### Lesson 2. The Channel Tunnel

Getting ready for the task:

• Can you get to an island by car/by train/by boat/by plane/by bus or by bicycle?
• Is it good to live on an island?

Key words:

to dig - make a hole in the ground
drill - a tool or a machine with a pointed end for making holes
tunnel - passage built underground
cost - value
rail - a wooden or metal bar placed around smth as a barrier on which trains run over
to link - to associate, connect
wonder - mystery
1

PW. Listen to the dialogue and widen looking through the Fact File below. Act it out.

Shahin: Where are you going, Bella?
Bella: We’re going to London Waterloo Station. The train to Paris is at ten o’clock from there.
Shahin: A train?! But England is an island!
Bella: Don’t you know about the Channel Tunnel?
Shahin: Oh, yes, I’ve heard about it. Good luck, Bella! I’ll remember you.
Bella: I’ll write to you! Don’t forget to keep in touch! Here is my address, take it.
Shahin: Bye-bye! See you again.

Fact File

The Channel Tunnel is one of the world’s largest mega projects. It was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II and French President Francois Mitterrand on 6 May 1994. It’s the second longest rail tunnel and the longest undersea tunnel in the world. It is approximately 23.55 miles. It was operated by Eurotunnel and Eurostar. The Tunnel is now classified as one of the seven wonders of the modern world.

LISTEN AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS!
Listen to the passage and answer the following questions.

1. What is the passage mainly about?
   A) a private company
   B) the world’s mega projects
   C) the British government
   D) the French government
   E) the Channel Tunnel
2. What is not mentioned according to the passage?
   A) The Tunnel project was started in 1964.
   B) First a British engineer made a plan for the Tunnel.
   C) The Tunnel is a mega project.
   D) A private company gave money for the Tunnel.
   E) The Tunnel project was closed in 1975
3. Choose the correct statement according to the passage.
   A) The Tunnel project cots ten thousand pounds.
   B) The Tunnel was officialy opened in 1984.
   C) Fifteen million workers built the tunnel.
   D) The tunnel is approximately five kilometres long
   E) It’s the longest undersea tunnel in the world.
4. Answer the question according to the passage.
   Why did the British and the French governments close the project in 1975?
5. Complete the sentence according to the passage.
   The biggest problem for builders was … .