Comprehension check

I. Decide whether the following statements are true or false according to the text:

1. The Firth of Forth Bridge has nothing in common with the oldest bridge types.

2. The Forth Bridge relies on the strength of the beam spanning the distance between columns to carry its own weight.

3. The Forth Bridge was designed by structural engineers Benjamin Baker and Sir John Fowler.

4. The Bridge uses a cantilever system.

5. Suspended ends of the bridge’s beams are joined by a heavy and strong connecting span.

6. The Forth Bridge's shape results from the need to be light as possible.

7. The connecting spans of the bridge are built to be as strong and heavy as possible.

8. The Firth of Forth was the first bridge built primarily of steel (54,000 tons).

9. Such a design allows the Forth Bridge to span a much greater distance.

10. The purpose of the bridge is a roadway.

II. Answer the following questions:

1. It’s said that the Firth of Forth has much in common with the simplest and oldest bridge type. Do you agree? How can you prove the statement?

2. The bridge’s engineers Benjamin Baker and Sir John Fowler made the Firth of Forth different from a simple beam bridge. In what way?

3. What was a canteliver system used for?

4. What did the shape of the bridge result from?

5. In what way was the midsection of each beam made strong?

6. Why were the connecting spans built lightweight?

7. What materials were used to build the bridge?

8. What was the reason of building a canteliver bridge at that location?

The Firth of Forth Bridge was said to be similar to the beam bridge and at the same time it differs much from this oldest bridge type. Complete the following table to illustrate the statement:

The Firth of Forth Bridge