A
Seven years ago，back in 2010，some reports covered a story that the world’s longest railway tunnel was under construction in Switzerland.At that point it had already been under construction for over a decade.It had been voted to be built nearly a quarter of a century ago！The idea to build it could date back to nearly 70 years ago—about as old as some of your grandparents!
Yesterday，it was finally ready!
It’s about 35 miles long and runs 7，500 feet beneath the Swiss Alps，a famous mountain range in Switzerland.It even runs under an old tunnel that was there before.It took a total of 17 years to build at a cost of$12 billion！28 million tons of rock were dug.Two million truckloads of earth were removed!
The tunnel connects northern and southern Europe.The opening of this tunnel was such a big deal that the Germany’s leader，Chancellor Angela Merkel，France’s president，Francois Hollande，and Italy’s prime minister，Matteo Renzi，were all there to celebrate，as was Austria’s chancellor Christian Kern.
It’s called the Gotthard Base Tunnel.Eventually，325 freight and passenger trains will go through the tunnel，relieving a lot of traffic on the roadways there and making it a more environmentally friendly option.The Gotthard Base Tunnel is a wonder of engineering and makes us want to visit it!
【解题导语】 本文介绍了戈特哈德隧道的建成及其相关情况和由此带来的意义。
1．When did people first have the idea of building the tunnel?
A．About 70 years ago.
B．Half a century ago.
C．Twentyfive years ago.
D．Seven years ago.
A 解析：细节理解题。根据第一段中的最后一句可知，大约70年前人们第一次有建造该隧道的想法。故选A项。
2．What can we learn about the tunnel?
A．It used to be an old tunnel.
B．It has just been completed.
C．It connects all European countries.
D．It runs over a range of mountains.
B 解析：细节理解题。根据第二段“Yesterday，it was finally ready！”可知，该隧道刚刚竣工。故选B项。
3．What may be the purpose of building the tunnel?
A．To improve traffic.
B．To increase employment.
C．To attract donation.
D．To stop pollution.
A 解析：细节理解题。根据第五段中的“relieving a lot of traffic on the roadways there and making it a more environmentally friendly option”可知，该铁路隧道修建的目的是缓解交通压力。故选A项。
4．What can be inferred about the tunnel?
A．It will cause conflicts among countries.
B．It will be of little benefit to the locals.
C．It may do damage to the environment.
D．It may become a tourist attraction.
D 解析：推理判断题。根据最后一句中的“makes us want to visit it”可推知，该铁路隧道可能会成为一个旅游胜地。故选D项。
