Intonation is the rise and fall in the pitch or tone of your voice as you read aloud. Use this passage to practice reading with proper intonation. Print a copy of this passage from InsideNG.com to help you monitor your progress.
Titanic was the largest ship in the world—as long as four city blocks. Many people called it the “wonder ship.” It was like a floating palace, with a swimming pool, carved wood, and fancy gold lights. It also had many rich and famous passengers who wanted to be the first to ride on this great ship.
Titanic set off for New York. At first, the ride was like a party. By April 14, the ship was in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. That night, the weather was clear, and stars twinkled against the dark sky. On the ship, people danced late into the night. No one knew that danger was near.
Shortly before midnight, a sailor on lookout saw something in the darkness. He knew it could be only one thing. It was an iceberg, a floating mountain of ice. The sailor raised the alarm : “Iceberg ahead!” Next, the crew tried to turn Titanic away from the iceberg, but it was too late. Finally, the ship scraped along the ice.
The problem did not seem too bad at first. Then water started pouring into the ship, and nothing could stop it. The ship was going to sink!