4.G Reading - Why bridges collapse

Why are bridges considered so important according to the article?

• They are important parts of a transportation network.

• They cost a lot of money.

• When they collapse it’s a serious problem.

How can the people who make bridges stop collapse?

• By studying for longer at university

• By asking engineering experts to check their work

• By studying the reasons for a collapse

Which of the following reasons is given as the cause of a bridge catching fire?

• A lightning strike

• The contact between train tracks and train wheels

• The extreme heat of a train

Which is an example of an error during construction?

• The bridge catches fire.

• A mistake is made in the calculations.

• There is a natural disaster.

How common is it for an earthquake to destroy a bridge?

• Very common in earthquakes zones

• Relatively common

• Relatively uncommon

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a defect in bridge construction?

• A badly made part

• Inexperienced designers or engineers

• Poor-quality materials

How does a train cause a bridge to collapse?

• By being too heavy for a bridge to support

• By being very big

• By hitting a bridge very fast

What role can modern technology have in reducing bridge accidents?

• It can detect weak spots in the construction.

• It can stop human error.

• It can select higher-quality materials.

Tick the statements that are true:

• A bridge cannot collapse under its own

  weight.

• Collapses of bridges due to earthquake damage

  are quite frequent.

• Inferior quality material can cause a bridge

  to collapse.

• Large ships, if they aren't moving too fast, cannot

  cause a bridge to collapse.

• Some bridges are designed to support a certain

  amount of weight and no more.