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Constructed Response Question
How did the assumption that the Titanic was unsinkable lead to problems?

Use details from the passage to support your answer.

1 answer

The assumption that the Titanic was unsinkable had significant repercussions that contributed to the disaster. This belief fostered a sense of overconfidence among the ship's crew, passengers, and the shipping company, leading to a lack of preparedness for emergencies. As noted in the passage, this overconfidence resulted in insufficient lifeboats being available on board, as regulations at the time only required enough for a fraction of the total passengers. Consequently, when the Titanic struck an iceberg, the inadequate number of lifeboats meant that many passengers were left without a means of escape.

Furthermore, the crew's assumption of invulnerability led to complacency in safety protocols. The ship's speed may have been maintained despite iceberg warnings, as the crew felt secure in the Titanic's supposed design superiority. This disregard for cautious navigation in dangerous waters ultimately exacerbated the disaster when the ship struck the iceberg. Therefore, the belief in the Titanic's unsinkability not only contributed to critical safety oversights but also created a perilous environment that ultimately led to the tragedy of its sinking.