16.

  1. Bridge-building experts.
  2. Washington Roebling.
  3. John Roebling.
  4. The Roeblings.

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17.

  1. Only the Roeblings had confidence in it.
  2. It came up against financial problems.
  3. Experts showed great interest in it.
  4. It took John Roeblings 13 years to complete the project.

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18.

  1. He was killed at the building site.
  2. He was injured in a traffic accident.
  3. He was seriously eyesight-damaged.
  4. He was seriously brain-damaged.

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19.

  1. His language.
  2. His limbs.
  3. His brain.
  4. His mind.

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20.

  1. Because the project was spectacular.
  2. Because the project seemed impossible.
  3. Because the building instructions were given with one finger.
  4. All of the above.

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The Brooklyn Bridge is simply an engineering miracle. In 1883 a creative engineer, John Roebling, was inspired by an idea for this spectacular bridge project. However, bridge building experts voting to forget it. It just was not possible. Roebling convinced his son Washington, an up-and-coming engineer, that the bridge could be built. The two of them conceived the concept of how it could be accomplished and how to overcome the obstacles. Somehow they convinced bankers to finance the project. Then, with excitement and energy, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge. The project was only a few months under way when a tragic on-site accident killed John Roebling and severely injured his son. Washington was severely brain damaged, unable to talk or walk. Everyone thought the project would have to be dropped since the Roeblings were the only ones who understood how the bridge could be built. Though Washington Roebling was unable to move or talk, his mind was as sharp as ever. One day, as he lay in his hospitable bed, an idea flashed in his mind as to how to develop a communication code. All he could move was one finger. So he touched the arm of his wife with that finger. He tapped out the code to communicate to her what she was to tell the engineers who continued building the bridge. For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with one finger until the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge was finally completed.