1、Unit 05The Light at the End of the Chunnel Background knowledge n The English Channel: commonly called the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean separating the southern coast of England from the northern coast of France, and connecting the Atlantic in the west with the North Sea on the east via t
2、he Strait of Dover. It is 34 to 240 km. (21-150 miles) wide and 560km. (350 miles) long. The Channel is at its narrowest between Dover in England and Cape Gris-Nez, near Calais, in France, it being 34 km. (21 miles) wide. Its average depth decreases from 120 to 45 meters (400-150 feet). Map of the E
3、nglish ChannelMap of the English ChannelThe Channel Tunnel (Chunnel)Background knowledgen From earliest times, the Channel served as a route for, and a barrier to, invaders to Britain from the Continent. It was crossed by Julius Caesars legion in 55 B.C. and Norman forces in 1066. However, when Napo
4、leon and Hitler threatened to cross it, they failed. Therefore, the Channel has chiefly served as a physical barrier to the invasion of Britain. Transportation across the Channel used to be supplied by ferry boat service only.Background knowledgeThe long-lasting Anglo-French conflictIn 1066, William
5、, Duke of Normandy, France, conquered England and became King William I of England. After the Norman Conquest, French manners and culture predominated among the English nobles. In 1154 King Henry II recovered the English throne. Thereafter the holdings of English kings in France were greatly increas
6、ed. At one time, France assisted Scotland, over which the English kings attempted to dominate. These sources of friction led to intermittent fighting between the two countries from 1294 to 1337.Background knowledgen In 1337, Edward III of England (1327-1377) took the title of King of France. This st
7、ep began the Hundred Years War which continued on and off until 1453. Early in the conflict the English crushed the French, but by the end of Edwards reign the French had reconquered almost all the territory Edward had won. Fighting between the two countries continued in the fourteenth and the fifte
8、enth century. During King Henry VIIIs reign (1509-1547), England again invaded France and expanded it holdings around Calais.Background knowledgen From 1689 to 1815 there was a series of conflicts between Britain and France for domination of the North American continent. The principal objective of t
9、he British government was to drive the French out of North America once and for all. The maritime and colonial struggle between Britain and France for world empire and trade, which began in 1689, lasted until the final defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815. It was about this time that the long duel
10、 between Britain and France was over.Background knowledgen The Channel Tunnel Projectn The Channel Tunnel Project is the scheme for an under-ocean tunnel linking Britain and France, which has been discussed on governmental levels for almost 200 years.n The first proposal for a Channel Tunnel came in
11、 1802 from a French engineer. Napoleon showed interest, but the renewal of the war suspended the question, which, however, was taken up again and again throughout the nineteenth century. The proponents of the project were generally French, with the British government holding off for security reasons.
