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64_The_Channel_Tunnel

64 The Channel Tunnel

In 1858, a French engineer, Aime Thome de Gamond, arrived in England with a plan for a 21-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 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 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.

1858年，一位名叫埃梅·托梅·德·干蒙的法国工程师带着建造一条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。

Words

  • Channel /ˈtʃænəl/ 海峡
  • serve /sɝv/ as /æz/ 充当
  • well-ventilated /ˌwɛl ˈvɛntlˌetɪd/ n. 通风
    1. What sort of ventilation system do you have here?（L63）
    2. I have been selling ventilation system to government for ten years.（L52）
  • chimneys /ˈtʃɪmniz/ n. 烟囱
    1. I have been cleaning the chimney since 9.（L52）
    2. He must have been cleaning the chimney yesterday afternoon.（L17）
    3. We need to build a chimney so that the smoke can go out.（L59）
    4. We must remove the chimney from your house.
  • level /ˈlɛvəl/ 海平面
    1. The village is 1,000 meters above sea level.
    2. It is said that most of the great cities are near sea level.（L58）
  • draw /drɔ/ 吸入
  • had /hæd/ not /nɑt/ feared /fɪrd/ 害怕
  • invasion /ˌɪnˈveʒən/ n. 侵略
    1. They had been preparing all night before the invasion started.（L62）
    2. He was killed in the invasion.（L10）
    3. Why are they talking about the invasion?
    4. A short time before, the invasion began.（L62）
  • officially /əˈfɪʃəli/ adv. 正式地
    1. There's nothing officially wrong with it.
    2. The park will be officially opened next weekend.
  • continent /ˈkɑntənənt/ 洲, 大陆
  • tunnel /ˈtʌnl/ n. 隧道
    1. in the tunnel…
    2. It got colder when we were in the tunnel.
    3. I just saw something moving in that tunnel.（L35）
    4. When he was young, he used to live in the tunnel.（L31）
  • port /pɔrt/ n. 港口
    1. Leo will be waiting for you at the port.（L31）
    2. The man who works at the port has a large circle of friends.（L28 L63）
    3. One of my closest friends had been working at the port for ten years before he met his wife.（L62）
  • double /ˈdʌbl/ v. 双的
    1. We could double our money.
    2. I am going to double your salary.
    3. They make all sorts of good double meat burgers.（L63）
    4. We need to double check all his work.
  • connect /kəˈnɛkt/ v. 连接
    1. Can I connect my printer to your computer?
    2. I know this is all connected to you.（L15）
    3. Leo has a large circle of friends and they are all connected with each other.（L63）

虚拟语气

结构: If 主 had done..., 主 would/could/ might/should + have done. 与过去事实相反

Expressions

  • it is possible to do sth. ... 做某事是可能的
  • a serve as b A 充当 B
  • put forward a plan... 提出计划
  • solve the problem of a... 解决……的问题