WHY BRIDGES COLLAPSE

Preparation task
a. Extremely important: crucial
b. A deep valley with high sides: a gorge
c. Careful examination of something: scrutiny
d. to fall down suddenly: to collapse
e. causing great sadness: tragic
f. to stop something from happening: to prevent
g. easily affected by something: susceptible to something
h. to happen: to occur
i. a fault in something: a defect
j. to make something happen: to bring about

Task 1

1. Why are bridges considered so important according to the article?

a. they are important parts of a transportation to the article.
2. How can the people who make bridges stop collapse?
c. by studying the reasons for a collapse
3. Which of the following reasons is given as the cause of a bridge
catching fire?
b. the contact between train tracks and train wheels
4. Which is an example of an error during construction
b. a mistake is made in the calculations
5. How common is it for an earthquake zones
c. relatively uncommon
6. Which of the following is not mentioned as a defect in bridge
construction?
b. inexperienced designers or engineers
7. How does a train cause a bridge to support?
c. by hitting a bridge very fast
8. What role can modern technology have in reducing bridge accidents?
a. It can detect weak spots in the construction

task 2

1. __As__ a result, civil engineers study collapses closely.

2. The accident was subject __of__ a full investigation.
3. Luckily there was no __loss__ of life in the accident.
4. Young children are susceptible __to__ illness.
5. It only takes a few minutes for the leaves to __start__ fire.
6. The accidents was __due__ to an error in construction.
7. The bridge could collapse __under__ its own weight.
8. The police will __conduct__ an investigation.

Discussion

What are some of the most famous bridges you know? Have you ever
visited them?
I only know about one bridge. It is the bridge in the city of Tunja known
as Puente de Boyacá. It is a monument declared as cultural heritage of
Colombia and is where the historical battle of Boyacá was held.
I have never visited this bridge, but I saw it in the distance when I was
on a trip once. It was funny to realize how small is the bridge, actually.