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7.3
BUILDING BRIDGES
READING
1
Do you recognise the bridges in the photos? What is
the most impressive bridge in your country?
2
Read the introduction to the article. Which of these
reasons account for the importance of bridges?
1
They are essential for transporting goods and trade.
2
They have military significance.
3
They bring beauty into our lives.
4
They symbolise people or places.
5
They give people more belief in their ability to
achieve things.
3
Read the rest of the article and answer the
questions.
1
Which bridge offers the chance of refreshment for
visitors?
2
Which was difficult and dangerous to build?
3
Which has persuaded some people to emigrate?
4
Which was designed to create an unusual impression?
4
Comparing features
Read the article again and make
notes. Compare the bridges in terms of age, length and
use.
VOCABULARY
IDIOMS, PREFIXES
5
Read the introduction again. Complete the
sentences with the correct form of the idioms in
the article.
1
I’m not leaving this job till I’ve got something to go
to. I don’t want to
.
2
We don’t need to look at the problem of falling sales
yet. Let’s
.
3
Don’t worry about it anymore. It’s
.
4
I’ve had a few arguments with colleagues. If I want
to get promoted, I need to
.
6
a
Look at the words in the box. Underline the
prefixes, then match them with meanings 1–4.
indisputable misjudge overcome revitalise
immovable
1
again
2
not (x2 prefixes)
3
wrongly
4
be too strong / too much
6
b
Add prefixes to the words to change the meaning.
1
important
2
understand
3
crowded
4
significant
5
define
6
sensitive
B
ridges have played a vital part in human existence
for many thousands of years, allowing people to
overcome the problem of crossing rivers, gorges and
even seas and allowing them to trade and explore.
Bridges also have strategic importance in battles, the last
line of defence for a city.
It isn’t surprising, then, that bridges are often used as a
metaphor for our lives. We put off dealing with problems
by saying “Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it.”
We can “burn our bridges” by leaving a job or city to make
a new start. We can also “build bridges” with people, the
bridge being a metaphor for a friendship. Finally, we can
bring an argument to an end by saying that our differences
are all ‘water under the bridge’ – flowing away while our
friendship, like a bridge, stands solid and immovable.
What is indisputable is that some of the most famous, most
important and most impressive structures in our world
today are bridges. Many cities are instantly recognisable
from their most famous bridges. Think of Tower Bridge in
London, Sydney Harbour Bridge or the Ponte Vecchio in
Florence. Here are some more worth mentioning.
•
The Puente Nuevo Bridge in Ronda is one of Spain’s
most popular tourist attractions. It was started in the
middle of the eighteenth century but it took 40 years
to complete before it was finally opened in 1793. The
new bridge was needed to revitalise trade but building
Alamillo Bridge
Alamillo Bridge
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
BRIDGING THE GAP
