Canal Lock — Questions and answers

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Why did Dr. Alistair Finch think flash locks were not a good or reliable solution?

Choices

  1. They made the water too calm for boats to move.
  2. They were unpredictable, hazardous, and wasteful of water, like a 'controlled disaster'. ✓
  3. They used too many boats at one time.
  4. They were too expensive for cities to build.

Answer: They were unpredictable, hazardous, and wasteful of water, like a 'controlled disaster'.

From page 3

How does a boat go up in a canal lock chamber?

Choices

  1. The boat uses a very powerful engine to push itself higher.
  2. Small valves are opened to let water from the higher canal flow slowly into the chamber, raising the boat. ✓
  3. Strong winds blow the boat upwards to the next level.
  4. People pull the boat with ropes from the top of the lock.

Answer: Small valves are opened to let water from the higher canal flow slowly into the chamber, raising the boat.

From page 6

What happens when a boat needs to go down in a canal lock chamber?

Choices

  1. The upper gates open right away.
  2. Sluice valves at the lower end are opened, letting water drain out and the boat go down. ✓
  3. A crane lifts the boat from the top of the lock.
  4. The water level in the chamber rises to meet the boat.

Answer: Sluice valves at the lower end are opened, letting water drain out and the boat go down.

From page 7

How did canal locks, especially the miter-gated pound lock, change water transportation?

Choices

  1. They made rivers wider so more boats could pass.
  2. They allowed large canal networks to connect far-off markets and travel over mountains. ✓
  3. They only worked for very small and light boats.
  4. They made boats move much faster without needing any engines.

Answer: They allowed large canal networks to connect far-off markets and travel over mountains.

From page 8

According to Professor Eleanor Vance, what does the canal lock represent or 'embody'?

Choices

  1. The difficulty of building canals in modern times.
  2. A fundamental human truth: that clever engineering can help overcome difficult natural obstacles. ✓
  3. The need for more boats to be built for waterways.
  4. The problem of old engineering designs being forgotten.

Answer: A fundamental human truth: that clever engineering can help overcome difficult natural obstacles.

From page 10