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The development of the London underground railway
Cambridge 17 | Test 1 | Passage 1
The development of the London underground railway
In the first half of the 1800s, London’s population grew at an astonishing rate, and the central area became increasingly congested. In addition, the expansion of the overground railway network resulted in more and more passengers arriving in the capital. However, in 1846, a Royal Commission decided that the railways should not be allowed to enter the City, the capital’s historic and business center. The result was that the overground railway stations formed a ring around the City. The area within consisted of poorly built, overcrowded slums and the streets were full of horse-drawn traffic. Crossing the City became a nightmare. It could take an hour and a half to travel 8 km by horse-drawn carriage or bus. Numerous schemes were proposed to resolve these problems, but few succeeded.
astonishing (adjective)
/əˈstɑː.nɪ.ʃɪŋ/
very surprising
Her writing shows astonishing depth.
congested (adjective)
/kənˈdʒes.tɪd/
too blocked or crowded and causing difficulties
slum (noun) [countable]
a very poor and crowded area, especially of a city
She was brought up in the slums of Lima.
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By LingophoenixCambridge 17 | Test 1 | Passage 1
The development of the London underground railway
In the first half of the 1800s, London’s population grew at an astonishing rate, and the central area became increasingly congested. In addition, the expansion of the overground railway network resulted in more and more passengers arriving in the capital. However, in 1846, a Royal Commission decided that the railways should not be allowed to enter the City, the capital’s historic and business center. The result was that the overground railway stations formed a ring around the City. The area within consisted of poorly built, overcrowded slums and the streets were full of horse-drawn traffic. Crossing the City became a nightmare. It could take an hour and a half to travel 8 km by horse-drawn carriage or bus. Numerous schemes were proposed to resolve these problems, but few succeeded.
astonishing (adjective)
/əˈstɑː.nɪ.ʃɪŋ/
very surprising
Her writing shows astonishing depth.
congested (adjective)
/kənˈdʒes.tɪd/
too blocked or crowded and causing difficulties
slum (noun) [countable]
a very poor and crowded area, especially of a city
She was brought up in the slums of Lima.