If the ship is sinking, do you save yourself or risk your life to save others? The answer, it seems, depends on how long the sinking takes. If there’s enough time, you can switch from adrenalin (肾上腺素)-driven self-preservation (自我保护) to conscience (良知，良心)-driven self-sacrifice.The viewpoints come from a new comparison of survival data from the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 with the loss of 1517 lives out of 2207, and the sinking of the Lusitania three years later, which killed 1198 passengers out of 1949.The main difference between the two sinkings was time: it took two hours and 40 minutes for the Titanic to go down, while the Lusitania sank in just 18 minutes. The result: a huge difference in survivor descriptions.On the Lusitania, survival favored able-bodied men aged between 16 and 35, whose probability of surviving was 7.9 percent higher than that for all remaining passengers over 35 years old. On the Titanic, in contrast, the same group of men were 6.5 percent more likely to die than their elders. Children were 30.9 percent more likely to survive on the Titanic, compared with passengers over 35, while on the Lusitania children had no better survival chance.The main reason, according to Benno Torgler of Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia, is that simple adrenalin-driven survival instinct and bodily strength affected survival on the fast-sinking Lusitania. On the slow-sinking Titanic, by contrast, there was time for social norms of giving priority to women and children.Strikingly, women of all ages on the Titanic had a probability of survival 53 percent higher than for men, compared with an 11 percent higher chance of dying on the Lusitania.“People say you only care about yourself, but the analysis shows that people will sacrifice themselves,” says Torgler. “But time is crucial, because the elements that restart social interactions only emerge after time.”The results also support director James Cameron’s interpretation of events in his film Titanic – that wealth and social status regained its power after time, possibly through bribery (贿赂) or favors from the crew. First-class passengers on the Titanic had huge survival advantages unavailable on the Lusitania.1. What is the main idea of the passage?A) The human instinct in time of disaster.B) Men’s responsibilities in times of danger.C) Similarities and differences between two ship sinkings.D) Causes for passengers’ different behaviors in a ship sinking. 2. According to the passage, what is the main factor that affected people’s behavior in the sinking of the Titanic and the Lusitania?A) The time it took the ships to sink. B) The percentage of young passengers.C) The intensity of people’s survival instinct.D) The difference in wealth and social status.3. According to the passage, which of the following groups of passengers were more likely to survive on the Lusitania?A) Stronger men. B) Small children.C) Elderly women.D) Wealthy people.4. Which of the following statements is true according to Benno Torgler?A) In times of danger people are selfish and will not sacrifice themselves.B) In times of danger people will take care of others when given enough time. C) People on the Titanic were more caring in nature than those on the Lusitania.D) People on the Titanic had better social interactions than those on the Lusitania.5. What does the author mean by saying “First-class passengers on the Titanic had huge survival advantages non-existent on the Lusitania” in the last paragraph?A) The Titanic had a huge number of first-class passengers.B) The Lusitania offered no special service to first-class passengers.C) First-class passengers on the Lusitania were more ready to help others.D) First-class passengers on the Titanic received more help from the crew.

If the ship is sinking, do you save yourself or risk your life to save others? The answer, it seems, depends on how long the sinking takes. If there’s enough time, you can switch from adrenalin (肾上腺素)-driven self-preservation (自我保护) to conscience (良知，良心)-driven self-sacrifice. The viewpoints come from a new comparison of survival data from the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 with the loss of 1517 lives out of 2207, and the sinking of the Lusitania three years later, which killed 1198 passengers out of 1949. The main difference between the two sinkings was time: it took two hours and 40 minutes for the Titanic to go down, while the Lusitania sank in just 18 minutes. The result: a huge difference in survivor descriptions. On the Lusitania, survival favored able-bodied men aged between 16 and 35, whose probability of surviving was 7.9 percent higher than that for all remaining passengers over 35 years old. On the Titanic, in contrast, the same group of men were 6.5 percent more likely to die than their elders. Children were 30.9 percent more likely to survive on the Titanic, compared with passengers over 35, while on the Lusitania children had no better survival chance. The main reason, according to Benno Torgler of Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia, is that simple adrenalin-driven survival instinct and bodily strength affected survival on the fast-sinking Lusitania. On the slow-sinking Titanic, by contrast, there was time for social norms of giving priority to women and children. Strikingly, women of all ages on the Titanic had a probability of survival 53 percent higher than for men, compared with an 11 percent higher chance of dying on the Lusitania. “People say you only care about yourself, but the analysis shows that people will sacrifice themselves,” says Torgler. “But time is crucial, because the elements that restart social interactions only emerge after time.” The results also support director James Cameron’s interpretation of events in his film Titanic – that wealth and social status regained its power after time, possibly through bribery (贿赂) or favors from the crew. First-class passengers on the Titanic had huge survival advantages unavailable on the Lusitania.1. What is the main idea of the passage?A)  The human instinct in time of disaster.B)  Men’s responsibilities in times of danger.C)  Similarities and differences between two ship sinkings.D)  Causes for passengers’ different behaviors in a ship sinking. 2. According to the passage, what is the main factor that affected people’s behavior in the sinking of the Titanic and the Lusitania?A)  The time it took the ships to sink. B)  The percentage of young passengers.C)  The intensity of people’s survival instinct.D)  The difference in wealth and social status.3. According to the passage, which of the following groups of passengers were more likely to survive on the Lusitania?A)  Stronger men. B)  Small children.C)  Elderly women.D)  Wealthy people.4. Which of the following statements is true according to Benno Torgler?A)  In times of danger people are selfish and will not sacrifice themselves.B)  In times of danger people will take care of others when given enough time. C)  People on the Titanic were more caring in nature than those on the Lusitania.D)  People on the Titanic had better social interactions than those on the Lusitania.5. What does the author mean by saying “First-class passengers on the Titanic had huge survival advantages non-existent on the Lusitania” in the last paragraph?A)  The Titanic had a huge number of first-class passengers.B)  The Lusitania offered no special service to first-class passengers.C)  First-class passengers on the Lusitania were more ready to help others.D)  First-class passengers on the Titanic received more help from the crew.