题目内容
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The Panama Canal opened almost 100 years ago.It connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and reduces travel by about 13,000 kilometers and avoids the need for ships to sail around Cape Horn at the bottom of South America.
Built from 1904 to 1914,the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 ships in 2008.In total,over 815,000 ships have passed through the canal.It has been named one of the seven modern wonders of the world.More than forty ships pass through the canal each day.
Now,a major expansion(扩大) project will permit more ships and bigger ships to pass through the canal.Jorge Quijano,the Panama Canal’s executive vice president of engineering,says,“The present canal has a total capacity(容量) of about 340 million tons a year.With the expansion we expect to double that.”
For years,shipbuilders limited the size of many ships so that they could pass through the Panama Canal.But now many shipping companies use bigger ships to transport more goods as a way to reduce costs.Mr.Quijano says the expansion project will allow many of these larger ships to use the canal.
Workers are building the new locks(船闸) alongside the old ones,which will remain in use.The existing locks are 305 meters long and 33.5 meters wide.The new ones will be 427 meters long and 55 meters wide.They will be able to handle ships with drafts(吃水量) of more than 15 meters.At present,ships can ride only 12 meters deep in the canal.
Engineers could not make the new locks too big.Mr.Quijano says the plans have to balance the size of the locks with the cost for ships to use the canal.
The cost of the expansion is estimated at more than five billion dollars.The new locks are set to open in time to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Panama Canal.
1.We can learn from the first two paragraphs that .
A.the Panama Canal was built close to Cape Horn
B.it took ten years to complete the Panama Canal
C.the Panama Canal now sees a daily traffic of about 400 ships
D.the Panama Canal is one of the seven ancient wonders of the world
2.After the expansion of the Panama Canal, .
A.there will be no limitation to the size of ships through it
B.it will have a total capacity of 500 million tons a year
C.the cost of transporting goods will be relatively low
D.the charge for using the canal will be reduced
3.What do we know about the old locks?
A.They are still used.
B.They will be removed.
C.They have been replaced by the new ones.
D.Ships with drafts of 15 meters can pass through them.
4.Why not make the new locks too big?
A.Because they will cost too much.
B.Partly because of the cost for ships.
C.Because there are not so many workers.
D.Because engineers are against it.
5.What is the author’s main purpose in writing the text?
A.To introduce the history of the Panama Canal.
B.To show the importance of the Panama Canal.
C.To report the expansion project of the Panama Canal.
D.To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Panama Canal.
