[00:01.080]--- Lesson 88 Trapped in a mine
[00:07.400]--- First listen and then answer the question.
[00:13.720]--- Why is the rescue taking so long?
[00:20.080]Six men have been trapped in a mine for seventeen hours.
[00:26.280]If they are not brought to the surface soon they may lose their lives.
[00:32.000]However, rescue operations are proving difficult.
[00:36.320]If explosives are used, vibrations will cause the roof of the mine to collapse.
[00:43.640]Rescue workers are therefore drilling a hole on the north side of the mine.
[00:50.480]They intend to bring the men up in a special capsule.
[00:55.920]If there had not been a hard layer of rock beneath the soil,
[01:00.520]they would have completed the job in a few hours.
[01:04.560]As it is, they have been drilling for sixteen hours and they still have a long way to go.
[01:12.400]Meanwhile, a microphone, which was lowered into the mine two hours ago,has enabled the men to keep in touch with their closest relatives.
[01:23.640]Though they are running out of food and drink,
[01:26.880]the men are cheerful and confident that they will get out soon.
[01:31.800]They have been told that rescue operations are progressing smoothly.
[01:36.960]If they knew how difficult it was to drill through the hard rock, they would lose heart.
[01:45.520]--- end