Speed Reading — Shipwrecks - Level 3 — 300 wpm

Now do this put-the-text-back-together activity.


This is the text (if you need help).

An American ocean exploration team has filmed the world's deepest known shipwreck for the first time. The ship is a World War II US Navy battleship called the USS Johnston. It was sunk by the Japanese Navy on October the 25th, 1944 during the Battle of Samar in the Philippine Sea. The wreck now sits on the ocean floor at a depth of around 6,456 metres. The film crew managed to go down to that incredible depth and darkness and map and film the whole shipwreck. They filmed the ship from a specially built submersible that can deal with the pressure of the deep ocean. They discovered it was about 30 metres deeper than previously thought. The filming took place during two eight-hour dives.

The explorers are from a company called Caladan Oceanic. Its founder is Victor Vescovo, a former US Navy commander. He has a passion for adventure and for visiting some of the world's hardest-to-get-to places. He holds the record for being the first person ever to get to the top of all the world's continents, both poles, and the bottom of all the world's oceans. Mr Vescovo said the mission to film the USS Johnston was a personal one because that ship and his submersible were made in the same shipyard and both served in the US Navy. He said: "As a US Navy officer, I'm proud to have helped bring clarity and closure to the Johnston, its crew, and the families of those who died on it."

Comprehension questions
  1. What is the nationality of the exploration team?
  2. In what year was the warship sunk?
  3. How deep is the shipwreck?
  4. How much of the shipwreck did the exploration team film?
  5. How many dives did the exploration team make?
  6. What position did the exploration team leader have in the US Navy?
  7. What does the exploration team leader have a passion for?
  8. How many of the world's oceans has the team leader been to?
  9. What was made in the same shipyard as the team's submersible?
  10. What is the team leader proud of bringing besides clarity?

Back to the shipwreck lesson.

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