Halifax Explosion, 1917

On December 6th 1917, a French ship with a cargo of explosives collided with another ship in Halifax Harbour. The French ship, the SS Mont Blanc, started to burn and then it exploded. The ship was totally destroyed. The explosion started many fires in the city. Many buildings in Halifax were destroyed. Trees were bent and broken. Two thousand people died in the explosion or in the fires. About 9000 people were injured.

 Halifax is a city in Nova Scotia. During World War 1 Halifax was an important harbour and port town. It is large enough for big ships. It doesn’t freeze in the winter. War supplies such as food, weapons, explosives and soldiers were sent from Canada and the United States to Europe. Many of these supplies were sent by ship from Halifax. The SS Mont Blanc was one of these ships. The explosives that she was carrying were being shipped to Europe for the war

Vocabulary help:

• cargo (noun) - the goods carried by a ship, airplane, or other vehicle.
• collided (verb) past tense of to collide - to strike or bump into one another with force.
• during (preposition) - all through a certain period of time.
• explosion (noun) - the act or noise of breaking open with great force; burst. Bombs cause explosions.
• explosive (noun) - a substance that is able to cause an explosion.
• freeze (verb) - to make into ice because of cold temperatures.
• harbour (noun) - a safe area of water where people can leave their boats.
• injure (verb) - to harm or damage.
• port (noun) - a place where ships load, or the town near this place.
• weapon (noun) - an object used to attack or defend. Guns are weapons

More vocabulary?  Click on the icon that looks like a book, to the left

Comprehension Check:

Did you understand the story? Are these sentences true?

1. About 9000 people died in the Halifax Explosion. Yes or no? no
2. The SS Mont Blanc was carrying explosives. Yes or no?       yes
3. The SS Mont Blanc had just arrived from Europe. Yes or no? no
4. The city of Halifax has a large harbour. Yes or no?     yes
5. Halifax Harbour freezes in the winter. Yes or no?       no

Fill in the Blanks:

6. The city of Halifax is in _Nova Scotia_
7. The SS Mont Blanc was a ship from __French  _ . It was a __cargo__ ship.
8. War supplies are things like food, __wenpons__, __explosives__ and soldiers.
9. The SS Mont Blanc __collided__ with another ship in Halifax Harbour.
10. Many buildings and trees were __destroyed__ by the explosion.
11. About 9000 people were __injured__ by the explosion.