic's story continues to captivate us with questions about fate, human error, and resilience. Test your knowledge of this enduring chapter in history.
▶ Play today's quizWhat did the Titanic strike before it sank?
Source: The Titanic struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic, tearing open its hull below the waterline.
What kind of ship was the Titanic?
Source: The Titanic was a luxury ocean liner built to carry passengers across the Atlantic in style.
What reputation did the Titanic famously have before sinking?
Source: The Titanic was widely promoted as nearly unsinkable, making its loss all the more shocking.
In which ocean did the Titanic sink?
Source: The Titanic went down in the North Atlantic, roughly 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland.
In which year did the Titanic sink?
Source: The Titanic sank in April 1912, just two years before World War I began.
Which port was the Titanic sailing to on its maiden voyage?
Source: The Titanic was bound for New York City, a journey it never completed.
What shortage made the disaster so deadly?
Source: The Titanic carried lifeboats for barely half those aboard, since rules were based on tonnage, not passengers.
Roughly how many people died in the disaster?
Source: Around 1,500 of the roughly 2,200 people aboard perished in the freezing water.
Which English port did the Titanic depart from?
Source: The Titanic set off from Southampton, though it also stopped in France and Ireland before heading west.
Which shipping company owned the Titanic?
Source: The Titanic belonged to the White Star Line, a fierce rival of the Cunard Line.
Which class of passengers suffered the highest death rate?
Source: Third-class passengers died in by far the greatest proportion, many trapped below decks far from the boats.
What was the name of the ship that rescued the survivors?
Source: The Carpathia raced through the night to pick up survivors from the lifeboats hours after the sinking.
Roughly how long did the Titanic take to sink after the collision?
Source: The Titanic stayed afloat for about two and a half hours, just long enough for the Carpathia to be alerted.
What was the Titanic's wreck discovery in 1985 best remembered for?
Source: When found in 1985, the wreck lay broken in two sections, proving the ship split apart as it sank.
On which day of the week did the Titanic sink?
Source: The Titanic hit the iceberg late on a Sunday night and slipped under in the early hours of Monday.
In which French port did the Titanic make a stop?
Source: The Titanic stopped at Cherbourg to take on more passengers, using tenders since it was too big for the dock.
What was the Titanic's near-identical sister ship called?
Source: The Olympic was the Titanic's older twin and sailed safely for decades, earning the nickname Old Reliable.
Which Titanic crew role was held by Frederick Fleet, who first spotted the iceberg?
Source: Lookout Frederick Fleet rang the warning bell, but the crow's nest had no binoculars that fateful night.
At what speed was the Titanic traveling when it hit the iceberg?
Source: The Titanic was steaming near its top speed of about 22 knots despite repeated ice warnings that day.
Which nearby ship was criticized for ignoring the Titanic's distress signals?
Source: The Californian sat close by with its radio off, and its crew reportedly mistook the distress rockets for celebration.