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Reading Worksheet

Crossing the Valley

B1 Future Perfect: Completed Actions Before a Future Point Engineering and Construction 25 minutes
Before You Read

Discuss these questions with a partner before you read.

  • Have you ever crossed a very large bridge? What was it like?
  • What do you think is the most difficult part of building a bridge across a deep valley?
  • Look at the title 'Crossing the Valley'. What do you think the article will be about?
  • How long do you think it takes to build a large bridge? What stages might be involved?
Key Vocabulary
Word Definition Example
span (v.) to extend across a space from one side to the other The bridge will span 380 metres across the valley.
cable (n.) a thick, strong metal rope used in bridge construction The main cables will have been installed by March.
concrete (n.) a hard building material made from cement, sand, and water Workers will have laid 45,000 tonnes of concrete by the end of next year.
inspector (n.) a person whose job is to officially check that standards are met Inspectors will have carried out more than 4,000 safety checks.
milestone (n.) an important stage or event in the development of something The team is working hard towards each milestone in the construction schedule.
remarkable (adj.) unusual and impressive in a way that deserves attention When the bridge opens, they will have achieved something truly remarkable.
Reading Text
Magazine Article ~285 words

Crossing the Valley: The Story of the Valmore Bridge

Deep in the hills of southern France, a team of 2,000 workers is building one of Europe's most ambitious engineering projects: the Valmore Bridge. When complete, the bridge will span 380 metres across a wide, forested valley, connecting two communities that have waited decades for a direct road link. But completion is still some way off — and the team has a demanding schedule ahead.

By the end of this year, engineers will have completed the two main towers, each standing 180 metres high. These towers are the backbone of the entire structure. By March of next year, the main suspension cables will have been installed, stretching between the towers and anchoring into the hillside on either side of the valley.

By the end of next year, workers will have laid more than 45,000 tonnes of concrete across the bridge deck. By June in two years, the road surface will have been finished and safety barriers will have been installed along the full length of the bridge.

The final months before opening will involve intensive checking. By September in two years, the project team will have spent over €800 million on the construction. Inspectors will have carried out more than 4,000 individual safety checks to ensure the structure meets European standards.

The project manager, Sofia Leclercq, is proud of what the team has achieved. 'By the time we open this bridge to traffic, it will have taken seven years to build,' she says. 'When we cut that ribbon, we will have achieved something remarkable. Future generations will cross this valley in minutes — a journey that used to take nearly an hour. That is what engineering is for.'

Notice the Grammar

Read the second paragraph. Find two verb phrases that describe things that will be finished by a future date. Write them. What do you notice about their form? (Hint: look for 'will have + past participle'.) What does 'by the end of this year' tell you — does the action happen before or after that time?

1 Reading for Gist

Answer these questions in a few words.

  1. What is the Valmore Bridge?
  2. How many workers are involved in building the bridge?
  3. How long will the bridge have taken to build by the time it opens?
2 Reading for Detail

Write short answers based on the article.

  1. What will engineers have completed by the end of this year?
  2. What will have been installed by March of next year?
  3. What will have been finished by June in two years?
  4. By September in two years, how many safety checks will inspectors have carried out?  a) More than 400. b) More than 4,000. c) More than 40,000. 
  5. How long did the journey across the valley take before the bridge?
3 True, False, or Not Given

Write T (True), F (False), or NG (Not Given) for each statement.

  1. By the end of next year, workers will have laid more than 45,000 tonnes of concrete.
  2. The two main towers will have been completed by March of next year.
  3. The Valmore Bridge is the longest bridge ever built in France.
  4. By the time the bridge opens, the project team will have spent over €800 million.
  5. Sofia Leclercq has been the project manager since the beginning of construction.
4 Vocabulary in Context

Answer these questions about words from the article.

  1. In paragraph 2, 'backbone' is used to describe the towers. In this context, 'backbone' means:  a) The bone in a person's back. b) The most important supporting part of something. c) The final stage of a construction project. 
  2. The article says the bridge will 'connect two communities that have waited decades for a direct road link'. What does this tell you about the importance of the bridge?
  3. Find a word in paragraph 4 that means 'very thorough and detailed'. 
  4. Sofia says 'That is what engineering is for.' What do you think she means by this in your own words?
5 Grammar in Context

Complete these activities about the future perfect.

  1. Find five future perfect sentences from the article. Write them.
    a)  b)  c)  d)  e) 
  2. The article says 'By September, the project team will have spent over €800 million.' When exactly will they have spent this money — before, during, or after September?
  3. Which sentence uses the future perfect correctly?  a) By next year, they complete the towers. b) By next year, they will have completed the towers. c) By next year, they will be completing the towers. 
  4. Make future perfect sentences: (a) 'The cables / install / by March.' → 'By March, ___.' (b) 'They / lay / 45,000 tonnes of concrete / by the end of next year.' → (c) 'The bridge / take / seven years to build / by opening day.' →
  5. Think about a goal you want to achieve. Write three sentences using future perfect: what will you have done, learned, or achieved by a certain time?
Personal Response — Discuss with a partner

Discuss these questions with a partner. Share one idea with the class.

  1. Sofia Leclercq says the bridge will allow people to cross the valley in minutes instead of nearly an hour. How do you think this will change daily life for people in those communities?
  2. Large construction projects like this cost hundreds of millions of euros and take many years. Do you think they are worth the investment? Why or why not?
  3. Think about a big project you have worked on or would like to work on. What will you have achieved by the time it is finished?

Answer Key

Crossing the Valley — B1 — Future Perfect: Completed Actions Before a Future Point

Exercise 1 — Reading for Gist

  1. A major engineering / bridge construction project in southern France.
  2. 2,000 workers.
  3. Seven years.

Exercise 2 — Reading for Detail

  1. The two main towers, each 180 metres high.
  2. The main suspension cables.
  3. The road surface, and safety barriers will have been installed.
  4. b)
  5. Nearly an hour.

Exercise 3 — True, False, or Not Given

  1. T — The article states this directly in paragraph 3.
  2. F — The towers will have been completed by the end of this year, not March of next year.
  3. NG — The article describes it as ambitious but does not compare it to other French bridges or claim it is the longest.
  4. T — The article states: 'By September in two years, the project team will have spent over €800 million on the construction.'
  5. NG — The article introduces her as the project manager but does not say how long she has been in the role.

Exercise 4 — Vocabulary in Context

  1. b)
  2. It shows the bridge has been needed for a very long time — 'decades' means many years — and will have a big impact on people's daily lives.
  3. intensive
  4. She means that engineering exists to solve real problems and improve people's lives — in this case, making travel much easier for the local community.

Exercise 5 — Grammar in Context

  1. Any five sentences using 'will have + past participle', e.g. 'Engineers will have completed the two main towers.' / 'The main suspension cables will have been installed.' / 'Workers will have laid more than 45,000 tonnes of concrete.' / 'The road surface will have been finished.' / 'Safety barriers will have been installed.' / 'The project team will have spent over €800 million.' / 'Inspectors will have carried out more than 4,000 safety checks.' / 'It will have taken seven years to build.' / 'We will have achieved something remarkable.'
  2. Before September — the future perfect shows an action that will be complete BEFORE a stated future point.
  3. b)
  4. (a) By March, the cables will have been installed. (b) By the end of next year, they will have laid 45,000 tonnes of concrete. (c) By opening day, the bridge will have taken seven years to build.
  5. Answers will vary. Answers will vary. Check: will have + past participle + time expression with 'by'. Encourage specific, realistic goals.

Notice the Grammar — suggested answers

Accept any five correct examples from the article that use the target grammar. Students should be able to explain why the grammar is used in each case.

Personal Response

Answers will vary. This section is for spoken discussion or short written response. There are no single correct answers.