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Do you like Skyscrapers?

Do you like Skyscrapers?

Date: May 30 2007

Topic: Reading

Author: skyscraperman

Lesson

A skyscraper is a very tall building where people are able to live or work. To be considered a skyscraper, a building generally has to be at least 25 stories tall. The first skyscrapers were built in the United States at the end of the 19th Century, and these buildings were much shorter than 25 stories. While it's true that tall structures were built in Europe and other parts of the world, these buildings were not habitable. The Eiffel Tower in Paris is very tall, but no lives or works there. 

The first skyscraper was the Home Insurance Building in Chicago, which was built in 1885. It was only ten stories tall. It was torn down in 1931, which is the same year the 102-story Empire State Building was completed in New York City. The Empire State Building remained the tallest building in New York until the construction of the World Trade Center towers in 1972.

Not everyone likes skyscrapers. Many cities around the world have passed laws to limit the height of buildings. In fact, both London and Chicago passed laws prohibiting really tall buildings at the end of the 19th Century. Of course, this has changed and both cities have constructed supertalls. The Sears Tower in Chicago, is the tallest building in the United States, and London's tallest building, the 306-meter Shard London Bridge will be completed in 2011. 

Skyscrapers have become very common in Europe. Cities such as Frankfort, Madrid, Valencia, Malmo and Paris all have very tall buildings under construction. However, the center of the world for skyscrapers is neither Europe nor North America. The tallest buildings in the world are being built in Asia and the Middle East. At more than 500 meters tall, the tallest building in the world is Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan. However, when completed in 2008, the Burj Dubai in The United Arab Emirates will rise 162 stories and more than 800 meters. Another building in Dubai is proposed to be 1200 meters tall. That's four times taller than the Empire State Building. 

Skyscrapers are part of our future for many reasons. For one, they require less land to build and are generally better at conserving electricity and other resources. Plus, people who live in cities with high rises are less likely to own a car. In New York and London, for example, the majority of residents do not drive. Still, a lot of people think that really tall buildings ruin the look of a city. What do you think? 

Skyscraper: A habitable building that's more than 25-stories tall.

Stories: Floors of a building.

Habitable: Able to be lived in.

Torn Down: Destroyed.

Towers: Very tall buildings. 

Supertalls: Very tall skyscrapers.

Under Construction: Being built.

Conserving: Saving resources. 

High Rise: Skyscraper. 

 

Comments

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sima heydarzadeh

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

yes I like It

06:25 PM Mar 04 2011 |

dean_1990

dean_1990

United States

i love the skyscraperss!! :D

03:47 AM Jul 20 2009 |

dean_1990

dean_1990

United States

i love the skyscraperss!! :D

03:47 AM Jul 20 2009 |

anila3stars

Pakistan

Skyscrapers, of course has many benefits like on one place we build many stories and use them for many purposes and earn much from there but as a matter of fact they also create a fear, we have a very clear e.g.  when earth quakes comes ,whole building fall and it also damages to other buildings, houses, lives… so I think, we should construct buildings but not so huge.

04:00 AM May 31 2007 |

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