READING (22) BUILDING SKILLS CAMBRIDGE PREPARATION FOR THE TOEFL® IBT TEST

 

CAMBRIDGE PREPARATION FOR THE TOEFL® IBT TEST BUILDING SKILLS READING (22)

 

EXERCISES R9-R14 Use Exercises R9-R14 to build your skills in understanding details and recognizing paraphrases in reading passages EXERCISE R9 Finding facts Read each passage and the statements that follow. Write T in the space if the statement is true according to the information in the passage. Write F in the space if the statement is false or if the information is not given in the passage. 1 The plan to join Britain to the European continent by boring a tunnel under the English Channel between Dover, England, and Calais, France, was originally proposed in the second half of the nineteenth century. The bill authorizing the work was rejected in 1883. The plan was again proposed in 1930 by many enthusiastic supporters. The tunnel was to be the longest ever made and an engineering wonder. However, the estimated cost, the military risks, and the doubt as to the feasibility of construction led to the rejection of the proposal in June 1930. Finally, in the 1980s, the proposal was accepted and tunnelling began. The great engineering feat was completed in 1994, and for the first time passengers could travel underwater between England and the European mainland. A _______ The plan to unite Britain with the European continent was proposed three times. B _______ The plan to unite Britain with the continent was rejected three times. C _______ It was believed by some that the tunnel posed a security threat. D _______ Some people did not believe that the tunnel was a viable idea in 1930s. E _______ The plan was rejected in 1883 because the people were bored. F _______ The construction of the tunnel led to the rejection of the proposal in 1930. G _______ The tunnel made in 1930 was the longest ever constructed. H _______ The predicted expense of the proposed tunnel was prohibitive in 1930. 2 3 4 5

ANSWER KEYS AND EXPLANATION