Unit 4 Reading
The first underground
in the world
2. What did Charles Holden do?
He designed the most famous of the
new stations constructed between 1918
and 1938.
1. When was the first underground
system opened?
In 1863.
3. Why was the Victoria Line important?
It was important because it linked with
other lines at almost every station,
helping make the system more user-
friendly.
Read again and answer.
1. Why was an underground system first
developed in London?
Most railway tracks did not go into the
London city centre, so buses, trams,
cabs and carriages were required. The
number of vehicles on the road caused
unbelievable traffic.
2. What was the London Underground
like in 1863?
The tunnels were just beneath he
surface of the ground. The carriages
did not have windows and were
pulled by steam engines through the
narrow tunnels.
3. What did Charles Yerkes do to improve
the underground system?
He obtained ownership of the many
different lines and set up the
Underground Electric Railways
Company of London.
4. What unusual uses did the tube have
during World War Ⅱ?
During World War Ⅱ, the tube was
used as a bomb shelter, an airplane
factory, a centre for directing the
defence against air attacks and meeting
rooms for the government
administration.
5. What happened to the London
Underground after World WarⅡ?
After World WarⅡ, the
underground system was enlarged
and more lines were added because
more people travelled on the
underground.
6. What does it mean when the brochure
says that the underground system is
user-friendly?
It means it is very convenient for
passengers to go to different places in
the city from any station.
The following years indicate the
important stages in the development
of the London Underground. Find
the information to match the years.
Dat
e
Event
185
4
186
3
186
8
An underground railway was
decided to be built.
The first tunnels were opened.
The next section of the underground
system was opened.
188
4
189
0
193
3
The underground service was
provided in the middle of the city.
The first railway tunnel under the
River Thames was dug.
The first electric underground
railway was opened.
The London Passenger Transport
Board was created.
191
8—
1938
1979
More new stations were
constructed.
The Jubilee Line was opened.
How many parts can the passage be
divided into? What does each part focus
on?
Part Para (s) Main idea
Part 1 Para__
_______ why the
first underground in
the world was
developed.
1
Reasons
Part 2 Para
s
___
_____________ of the
first underground
system before the
Second World War
Part 3 Para
__
Some ___________ of
the first underground
system during the
Second World War
2-4
5
Developments
unusual uses
Part 4
Paras
____
_________ and
_________ of the
first underground
system.
6-7
Expansion
popularity
Reading a tourist brochure
What are the main features of a brochure?
1. Dates/years in chronological order
2. Sometimes persons who have made
great contributions
3. Some historical events that have
influences
Work in groups and discuss.
1. Is there an underground system in
your city/town? If there is , do you
know its history? If there isn’t any,
do you think you need one?
2. What other transport systems are
there in your city/town?
3. Why are good transport systems
important?
Match the new words/ expressions with
the correct meanings.
the Answers of Section D :
1. ____ 2. ____ 3. _____ 4. _____
5. ____ 6. ____ 7. _____
d e
b
f c
g a
Complete the e-mail in Part E.
Answers:
1. __________ 2. _______
3. __________ 4. _______
5. __________ 6. _______
7. ___________
undertook
postponed section
tunnels
enlarged convey
user-friendly
Language points
1. have the distinction of 因…而优秀,卓越 L2
2. during the first half of the 19th century L3-4
3. traffic jam 交通阻塞 L8
4. lead to L9
5. give approval to 赞成,同意 L11
6. a large amount of money L15
7. pull through 渡过危机(难关),恢复健康 L18
8. link up 连接,联合 L21
9. at regular intervals 每隔一段 L24
10. accelerate the pace of 加快步伐 L28
11. far from L32
12. set up L35
13. under the authority of 在…掌管下 L39
14. function as 作为 L44
15. be used as 用作 L45
16. be linked with L51
17. in honor of L53
18. huge numbers of L55
19. why not do sth L59
20. permit sb. to do sth. L60
1. However, most trains to London only
went to the outer city limits, because
building railway tracks into the city
would have caused damaged many old
buildings. (P50 L4-6)
难句解析
句子结构分析:在这个复合句中,most
trains to London only went to the outer
city limits是主句;because building
railway tracks into the city would have
damaged many old buildings是原因状语
从句。to London和to the outer city都为
介词短语作定语,分别修饰trains和
railway tracks。
2. Unfortunately, the number
of vehicles on the road caused
unbelievable traffic jams, and the
roads became so busy that no one
could travel anywhere.
(P50 L7-9)
句子结构分析:此句为and连接起来
的并列句。第一个分句为一个简单句;
第二个分句为结果状语主从复合句, the
roads became so busy 是主句, that no
one could travel anywhere是结果状语从
句。
3. Travelling on these lines was not
convenient, though, as each line was
possessed by a different company, and
many were very far from each other.
(P50 L31-32)
1) 句子结构分析:Travelling on these
lines was not convenient, though为主句,
as each line was possessed by a different
company, and many were very far from
each other为原因状语从句;状语从句又
为由and连接的两个并列句。
2) 语言知识分析:
Travelling on these lines was inconvenient,
though意为“然而,搭乘这些线路很不方
便”,句子中的though为副词,意为“可
是,不过,然而”,常被置于句中或句末。
4. Having seen the situation, a wealthy
American businessman, Charles Yerkes,
undertook improving the system in 1902
by obtaining ownership of the many
different lines and setting up the
Underground Electric Railways
Company of London. (P51 L33-36)
1)句子结构分析:此句虽然很长,但实
际上是一个简单句。主干为a wealthy
American businessman undertook
improving the system。句首的Having
seen the situation为V-ing短语作状语;
Charles Yerkes为a wealthy American
businessman的同位语;后面的by
obtaining ownership ...是方式状语。
2) 语言知识分析:
Having seen the situation意为“看到这种
情况”。一般说来,V-ing形式作状语时,
逻辑主语为主句的主语,用完成式表示
其动作发生在主句谓语动词的动作之前。
5. A new line was used as an underground
airplane factory, an underground station
was used as a centre for directing the
defence against air attacks, and the
station nearest the Prime Minister’s
house was used by the Prime Minister as
meeting rooms for the administration of
government. (P51 L45-48)
句子结构分析:
此句为and连接起来的三个并列句。第
一个分句为A new line was used as an
underground airplane factory;第二个
分句为an underground station was used
as a centre for directing the defence
against air attacks ;
第三个分句为: the station nearest
the Prime Minister’s house was
used by the Prime Minister as
meeting rooms for the government
administration。