Historical development of tunnelling: choose the correct chronological order for these “firsts”—(1) the first Roman tunnel by Emperor Claudius, (2) the first highway tunnel in Hungary, (3) the first underground railway tunnel in Great Britain, and (4) the first navigational tunnel in France.

Introduction / Context:
Milestones in tunnel history span from ancient Roman works to modern transport systems. Knowing the broad chronology helps students contextualize technology shifts—from manual excavation and masonry linings to mechanized construction and mass transit.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• (1) Roman era work under Emperor Claudius predates early-modern European projects.
• (4) French navigational canals and tunnels (e.g., Malpas) emerged in the early modern period.
• (2) Dedicated highway tunnels appeared later with roadway expansion.
• (3) The first underground railway tunnel in Britain follows in the 19th century context.

Concept / Approach:

Arrange from earliest to latest based on eras: Roman antiquity → early modern canal navigation → early roadway tunnels → industrial-age urban rail. This yields 1 → 4 → 2 → 3 as a widely taught sequence in classic MCQs.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Although specific dates vary by reference, the above ordering represents the commonly accepted educational sequence contrasting ancient, canal-era, roadway, and railway breakthroughs.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Options placing Roman works after modern tunnels invert history.
• Sequences that put underground rail before canal-age navigation are inconsistent with typical timelines.

Common Pitfalls:

• Confusing the first underground “service” with earlier tunnel structures.
• Assuming all transport tunnels are contemporaneous with rail development.

Final Answer:

1 4 2 3