Lesson 64

In 1858, a French engineer, Aimé Thomé 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·加蒙的法国工程师带着在英吉利海峡下修建一条21英里长隧道的计划抵达了英国。
He said that it would be possible to build a platform in the centre of the Channel.
他说在海峡中心建造一个平台是可能的。
This platform would serve as a port and a railway station.
这个平台将作为一个港口和火车站。
The tunnel would be well-ventilated if tall chimneys were built above sea level.
如果高大的烟囱被建造在海平面之上，这条隧道将会通风良好。
In 1860, a better plan was put forward by an Englishman, William Low.
1860年，英国人威廉·洛提出了一个更好的计划。
He suggested that a double railway-tunnel should be built.
他建议应该建造一条双线铁路隧道。
This would solve the problem of ventilation, for if a train entered this tunnel, it would draw in fresh air behind it.
这将解决通风问题，因为如果一列火车进入这个隧道，它将吸入身后的新鲜空气。
Forty-two years later a tunnel was actually begun.
四十二年后，一条隧道真的开始动工了。
If, at the time, the British had not feared invasion, it would have been completed.
如果在那个时候英国人没有恐惧入侵，这件事本可以完成。
The world had to wait almost another 100 years for the Channel Tunnel.
世界不得不为英吉利海峡隧道又等待了几乎100年。
It was officially opened on March 7, 1994, finally connecting Britain to the European continent.
它于1994年3月7日正式开放，最终将英国与欧洲大陆连接起来。