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, 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 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.
参考译文
1858年,一位名叫埃梅.托梅.德.干蒙的法国工程 师带着建造一条长21英里、穿越英吉利海陕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。
New words and Expressions生词和短语
tunnel
n. 隧道
port
n. 港口
ventilate
v. 通风
chimney
n. 烟囱
sea level
海平面
double
adj. 双的
ventilation
n. 通风
fear
v. 害怕
invasion
n. 入侵,侵略
officially
adv. 正式地
connect
v. 连接
European
adj. 欧洲的
continent
n. 大陆
Lesson 64 自学导读First things first
课文详注 Further notes on the text1.a plan for a twenty-one-mile tunnel,建造一条长 21英里的隧道的计划。
twenty-one-mile作 tunnel的修饰语,注意 mile为单数。plan for +名词/动名词表示“……的计划”:
They always make plans for their holidays, but, in the end, they always stay at home.
他们总是为假期制订各种计划,但是,末了,他们总是呆在家里。
He came with a plan for (building) a bridge over the river.
他带来了在这条河上建一座桥的计划。
2.serve as,充当,起……的作用(也可以说 serve for)。
The books on the floor may serve as/ for a carpet.
地板上的书可充当地毯用了。
This sofa can serve as/ for(a) bed.
这张沙发可以当床用。
3.a better plan was put forward, 提出了一项更好的计划。
put forward为固定短语,可分开用,其含义之一是“提出(计划、建议等)”:
You know they wouldn't accept your plan. Why did you put it forward?
你知道他们不会接受你的计划。你为什么要提出来呢?
Has he put forward any suggestion?
他提出什么建议了吗?
4.He suggested that a double railway-tunnel should be built.他提
议建一条双轨隧道。
suggest后面跟从句时,从句的谓语动词形式为 should(可省略)+动词原形(cf.第63课语法):
He suggested (that) they (should) change the plans.
他建议他们改变计划。
suggest后面也可以跟名词或动名词形式。(cf.第47课词汇学习)
5.It was officially opened on March 7,1994, finally connecting Britain to the European continent.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。
现在分词 connecting 引导的短语相当于一个并列分句。connect表示“连接”、“连结”,可与to或with连用:
This road connects the willage with/to London.
这条公路连接着这个村子与伦敦。
The lake and the canal are connected by a river.
这个湖与运河之间由一条小河相连。
语法 Grammar in use
第3类条件句
(1)在第16课的语法中,我们学习了用第1类条件句表示将来很可能发生的事:
If you park your car in the wrong place, a traffic policeman will soon find it.
一旦你把汽车停错了地方,交通警便很快就会发现。
在第40课的语法中,我们学习了用第2类条件句谈论想像中的情况或描写完全不可能的事:
If you ate more and talked less, we would both enjoy our dinner!
如果你多吃点,少说点,我们两个都会吃得好的!
If I were you, I would not go to London tomorrow.
如果我是你,我明天就不去伦敦。(婉转的建议)
(2)第3类条件句的基本结构与前两类都不一样,if从句需用过去完成时,主句用 would have/should have+过去分词形式:
If it had rained, we would have stayed at home.
要是下雨,我们就会呆在家里了。
第3类条件句在if从句里设想纯粹想像的事情,在主句里讲述想像的结果。它与第2类条件句有一定的相似之处。但是,第3类条件句所谈的是没有或永远不可能有的结果,因为它们指的是过去没有过的事情。它们是所谓的“假设条件句”:
If I had worked harder at school, I'd have go a better job.
要是我上学时勤奋一些,我就会有较好的工作了。(事实是现在的工作不太好)
在 if从句中可用 could have+过去分词代替 had been able to +动词原形:
Why didn't you read the book yesterday?
你昨天为什么没有看这本书?
I'd have read it if I could have bought it!
如果咋夭我能买到这书我就会读的!
词汇学习 Word study
1.fear vt.
(1)害怕,畏惧:
If, at the time, the British had not feared invasion, the tunnel 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。
She fears speaking in public.
她害怕当众讲话。
(2)恐怕,猜想(比 be afraid要正式):
We fear/It is feared/ We're afraid that many lives have been lost in the crash.
在这次撞车事故中恐怕有许多人丢了性命。
I fear that she has lost her way in the forest.
我担心她在森林里迷路了。
2.动词 draw 的一些短语
动词draw的主要含义之一是“拉”、“拖”,它与不同的小品词连用可以有不同的含义。
(1)draw in,使……进入;吸入:
If a train entered the tunnel, it would draw in fresh air behind it.
如果有一列火车开进隧道,它就把新鲜空气随之抽了进来。
The smell of flowers in the shop drew us in.
花的香味使我们走进了这家商店。
(2)draw back,后退,后缩;收回,撤回:
If you take part in the race, you mustn't draw back.
你如果参加比赛,就一定不能退出/后退。
You must finish the work by yourselves now. They have drawn back their people.
你们得靠自己完成这项工作。他们已把他们的人员撤走了。
(3)draw up,停住,使……停住;起草,制订,拟订:
I was waiting for Jill in front of a shop when a taxi drew up beside me.
我正在一家商店门口等吉尔时,一辆出租车停在了我身边。
Have any new agreements been drawn up between the two countries?
这两个国家之间又签订什么新协议了吗?
(4)draw off,撤走,离开:
The villagers had to draw off because of the flood.
由于洪水的缘故,村民们不得不撤走。
When the others were talking loudly, he quietly drew off.
其他人大声交谈时,他悄悄地离开了。