Additional study: canals

I. Read and translate the text

The best examples of canals used for draining land are found in Holland, where much of the country is below sea-level. Dams are used to prevent flooding and since 1932 over 300000 acres of land have been drained. In winter the Dutch people use the frozen canals for ice-skating. In a hot dry country such as Egypt water is scarce and to prevent the land from becoming dry long canals are built from dams. These canals must be continually kept open, for the Egyptian farms and cotton fields cannot exist without these lines of water.

Many inland waterways are used for the transport of heavy good by barges. This method of carrying materials is not so widely used now for although it is cheaper and it has the disadvantage of being much slower.

Two notable canals for ships in Europe are the Corinth Canal and the Kiel Canal. The former was built in 1893 across the solid rocks of the Isthmus of Corinth. The Kiel Canal was built two years later and it gives the countries of the Baltic Sea quicker access to the west.

Venice, at the Adriatic Sea, is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, for it has many canals instead of streets. Long narrow boats with curved ends called gondolas carry passengers and goods from one part of the city to another. The gondolas are supplied with lanterns, which at night make the canals very colorful and romantic.

One of the greatest arteries of world trade is the Suez Canal separating two continents of Asia and Africa. The great lakes which lie between Canada and the United States have become part of the world’s ocean highways for it is now possible for big ships to sail up the Saint Lawrence Canal to the ports of Toronto, Cleveland and Chicago. A 218 mile canal joins the Atlantic with these Great lakes which contain half of all the fresh water in the world.

II. Give translation of the following words and phrases:

Canals used for draining land, flooding (n), scarce, to prevent the land from becoming dry, inland waterways, it gives the countries … quicker access to the west, instead of (prep), gondola (n), to be supplied with (v), lantern (n), to separate (v), to join (v).

III. Answer the questions

1. Where are the best examples of canals used for draining can be found?

2. What are dams in Holland used for?

3. How do the Dutch people use frozen canals in winter?

4. What is water in a hot dry country such as Egypt?

5. What are many inland waterways used for?

6. How is speed regulated?

7. What are the two notable canals for ships in Europe?

8. When was the Kiel Canal built?

9. What is one of the beautiful cities in Europe?

10. What is called gondolas?

11. How are the gondolas supplied?

12. Where is the Suez Canal situated?

13. What lakes have become parts of the world’s ocean highways?

14. Do the Great lakes contain fresh or salt water?

IV. Say what is right and what is wrong and why

1. The best examples of canals used for draining land are found in Europe.

2. Many inland waterways are used for the transport of heavy goods by barges.

3. This method of carrying materials is widely used now.

4. Two notable canals for ships in Europe are the Corinth Canal and the Kiel Canal.

5. A 218 mile canal joins the Atlantic with these Great lakes which contain half of all the salt water in the world