Buildings above me clouds
VIDEO
Big buildings are nothing new. The ancient Egyptians built the Pyramids. The Italians bullt tall towers in the
Middle Ages. The French built huge cathedrals. However, it was difficult to build very tall buildings because
the bricks were not strong enough. Then, in 1852, Elisha Otis invented the elevator and in the 1880s
engineers developed a new building technique using steel. It was now possible to build tall buildings with
strong steel without worrying how to get to the top.
In big cities such as Chicago and New York that needed living space for families, and offices for businesses,
skyscrapers were the perfect solution. Some very brave men worked on these buildings as it was a
dangerous job. Imagine walking along narrow beams hundreds of feet above the ground! For this reason,
Mohawk Indians from Canada and ex-sailors did most of the work as they were not scared of heights. In
fact, the word 'skyscraper' comes from the name sailors gave to the tallest mast on a ship.
In 1885, the world's first skyscraper, a ten-storey office building, opened in Chicago,
Between 1930 and 1931, the Empire State Building grew almost one floor higher every day
The 3,400 men who worked on it finished it in 14 months.
These days, skyscrapers decorate every city skyline, and each year taller and taller bulldings
appear all over the world. At present, the world's tallest building is the Burj Khalifa, in the
United Arab Emirates. With over 1,200 stores, this building is a city in itself. Astana, the
capital of Kazakhstan, also has its share of skyscrapers, The Triumph of Astana
is one of the most impressive. It was finished in 2006 and it has 39 floors, with
shops, offices, apartments and a hotel.
Who knows what's next. The sky is the limit!
'1 foot = 30,48 cm
a) 6471 Read the text and answer the questions,
KNOW?
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1 Why couldn't people build really tall buildings in the past?
2 When could people start building skyscrapers?
3 How did the invention of the elevator change the history of buildings?
4 Why did people want to build skyscrapers in cities?
5 Why are tall buildings called 'skyscrapers'?
6 How fast did the Empire State Building grow?
7 What can you find in the Triumph of Astana in Kazakhstan?​