ON) | iB 1 6 The Channel Tunnel LESSON BD Me Curren acerca) Listen to the recording, and then answer this question: 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 5 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 10 Englishman, William Low. He suggested that a double railway-tunnel should be built. This would solve the problem of ventilation, for ifa train centered this tunnel, it would draw in fresh air behind it. 15 Forty-two years later, a tunnel was actually begun, If, at the time, the British had not feared invasion, it would have been completed. 1994 yet ss ‘The world had to wait almost another 100 years for the Channel Tunnel. It was officially opened 20 on March 7, 1994, finally connecting Britain to the European continent. 92Guided Conversation © Answer questions about the text. Example: When did Aimé Thomé de Gamond arrive in England? In 1858. 1 Was he an engineer or an astronaut? 2 What nationality was he? 3 What did he have a plan for? 4 What did he say it would be possible to build in the centre of the Channel? 5 What would this platform serve as? 6 How would the tunnel be ventilated? © Ask questions about the text. 7 Who put forward a better plan? 8 He wasn't French, was he? 9 What did he suggest should be built? 10 What problem would this solve? 11. What would happen if train entered this tunnel? 12 When was a tunnel actually begun? Example: Aimé Thomé de Gamond was French. (What nationality?) i) Was imé Thomé de Gamond French? ii) What nationality was Aimé Thomé de Gamond? 1 He was an engineer. (What?) (Who?) 2 He came to England in 1858. (When?) 8 He had a plan for a tunnel, (What ... for?) 4 It would be twenty-one miles long. (How long?) 5 It would cross the English Channel. (What?) @ Tell the story, using these key words. 1 1858 — French — 21-mile tunnel — Channel 2 possible — build a platform — centre 3 serve as — port — railway station 4 ventilated — chimneys — above sea level 5 1860 — Low — suggested — double railway © Guided summary. Wi paragraph of not more than 85 words. 6 A platform could be built in the centre of the Channel. (Where?) (What?) 7 The platform would serve as a port. (What?) 8 It would also serve as a railway station. (What else?) 9 Ventilation would be a problem. (What?) 6 ventilation — train — draw in — air 7 42 years later — tunnel — begun 8 British — feared invasion — completed 9 wait — 100 — tunnel 10 opened — March 7, 1994 — connecting a complete sentence in answer to each question, to make a 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 ver rallway-tunnel? (because they would) lation in his proposed double 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) © Talk about you. 1 Do you think that there are any advantages in living on an island in the modern world? Why? / Why not? 2 How would you fee! about being in a twenty-one-mile-long tunnel under the sea? Does the idea worry you? Why? / Why not? 3 What difficulties do we face, when we want to build a modern transport system under a big moder city? Give some examples. 93