BROOKLYN BRIDGE

           Talking about New York City, we can not forget Brooklyn Bridge. It is a very important bridge that connects Manhattan and Brooklyn boroughs.

           Plans for the bridge construction between Brooklyn and lower Manhattan dated back to the early 1800’s. When the East River Bridge was planned, Brooklyn, with about 400,000 resi­dents, was still more rural than urban. The city of New York — which at the time consisted only of Manhattan — had twice as many residents. So, the bridge was seen as a solution to over­crowding in Manhattan and would enable people and goods to cross the East River quickly, regardless of weather conditions.

            A bridge over the East River, joining the cities of New York and Brooklyn, had been talked about for nearly as long as any­one can remember. The chief problem was always the East Ri­ver, which is no river at all technically speaking, but a strait. If there is to be a bridge, wrote one man, «it must have no piers or could not be a drawbridge. There must be only one great arch all the way across. Surely, this must be a wonderful bridge».

QUESTIONS:

1. Why is Brooklyn Bridge very important?
2. When did plans for the Bridge construction appear?
3. What were the advantages of Brooklyn Bridge?

VOCABULARY:

borough — район

to date back — датироваться

rural — сельский

urban — городской

to consist of — состоять из

solution — решение

to overcrowd — перенаселять

to enable — давать возможность

goods — товары

regardless of — не взирая на, не считаясь с чем-либо, кем- либо

to join — соединить, объединить

strait — узкий пролив

pier — пирс

drawbridge — разводной или подъемный мост

arch — арка