Objectives
Learn how the English and the French looked at the Chunnel before and after it was constructed.
Learn the importance of the Chunnel.
Learn some new words, phrases and sentence structures.
I. Introduction to the Chunnel
1802-1875: some proposals, lacking technology and geological knowledge
1875-1963: some schemes and trials, financial problem and fear of a French invasion
1963-late 1980’s: overcoming problems in politics, management, and finance*
1994: it started operations in May 6.
Two single-track rail tunnels, and a central service tunnel, each about 50km long.
About 38km of the Chunnel under the English Channel, a depth of 25m-45m below the seabed.
III. Organization of the text
Para 1---- The author stated the topic of the report directly: the English Channel Tunnel
Para 2-6---- English and French local residents didn’t like each other and didn’t want to linked with each other by the Channel due to the long-lasting Anglo-French conflict.
Para 7-8---- On May 6, 1994 Queen Elizabeth of Britain and President Francois Mitterrand inaugurate the Chunnel.
Para 9-21--- The author made a real-time account of the exciting work at the breakthrough site of the Chunnel.
III. Language points:
1. compound adjectives
1) the soon-to-be-opened English Channel Tunnel ---- that is to be opened soon
e.g. an easy-to-perform trick
a difficult-to-use camera
the soon-to-be-completed Metro
2) Gull-wing----like the wings of the gull
e.g. a baby-food store
a mountain-top hut
city-reconstruction discussions
3) Cross-Channel-link ----building a link that crosses the Channel
e.g. a keep-fit-class schedule
a cross-border-raid threat
4) 31-mile-long
e.g. a ten-year-old boy
a three-inch-thick book
a 3-hour-long journey
2. I’d rather England become the 51st state….
I’d rather you stayed with us over the weekend.
He’d rather John hadn’t called on him.
3. …, the entente was scarcely more cordiale.
entente: understanding
cordiale : friendly
= the understanding on the other side of the Channel was hardly more friendly. Or the understanding was just as unfriendly.
4.a village a beet field away form the French terminal
= a village which is only a short distance away form the French terminal
5. A tiny explosion of air from pursed lips, then the coup de grace.
pursed lips 噘起的嘴
Coup de grace : (French) a decisive finishing blow 致命的一击
6. … by grace of one of the engineering feats of the century, for richer or poorer, better or worse, England and France are getting hitched.
Thanks to one of the remarkable construction achievement of the 20th century, whether one likes it or not, England and France are on the way of getting geographically connected.
7. The Chunnel rewrites geography, at least in the English psyche. The moat has been breached. Britain no loner is and island.
As far as the British are concerned, the Chunnel has changed the geographical pattern which long separated Britain from Continental Europe.
8. a service tunnel : a tunnel for the use of motorists
9.through service : train service that goes directly from one place to another直达车
10.pack … into: cause to crowd into…
The passengers packed into the train as soon as it pulled up at the station.
11. a work in progress: a work under construction
12. vive la difference: (French) Long live the differences
13. “And there are 56 million more behind them,” he replies.
And soon the whole French population will take the Chunnel transport and come over to visit Britain.
14.Après le tunnel, le déluge?
(French) After (the completion of) the tunnel, a flood (of people using the Chunnel)?
15 … “we will work on selling the idea.”
We will promote the Chunnel transport business by informing people of the benefits that this new means of transport will bring them.
IV. Discussion
Talk with your partner about the differences between Englishmen and Frenchmen, or between the two countries: likes and dislikes, different foods, dresses, ways of naming, etc.下载本文
