Level 1 · Reading series
Lesson 55 · A Bridge That Can Move
Audio track 55
Listen first
Listen once before opening the English passage.
Open the English passage and hover for word help
A low bridge crosses a busy river, but tall ships need more room. Engineers build a moveable bridge.
On a set schedule, road traffic stops. An operator checks the area. Part of the bridge may lift up or swing to the side. The ship then has a clear passage. Afterward, the bridge closes and cars move again.
This engineering balances two needs: a road across the water and a water route below it. Safety checks come before speed.
Sentence practice
Play any sentence in Dicvo’s Jenny English voice. Before playing all, choose how many times each sentence plays. A practice pause about as long as the sentence follows each play, including before the next sentence. The complete reading remains above.
Choose a sentence to begin.
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A low bridge crosses a busy river, but tall ships need more room.
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Engineers build a moveable bridge.
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On a set schedule, road traffic stops.
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An operator checks the area.
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Part of the bridge may lift up or swing to the side.
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The ship then has a clear passage.
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Afterward, the bridge closes and cars move again.
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This engineering balances two needs: a road across the water and a water route below it.
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Safety checks come before speed.
Check your understanding
After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
一座低矮的桥横跨繁忙的河道，但较高的船需要更多通行空间。于是工程师建造了一座活动桥。
按规定时间，道路交通暂停。操作员确认周围安全后，桥的一部分会升起或转向一侧，为船让出通道。船通过后，桥恢复原位，汽车再次通行。
这样的工程设计兼顾两种需要：水面上的道路和水中的航道。安全检查比速度更重要。
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- bridge
- 桥。
- river
- 河流。
- ship
- 船；通常指较大的船只。
- moveable
- 可移动的；活动式的。
- schedule
- 时间安排；时刻表。
- operator
- 操作员；管理者。
- lift up
- 抬起；升起。
- swing
- 摆动；旋转。
- passage
- 通道；通行。
- engineering
- 工程学；技术设计。
Background notes (Chinese)
活动桥有上翻式、垂直升降式和侧向旋转式等。船通行时，道路或铁路必须暂时关闭，因此操作时会结合信号灯、栏杆和现场目视检查，确认安全。