Lesson 64 The Channel Tunne

Why was the first tunnel not completed?

In 1858, a French engineer, Aime Thome 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(用作充当=serve for) a port and a railway station. The tunnel would be well-ventilated（ 通风adj.） if tall chimneys were built above sea level. In 1860, a better plan was put forward提出byan Englishman, William Low. He suggested that a double railway-tunnel should be built.

(suggest,demand要求，recommend推荐等后面所接的that宾语从句中，谓语动词要用should+动词原形，should 常常省略，这是一种虚拟语气的结构)  This would solve the the problem of ventilation, for if a train entered this tunnel, it would draw in 吸进fresh air behind it. Forty-two years later a tunnel was actually begun. If, at the time, the British had not feared in vasion, it would have been completed.(非真实条件句，条件句用过去完成时,主句用would+have +过去分词) The would had to wait almost another 100 years for the Clhannel Tunnel. It was officially opened on March 7, 1994, finally connecting Britain to the European continent.

Summary writing

Answer these questions in not more than 85 words.

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 train solve the problem of ventilation in his proposed 被计划被提议double railway –tunnel?(because they  would)

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

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

The tunnel, which the French engineer, Aime Thome, planned to build under the English Channel in 1858, would be ventilated by tall chimneys built above sea level. An Englishman, William lowe, suggested a better plan two years later, Passing trains would solve the problem of ventilation in his proposed被设计打算提议double railway-tunnel because they would draw in fresh air behind them. Though work began forty-two years later, it was stopped because the British feared invasion. However, the tunnel was officially opened on March 7, 1994. (85 words)

Composition

Rewrite the following sentences using the joining words in parentheses:

1 The English Channel separates 使……%分离Britain from Europe. The country has not been invaded入侵 since 1066. (Thanks to…which)

2 Modern现代的近代的warfare战争冲突is far more complex复杂的.Such fears no longer exist生存.(However, now that…)

3 Britain benefits 福利收益enormously很大程度上from a Channel Tunnel. Europe benefits enormously from a Channel Tunnel. (Both…and)

1 Thanks to the English Channel which separates使分离Britain from Europe, the country has not been invaded since 1066.

2 However, now that modern warfare in far more complex, such fears no longer exist.

3 Both Britain and Europe benefit得益 enormously from a Channel Tunnel. 

 Letter writing

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

1 A former前任的teacher who has just got engaged保证约定.(get engage订婚)

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

3 A librarian who has sent you information会议概况you wanted.

4 An aunt you failed to meet for an appointment.

1 I am very glad to hear that you have been engaged.

2 Thank you very much for sending me a telegram on my birthday.

3 It’s very kind of you to send me information which I need badly.

4 Please forgive me for not Keeping my appointment with you.

Key structures

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

a Do you remember these sentences?

If he is out, I’ll call tomorrow.

You’ll miss the train if you don’t hurry.

If you went to the exhibition, you would enjoy it.

If I were in your position位置,I would act differently.

b Now study these sentences carefully:

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

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

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

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

Exercises

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

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

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

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

3 If, at the time, the British had not feared invasion, it had been completed (complete).

C Give the correct form of the verbs in parentheses:

1 If you had told me about it earlier, I would have been able (be able) to help you.

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

3 You would not have made (not make)such a mistake if you had been more careful

4 If father were(be) alive, he would be horrified惊骇的.

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

Special difficulties

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

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

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

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

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

Exercise

Choose the correct words in the following sentences:

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

up

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

back

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

up

Multiple choice questions

Comprehension

1William Low’s idea was better than de Gamond’s becarse ___.

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 centre of the Channel

c

2 Work on the Channel Tunnel___.

a began immediately after William Low outlined 概述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

c

Structure

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

c note: suggest只能加动名词短语或者是that +should +动词原形.

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

b

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

a would enter

b entered 

c will enter

d enters

b

7 People were___the idea of a Channel Tunnel.

a interesting in

b interested for

c interested in

d interesting for

c

Vocabulary

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

a air

b airing

c ventilation

d circulation流通的

c

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

a suggested

b intended

c aimed

d planted

a

10 British feared invasion. They were___it.

a in favour of

b afraid of

c prevented

d ended

b

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

a mixed

b joined together

c rejoined

d combined

b

l1 The tunntel has new been competed. It has been ___.

a The tunnel has now been completed. It has been ___.

a ended

b finished

c prevented

d stopped

b

Sentence Struture

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

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

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