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Skyscrapers were invented in the United States. Two new technological developments made very tall buildings possible in the late 1800s. One development was the mechanical elevator. It meant that people would not have to climb many steps to reach the upper floors of tall buildings. It saved time and effort. The second was good quality steel that could carry the heavy load of a tall structure. These two developments helped make the skyscraper possible.
Many experts consider the Home Insurance Building in Chicago, Illinois to be the first skyscraper. It was completed in 1885 and later increased to a height of 55 meters. Today, this would not be considered tall. But at the time, this height was striking. It was built using a steel frame. This frame carried the weight of the building rather than the walls. The method was known as “skeleton construction” at the time. Before this technology, a tall building required thick stone walls to support its weight. Thick walls are extremely heavy and take up a big area that could be used for floor space or windows. William Jenney was the engineer who helped build the Home Insurance Building. He understood the possibilities that steel frames could offer. Some people consider him the father of the skyscraper.
The Empire State building in New York City was completed in 1931. It was the tallest building in the world for more than 40 years. It is still one of the most popular. Millions of visitors have seen New York from observation areas in this building. Chicago became home to the world’s tallest building in 1973 when the Sears Tower was completed. It is 442 meters tall. The Sears Tower, which is now called Willis Tower, was the tallest building in the world for 23 years. Then, in 1996, two taller buildings were completed. They are the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. They are about 452 meters tall.
The tallest building in the United States and North America is One World Trade Center in New York, which replaced the two towers of the World Trade Center destroyed in the terrorist attacks against the United States in 2001. One World Trade Center stands at 541 meters.
1. Which two inventions were necessary for the creation of very tall buildings?
2. Why was "skeleton construction" a better method than using thick stone walls?
3. What was unique about the Home Insurance Building in 1885 ?
4. Who is often referred to as the "father of the skyscraper"?
5. For how long did the Empire State Building hold the title of the world's tallest building?
6. According to the text, which building currently holds a record in North America?
Source: VOA