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Question

Difficulty: MediumTransport and Engineering Innovations

Isambard Kingdom Brunel is one of the most celebrated engineers of the 19th century, but engineering talent ran in his family. What groundbreaking project was his father, Marc Brunel, responsible for in London?

  1. The first tunnel built under a navigable river (the Thames Tunnel)Answer
  2. B
    The construction of the first section of the London Underground
  3. C
    The building of the first iron bridge across the River Thames
  4. D
    The design of the Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition

Answer

The correct answer is the first tunnel built under a navigable river (the Thames Tunnel).
Marc Brunel designed and built the Thames Tunnel in London. It remains a significant milestone in engineering history because it was the first tunnel to be successfully built under a navigable river, a project on which his son Isambard also worked.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the engineer mentioned
The engineer is Marc Brunel, the father of Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
The question asks specifically for the father's contribution to distinguish him from his famous son.
2
Recall Marc Brunel's major engineering project in London
He is credited with the Thames Tunnel.
This is a key fact mentioned in the 'Life in the UK' handbook regarding engineering family legacies.
3
Determine the unique status of the Thames Tunnel
It was the first tunnel ever constructed under a navigable river.
This specific detail is what makes the achievement a 'groundbreaking project' in historical context.

Key Concept

Engineering legacies of the Industrial Revolution
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Transport and Engineering Innovations

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