第6章 Lesson 6: The Seven Wonders of the Modern World
What are the most amazing things in the modern world? It is difficult to say, but a group of civil engineers have tried to answer this question.
Civil engineers are people who build big things such as airports, hydroelectric dams, and impressive buildings. The American Society of Civil Engineers wanted to compile a list of engineering achievements to honour our ability to create things that seem almost impossible to build. So in 1994, the organization asked people around the world to tell them what they thought were the seven wonders of the modern world. Here is the list of the greatest civil engineering feats of the 20th century:
Channel Tunnel
This underwater tunnel measures 50 kilometres and connects the United Kingdom with France in continental Europe.
CN Tower
As one of the world's tallest free-standing structures, this tower measures over 500 metres and weighs as much as 232,214 elephants!
Empire State Building
Built in 1930 in New York City, this building was the tallest in the world for 40 years.
Golden Gate Bridge
This is one of the world's most photographed bridges. Built in 1937, it was the world's longest and tallest suspension bridge for almost 30 years.
Itaipu Dam
At 8 km wide, this hydroelectric dam spans the Panama River between Brazil and Paraguay. It provides almost 75% of Paraguay's energy needs and 28% of southern Brazil's electric energy.
Netherlands North Sea Protection Works
Without this system of dams, floodgates, and storm surge barriers which make up the Netherlands tidal defences, most of the country would be underwater.
Panama Canal
Digging this canal through the Isthmus of Panama would have been the same as moving enough earth to open a five-metre-wide tunnel to the centre of the Earth!
I. Word List
impressive: amazing, incredible
compile: make something (like a list)
hydroelectric: turning water into electricity
II. What's the answer? Find short answers to these questions in the reading.
1. A country below sea level: The N _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
2. this bridge was built in 1937: G _ _ _ _ _ G _ _ _
3. this is the most famous canal in the world: P _ _ _ _ _
4. this building is in New York: E _ _ _ _ _ S _ _ _ _
5. this connects France and the United Kingdom: C _ _ _ _ _ _ T _ _ _ _ _
III. Answer the following questions.
1. Which wonder of the modern world would you most like to visit? Why?
___________________________________________________________.
2. Would you like to be a civil engineer? Why or why not?
___________________________________________________________.
3. Have you ever been to any of the places in this reading?
___________________________________________________________.
4. Tell about an amazing building or bridge in your country.
___________________________________________________________.
5. Which one of the seven wonders do you think was the most difficult to build? Why?
___________________________________________________________.
IV. Write T (true) or F (false) for each sentence.
___ 1. The Channel Tunnel is in the United States.
___ 2. The Empire State Building is in New York City.
___ 3. France is below sea level.
___ 4. The Golden Gate Bridge is now the tallest bridge in the world.
___ 5. The Itaipu Dam is in Europe.