NCE英语-2Lesson 64 The Channel Tunnel 海峡隧道

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. 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。

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. 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。

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

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

This would solve the problem of ventilation, for if a train entered this tunnel, it would draw in fresh air behind it. 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。

Forty-two years later a tunnel was actually begun. If, at the time, the British had not feared invasion, it would have been completed. 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。

Recently, it has again a great interest in the idea of the chennel tunnel. if it is built,it will connect Britain to Europ for the firs time in history. 最近大家又对建设海峡隧道表示了极大的兴趣。 如果隧道建成了，它将有史以来第一次将英国与欧洲连接起来。

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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