SECTION 3 Questions 28 — 40
Questions 28 — 33
The text on the following pages has 6 paragraphs (A — F).
Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number, i - ix, in boxes 28 - 33 on your answer sheet.
Saving People from the Sea
Paragraph A
Drowning claims an estimated 372,000 lives around the world each year. This is a conservative estimate and the actual number is likely to be much higher. More than 90 per cent of these drownings happen in low- and middle-income countries. Despite the scale of the problem, it is barely recognised and it's hard to believe that this is not yet a priority around the world. The UKbased Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is working to change that. Working in partnership with others, they are expanding their international work to provide communities with the knowledge, equipment and skills to try to reduce this staggering loss of life.
Paragraph B
The islands of Britain and Ireland have always been at the mercy of the sea. In the early 19th century, there was an average of 1800 shipwrecks a year around the coasts of Great Britain, with many sailors drowned. This danger was a tolerated part of life on board. Rescue services did exist in some places — there are records of a rescue boat stationed in Liverpool from 1730. In Bamburgh, Northumberland, men from the local castle patrolled the shore on horseback, ready to go to sea in their 'unimmergible' coble — the first purpose-built lifeboat, designed by Lionel Lul<in.A 1789 competition, run by a group of businessmen from Newcastle, sought designs for rescue boats. One of the entries, from William Wouldhave, was designed to self right. Boat builder Henry Greathead was asked to build a lifeboat combining the best features of Lukin's and Wouldhave's plans, and came up with a vessel called the Original. Within 20 years, he had built more than 30 of these lifeboats, and they were soon saving lives all around Great Britain.
Paragraph C
Sir William Hillary is credited with founding the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. After witnessing the destruction of dozens of ships from his home on the Isle of Man, and getting involved in rescue attempts himself, Hillary appealed to the Navy, the government and other 'eminent characters' for help in forming 'a national institution for the preservation of lives and property from shipwreck'. With the support of London Members of Parliament (MP) and businesses, the Institution was founded as a charity on 4 March 1824. Hillary in fact took part in a rescue himself in 1830, at the age of 60. The packet St George had foundered on rocks at the entrance to Douglas harbour. Hillary commanded the lifeboat and was even washed overboard with others of the lifeboat crew. Finally, however, everyone aboard the St George was rescued with no loss of life.
Paragraph D
When Sir William Hillary first issued his appeal to the British nation in 1823, he sent it out to the Navy and government. He gained great sympathy, but not much cash! It was MP Thomas Wilson who suggested asking wealthy philanthropists to support the fledgling lifeboat service.Obtaining money in 1824 was very successful, bringing in almost £10,000, but the impetus soon stagnated and, by 1849, income had dropped to £354. Efforts in the mid-19th century were focused on the wealthy, and it wasn't until the late 1880's that the RNLI realised how generous the general public could be. Following a tragic disaster in 1886, a public appeal was launched that raised £10,000 in 2 weeks. A little later, there was the first 'Lifeboat Saturday'. Bands, floats and lifeboats paraded through the streets of Manchester, followed by volunteers with collecting buckets and purses on poles. More than £5,000 was taken on the day, which was the first recorded example of a charity street collection.
Paragraph E
For the RNLI's first 100 years or so, lifeboats were mostly put to sea and brought in from their local beaches. In many communities, hauling the lifeboat was done by women, as most of the men were on board, though farmers often loaned their horses to help bear the weight. Lifeboats were frequently dragged for long distances before putting to sea to minimise the time at sea in rough conditions. In 1899, the lifeboat in the village of Lynmouth, Devon, was hauled 10 miles by a team of 50 to 60 people and 18 horses to go to the aid of a vessel in distress in another bay. These days, most large, all-weather lifeboats are designed to go to sea from a slipway, or to lie afloat. But leaving land from the beach is still common, especially with the smaller, inshore lifeboats. Specially adapted tractors are now used to do the hauling.
Paragraph F
The way in which the public uses the sea has changed dramatically since the RNLI's foundation. More individuals are using the water for leisure, so the RNLI has had to change accordingly. In 2001, RNLI lifeguards began patrolling some of the most popular beaches in England and now lifeguards patrol over 200 beaches around the UK, rescuing thousands of people every year and providing first aid and safety advice. This 'prevention-rather-than-cure' approach also helps the RNLI's Coastal Safety and Education teams save lives by preventing people from getting into danger in the first place. Also in 2001, the RNLI's first station on an inland waterway was established in Northern Ireland. Environmental change has increased demand too. The Flood Rescue Team was formed in 2000 to respond to floods anywhere in the UK or Ireland within 6 hours. The RNLI also has an international Flood Rescue Team that can deploy anywhere in the world within 24 hours.
i Fundraising
ii Government Support
iii A Developing Service
iv A Global Issue
v A Lesson from America Early Lifesavers and their Craft
vi New Training Facilities
vii Launching
viii The Beginning of the RNLI
