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All B1 questions for “Master Third Conditional: Titanic Case Study – B1 Practice”, each with the correct answer and a short explanation. Try the interactive exercises above, then check your answers here.
1. If the captain _______ the warnings, he would have slowed down.
Answer: had heard
We use the Past Perfect (had + V3) in the if-clause.
2. The Titanic _______ the iceberg if it had turned earlier.
Answer: wouldn't have hit
We use 'would have + V3' in the result clause.
3. If they had had more lifeboats, more passengers _______.
Answer: would have survived
The result of a hypothetical past condition uses 'would have + V3'.
4. They would have stayed afloat if the damage _______ so severe.
Answer: hadn't been
The if-clause needs the negative Past Perfect 'hadn't been'.
5. If the Californian _______ closer, it could have rescued the survivors.
Answer: had been
The condition in the past requires 'had + V3'.
6. If the water _______ so cold, more people would have lived.
Answer: hadn't been
Past Perfect 'hadn't been' for the unreal past condition.
7. The Carpathia _______ sooner if it had received the signal earlier.
Answer: would have arrived
Result clause: 'would have + V3'.
8. What _______ if the ship hadn't sunk?
Answer: would have happened
Question form of the result clause: 'What + would + have + V3?'
1. _____ the iceberg warnings sooner, the tragedy might have been avoided. However, the warnings were lost in the noise of the busy radio room. If they had listened to the nearby ships, they _____ before it was too late. Unfortunately, the ship continued at high speed. It _____ the iceberg if the lookouts had had binoculars that night. The collision happened at 11:40 PM. More lifeboats _____ hundreds of lives if the design had been different. Experts believe that if the captain _____ the ice warnings, the ship would have survived the impact. If the regulations had been stricter, the company _____ forced to carry more boats. Many people ask 'what if?'. One small change _____ the course of maritime history forever. If the Californian had responded to the flares, it _____ many more people from the freezing water.
Answer: had received, would have slowed down, might have spotted, would have saved, had not ignored, would have been, would have changed, could have rescued
1. Which option does not belong?
Answer: If they would have seen it, they would have turned.
Never use 'would' in the 'if' clause. Use 'had + V3' instead.
2. Which option does not belong?
Answer: If she had found a boat, she would lived.
The result clause must be 'would have lived' (would have + V3).
3. Which option does not belong?
1. If _____
Answer: the ship hadn't hit an iceberg, it wouldn't have sunk.
2. If _____
Answer: the captain had seen the warnings, he would have slowed down.
3. If _____
Answer: they had had binoculars, they would have seen the iceberg in time.
4. The Carpathia _____
Answer: wouldn't have arrived late if it hadn't been 58 miles away.
5. More people _____
Answer: would have survived if the water hadn't been freezing.
6. If _____
Answer: the radio operator hadn't been busy, he wouldn't have missed the SOS signal.
1. Describe a lookout seeing the ship earlier.
2. What would a friend do if they had a secret?
3. Describe someone who arrived on time.
4. Describe a lucky outcome for the passengers.
5. Describe a change in the weather.
6. Describe avoiding the iceberg.
7. Describe someone attending an event.
8. What would a rescue ship do?
9. Describe someone having information earlier.
10. Describe a positive life outcome.
1. Question 1
Answer: If I would have known, I would have stayed.
'Would' belongs in the result clause, not the condition.
4. Which option does not belong?
Answer: It wouldn't have happened if it were earlier.
Use Past Perfect 'had been' for past hypotheticals, not 'were'.
5. Which option does not belong?
Answer: What would you have done if you were there?
The if-clause must use 'had been' to match the past hypothetical result.
6. Which option does not belong?
Answer: He would have been safe if he didn't jump.
Use 'hadn't jumped' (Past Perfect) for a past regret.
