The Erie Canal
伊利運河
— English reading, TOEFL
文章
In the early 1800s, moving goods across the United States was slow and costly. Wagons on rough roads could carry only small loads.
十九世紀初，在美國境內運送貨物又慢又貴。在崎嶇道路上行駛的馬車只能載少量貨物。
In 1825, the state of New York completed the Erie Canal, a waterway about 580 kilometers long. It connected the Hudson River with the Great Lakes.
1825 年，紐約州完成了伊利運河。這條水道長約五百八十公里，連接哈德遜河與五大湖。
Boats pulled by horses walking along the bank could carry heavy cargo at a fraction of the former cost. Shipping prices dropped by about ninety percent.
由沿著河岸行走的馬匹拉動的船，能用過去一小部分的成本運送沉重的貨物。運費下降了大約九成。
The canal helped New York City become the country's leading port. Within a few decades, however, railroads began to replace canals as the main way to move goods.
運河幫助紐約市成為全國首要的港口。然而不到幾十年，鐵路就開始取代運河，成為運送貨物的主要方式。
生詞
costly 昂貴的
wagon 馬車
load 載貨量
waterway 水道
connect 連接
cargo 貨物
fraction 一小部分
port 港口