口语进阶一般为更资深的英语学习者准备，包括对词汇的了解，对语态的理解等。下面请结合mp3以及下方的原文和翻译，开始今天的口语进阶练习吧！

原文及翻译

During the 20th century, there were great improvements in engineering technology. These new developments allowed the construction of many amazing tunnels, bridges, towers, and office buildings. For centuries, people had dreamed about the possibility of connecting the island of Great Britain to the mainland of Europe. 

20世纪，工程技术有了很大的进步。这些新发展使得许多令人惊叹的隧道、桥梁、塔楼和办公楼得以建造。几个世纪以来，人们一直梦想着将大不列颠岛与欧洲大陆连接起来。

However, it was only in 1994 that such a link was completed when a tunnel was dug under the English Channel between England and France. The Channel Tunnel, also known as the Tunnel, actually consists of three separate railway tunnels. These tunnels are about 50 kilometers long and are located about 150 meters below the bottom of the sea. Obviously, this was an extremely challenging project to undertake. 

然而，直到1994年，一条隧道在英法之间的英吉利海峡下挖掘，这条连接才得以完成。英吉利海峡隧道，也称为隧道，实际上由三条独立的铁路隧道组成。这些隧道长约50公里，位于海底以下约150米处。显然，这是一个极具挑战性的项目。

As a result of the tunnel, it is now possible to travel between London and Paris by train, and the trip takes only 3 hours, of which only 20 minutes are spent inside the tunnel. A suspension bridge is a bridge that is supported by strong wires that hang from tall towers. 

由于这条隧道的开通，现在可以乘火车往返于伦敦和巴黎之间，行程仅需3个小时，其中只有20分钟是在隧道内度过的。悬索桥是一种由悬挂在高塔上的坚固钢丝绳支撑的桥梁。

The world's longest suspension bridge is the Akashi-Kaiko Bridge near the city of Kobe, Japan. This bridge is nearly 4 kilometers long, and the two towers near the middle of the bridge are about 2 km apart. It took almost 20 years to design this bridge and 10 years to build it. 

世界上最长的悬索桥是日本神户市附近的明石海峡大桥。这座桥长近4公里，靠近桥中间的两座塔相距约2公里。这座桥的设计耗时近20年，建成耗时10年。

This bridge was designed to withstand extremely strong winds because Japan often experiences windstorms called typhoons. The bridge was also designed to withstand powerful earthquakes, which sometimes hit Japan.

这座桥的设计可以抵御极强的风，因为日本经常遭遇台风。这座桥还设计为可以抵御有时会袭击日本的强烈地震。

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