Exercise 36. Read the text quickly and decide which structure it describes.
a) The Hoover Dam
b) The Arlberg Tunnel
с) The Channel Tunnel
d) The Golden Gate Bridge
The ... is between Britain and France. It's more than 20 kilometres long. It was built by British and French engineers. They started on opposite sides and met in the middle under the sea. They used specially-designed tunnel boring machines (TBMs) to dig the tunnels through the rock under the seabed. TBMs are enormous machines for digging tunnels. The machines used to dig the main tunnels were about 8.5 metres in diameter and 250 metres long. Work started in 1987 and the teams met under the seabed in 1991. It is a rail tunnel. The first passenger train went through in 1994.
Exercise 37. Read the text again and answer the questions (1-9) below.
1. Where is it?
2. What is it?
3. How long is it?
4. Who built it?
5. How did they build it?
6. What are TBMs?
7. How big are TBMs?
8. How long did it take to build?
9. When did it open?
Exercise 38. First, underline the question words in Exercise 3. Then use them to complete these questions.
1. _____ many Roman roads are there in Europe?
2. _____ designed St Paul's Cathedral in London?
3. _____ is the name of the famous bridge in San Francisco?
4. _____ was the Eiffel Tower built?
5. _____ is the Corinth Canal?
Exercise 39. Complete the texts by putting one word in each space. Use the words in the box. Check the meaning of any new words in the glossary or your dictionary.
| ■across ■ around ■ between ■ over ■ through ■ under |
The Panama Canal is a 64km waterway (1)__________ the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Before the canal was opened, ships had to travel thousands of miles (2) ____________ South America. To build the canal, engineers had to dam a major river, and dig a channel (3) ______________ a mountain ridge.
Tower Bridge is an openable bascule bridge, designed by Horace Lones in 1886. It goes (4) ___________ the River Thames in London. Thousands of vehicles drive (5) ________ it every day. Tall ships cannot pass (6) _____ Tower Bridge, instead, the roadway parts and lifts to let them through.
Exercise 40. Write questions about a building, tunnel, or dam. Use who, what,when, where, and how. Make sure you know the answers!
For example: How old is it? Where is it?
Exercise 41. Work with a partner. Ask and answer the questions you wrote in Exercise 6.
Exercise 42. Find out about a major new engineering project. Where is it? What will it do? What problems do the engineers have to solve to build?
Text 7. Gadgets
Exercise 43. Read the descriptions (A-D) of following things.
A. Letter opener clock
Desktop clock, thermometer, calendar, and letter opener
This gadget has got lots of helpful information -with the added benefit automatic electric letter opener. The LCD display shows date, time, and temperature in °C or °E In addition there is an alarm clock, a calculator, and the times in 15 cities around the world. Letter opener uses2xAA batteries (not supplied). 5.5x 12x 9.5cm.
B. Radio pen
Sounds as good as it writes
This pen looks beautiful, feels great to write with – but it sounds better in the ears. It`s got a secret radio in the top! Wear the earphones and enjoy music while you work. Button batteries included. 14 cm.
C. Feet washer
The best thing for your feet
Designed for shower or bath, this vinyl mat cleans and massages your feet - and you don't need to bend down or stand on one leg! Suction cups hold it safety while you stand on the 1,500 relaxing 'fingers'. 2.5 x 14.5 x 27.5cm.
D. Bed Glasses
How to read or watch TV - flat on your back
These glasses are perfect for sick people who must stay in bed, or for people who like to relax with a book or watch TV while lying flat on the floor or sofa. The plastic frame contains two glass prisms that deflect your vision by 90°. The lenses first-class and you can wear them over your normal glasses.
Exercise 44. Read the texts (A-D) again and match the sentences (1-6) below with the gadgets.
1. These two don`t need batteries .
2. This does two things.
3. You use this standing up.
4. You use these lying down.
5. This can tell you how hot it is.
6. You get free batteries with this.