Lesson 64  The Channel Tunnel 海峡隧道

 

First listen and then answer the question.

听录音，然后回答以下问题。

Why was the first tunnel not completed?

In 1858, a French engineer, Aimé Thomé de Gamond, arrived in England with a plan for a twenty－one－mile tunnel under the English Channel. He said that it would be possible to build a platform in the centre of the Channel. This platform would serve as a port and a 5  railway station. The tunnel would be well－ventilated if tall chimneys were built above sea level. In 1860, a better plan was put forward by an Englishman, William Low. He suggested that a double railway tunnel should be built. This would solve the problem of ventilation,for if a train entered this tunnel, it would draw in fresh air behind it. Forty－two years later a tunnel was actually 10  begun. If,at the time, the British had not feared invasion, it would have been completed. The world had to wait almost another 100  years for the Channel Tunnel. It was officially opened on March 7,1994,finally connecting Britain to the European continent.

 

New words and expressions 生词和短语

 

tunnel(title)/'t)nl/n.隧道

fear(1.10)/fi+/v.害怕

port(1.4)/p&:t/n.港口

invasion(1.10)/in'veiN+n/n.入侵，侵略

ventilate(1.5)/'ventileit/v.通风

officially(1.11)/+'fiM+li/adv. 正式地

chimney(1.6)/'tMimni/n.烟囱

connect(1.12)/k+'nekt/v. 连接

sealevel(1.6)/'si:-?lev+l/海平面

European(1.12)/?ju+r+'pi:+n/adj.欧洲的

double(1.7)/'d)b+l/adj. 双的

continent(1.12)/'k&ntin+nt/n. 大陆

ventilation(1.8)/?venti'leiM+n/n. 通风

 

Notes on the text 课文注释

  

1  a plan for a twenty－one-mile tunnel under the English Channel, 建造一条长21英里、穿越英吉利海峡的隧道计划， for a… Channel是介词短语，作定语，修饰名词 plan。

2  serve as…，用作……，充当……，与 serve for同义。

3  a better plan was put forward, 提出了一项更好的计划， put forward提出(计划、建议等)。

4  He suggested that a double railway-tunnel should be built. 他提议建造双轨隧道。在英文中，动词 suggest，demand， recommend等后面所接的 that宾语从句中，谓语动词要用should+动词原形，而should又常常省略，这是一种虚拟语气的结构。

5  If, at the time, the British had not feared invasion, it would have been completed. 如果不是因为那时英国人害怕入侵，隧道早就建成了。这是英语中的虚拟语气。虚拟语气所表述的不是一个事实，而只是一种假设或愿望，常伴有if引导的非真实条件句。以上的这句话是对大战期间所发生的事情的一种假设，而这种假设与事实不符。因此，在条件句中要用过去完成时 had not feared，而主句中则要用 would+ have+ 过去分词。

参考译文

185B年，一位名叫埃梅·托梅·德·干蒙的法国工程师带着建造一条长21英里、穿越英吉利海峡的隧道计划到了英国。他说，可以在隧道中央建造一座平台，这座平台将用作码头和火车站。如果再建些伸出海面的高大的烟囱状通风管，隧道就具备了良好的通风条件。1860年，一位名叫威廉·洛的英国人提出了一项更好的计划。他提议建一条双轨隧道，这样就解决了通风问题。因为如果有一列火车开进隧道，它就把新鲜空气随之抽进了隧道。42年以后，隧道实际已经开始建了。如果不是因为那时英国人害怕入侵，隧道早已建成了。世界不得不再等将近100年才看到海峡隧道竣工。它于1994年3月7日正式开通，将英国与欧洲大陆连到了一起。

Summary writing摘要写作

Answer these questions in not more than 85 words.

回答下列问题，将答案组成一个段落，不要超过85个单词。

1  Who planned to build a tunnel under the English Channel in 1858? How would it be ventilated? (The tunnel, which…)

2  Who suggested a better plan two years later?

3  How would passing trains solve the problem of ventilation in his proposed double railway－tunnel? (because they would)

4  Did work begin forty－two years later or not? Why was it stopped? (Though…because)

5  When was the Channel Tunnel officially opened? (However)

Composition作文

Rewrite the following sentences using the joining words in parentheses:

用括号中的连词改写以下句子：

1  The English Channel separates Britain from Europe. The country has not been invaded since1066. (Thanks to…which)

2  Modern warfare is far more complex. Such fears no longer exist.(However, now that…)

3  Britain benefits enormously from a Channel Tunnel. Europe benefits enormously from a Channel Tunnel. (Both…and)

Letter writing书信写作

Write opening sentences which would be suitable for letters to the following:

为以下书信写出恰当的开头语：

1  A former teacher who has just got engaged.

2  A friend who has sent you a telegram on your birthday.

3  A librarian who has sent you information you wanted.

4  An aunt you failed to meet for an appointment.

Key structures关键句型

If the British had not feared invasion, it would have been completed.

a  Do you remember these sentences:

真实和非真实条件句：

If he is out, I'll call tomorrow.(KS16)（参见第16课关键句型）

You'll miss the train if you don't hurry. (KS16)（参见第16课关键句型）

If you went to the exhibition,  you would enjoy it.(KS40)（参见第40 课关键句型）

If I were in your position, I  would act differently. (KS40)（参见第 40课关键句型）

b  Now study  these  sentences carefully:

仔细阅读以下句子：

You would have missed the train if you had not hurried.

如果你当时不赶紧的话，你就会赶不上火车的。

If you had gone to the exhibition,  you would have enjoyed it.

如果你去过那个展览的话，你就会享受到它的乐趣的。

If I had been in your position, I would have acted differently.

如果我当时处在你的位置上，我会采用不同的作法的。

If you could have made him change his mind, you would have saved him a lot of trouble.

如果你当时能使他改变想法，你就会使他免遭许多麻烦。

Exercises练习

A  How many sentences in the passage contain the word if? Study the form of the verbs in these sentences.

课文中有几个包含if的句子？注意其中动词的时态。

B  Give the correct form of the verbs in parentheses. Do not refer to the passage until you finish the exercise:

用正确的动词填空，完成练习后再对照课文核对你的答案：

1  The tunnel would be well－ventilated if tall chimneys________(be) built above sea level.

2  If a train entered this tunnel, it_______(draw)in fresh air behind it.

3  If, at the time, the British had not feared invasion, it_______(complete).

C  Give the correct form of the verbs in parentheses:

用正确的动词填空：

1  If you had told me about it earlier, I________(be able) to help you.

2  If you_______(can/come) with us, we would have been pleased.

3  You_________(not make) such a mistake if you had been more careful.

4  If father_______(be) alive, he would be horrified.

5  If it_______(be) fine tomorrow, we shall go for a swim.

Special difficulties难点

The verb draw has a different meaning in each of these sentences. Study them carefully:

动词draw在以下句子中的含义各不相同。仔细阅读以下例句：

If a train entered this tunnel, it would draw in fresh air behind it.(1.9)

The dog drew back in terror  when it saw  the snake.

当那条狗看见蛇时，它就恐惧地退了回来。

A taxi drew  up outside the  bank. (It stopped.) Two men  got out  and then  the taxi drew off.(It went away.)

一辆出租车停在银行外面，两个男人下了车，然后车开走了。

A new trading agreement was drawn up between Holland and Denmark. (A new agreement was made.)

荷兰和丹麦签署了一项新的贸易协定。

Exercise练习

Choose the correct words in the following sentences:

选择正确的词：

1  We shall have to draw(in)(up) a new plan.

2  When I recognized who he was I drew(back)(up)in horror.

3  The car drew(back)(up) outside the cinema.

Multiple choice questions多项选择题

Comprehension理解

1  William Low's idea was better than de Gamond's because _______.

(a) it was cheaper

(b) there were no chimneys in his plan

(c) his tunnel would be better ventilated

(d) it wouldn't be necessary to build a platform in the center of the Channel

2  Work on the Channel Tunnel _______.

(a) began immediately after William Low outlined his plan

(b) never began

(c) began a long time after William Low put up his plan

(d) began recently when William Low put up his plan

Structure句型

3  It would be possible to build a platform. A platform _______.

(a)could build

(b)would be built

(c)could be built

(d) would build

4  He suggested _______a double railway tunnel.

(a) to build

(b) build

(c) building

(d) that building

5  This would solve the problem. That's how the problem_______ solved.

(a)would been

(b)would be

(c)would have been

(d)had been

6  If a train _______this tunnel, it would draw in fresh air behind it.

(a)would enter

(b)entered

(c)will enter

(d)enters

7  People were_______ the idea of a Channel Tunnel.

(a)interesting in

(b) interested for

(c) interested in

(d) interesting for

Vocabulary词汇

8  The tunnel would be well ventilated. It would have good _________.

(a)air

(b)airing

(c)ventilation

(d)circulation

9  A plan was put forward by William Low. He _______it.

(a)suggested

(b)intended

(c)aimed at

(d)planned

10  The British feared invasion. They were _____it.

(a) in favour of

(b) afraid of

(c) prevented

(d)ended

11  It finally connects Britain and Europe. Britain and Europe are finally _______.

(a)mixed

(b)joined together

(c)rejoined

(d)combined

12  The tunnel has now been completed. It has been _______.

(a)ended

(b)finished

(c)prevented

(d)stopped

Sentence structure句子结构

Make two sentences of the following, then check your answer against  the  text.

将下列句子改写成两句话，然后对照课文第6－8行，核对你的答案。

In 1860, a better plan was put forward by an Englishman, William Low, who suggested that a double railway-tunnel  should be built.