[al:新概念英语（二）] [ar:MP3 同步字幕版（英音）] [ti:The Channel Tunnel] [by:更多学习内容，请到chazidian.com搜索“新概念”] [00:13.05]Why was the first tunnel not completed? [00:18.90]In 1858, a French engineer, [00:22.88]Aime Thome de Gamond, [00:26.93]arrived in England with a plan for a 21-mile tunnel under the English Channel. [00:35.53]He said that it would be possible to build a platform in the centre of the Channel. [00:41.24]This platform would serve as a port and a railway station. [00:46.64]The tunnel would be well-ventilated if tall chimneys were built above sea level. [00:53.84]In 1860, a better plan was put forward by an Englishman, William Low. [01:01.47]He suggested that a double railway-tunnel should be built. [01:06.11]This would solve the problem of ventilation for if a train entered this tunnel, [01:11.40]it would draw in fresh air behind it. [01:15.80]Forty-two years later a tunnel was actually begun. [01:20.80]If, at the time, the British had not feared invasion, [01:24.92]it would have been completed. [01:27.57]The world had to wait almost another 100 years for the Channel Tunnel. [01:33.90]It was officially opened on March 7, 1994, [01:38.59]finally connecting Britain to the European continent.