The Eiffel Tower

Vocabulary

Video

Transcript

Over the streets of Paris, France, rises the Eiffel Tower. An internationally recognized symbol of France and one of the most famous structures in the world, the Eiffel Tower was originally built as the entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.

More than 100 artists competed with plans for the monument — but the contract was given to Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, a bridge builder, architect, and metals expert who had already designed the framework for the Statue of Liberty.

The final design required more than 18,000 pieces of iron and 2.5 million rivets to construct. It took hundreds of workers more than two years to finish.

 
And when it was completed in March of 1889 it was almost 1,000 feet or more than 300 meters high — more than twice the height of the pyramids at Giza — making it the tallest structure in the world until the Chrysler building was completed in 1930.

The tower was originally meant to be a temporary structure, and only stand for 20 years.

Many of the people of Paris disliked the tower. They thought it was ugly, or that it was dangerous and might fall down.

By the time the tower was supposed to be removed, however, people had realized that it was a valuable way to transmit wireless telegraph and radio signals, and city officials decided to keep it.

It continues to be used for communications today, with more than one hundred antennas on it.

Despite its height, the Eiffel Tower is incredibly wind-resistant. It only sways up to five inches in wind, but when the side facing the sun heats up and expands, the top may move up to seven inches from its original position.

The tower is completely repainted every seven years to protect it from rusting, using 60 tons of paint each time. Originally, the tower was reddish brown and the color was changed sometimes when it was repainted. It was once even painted yellow!

These days it is painted a bronze color called “Eiffel Tower Brown.”

 
Today, the Eiffel tower is the most popular paid attraction in the world, with about seven million visitors each year.

It has been the inspiration for replicas and imitations around the world, from Japan to Guatemala to Las Vegas.

No longer considered an eyesore, the Eiffel Tower is an icon of France and is inside the World Heritage Site that includes certain parts of Paris.

Questions

Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower was constructed in the Middle Ages.only True or false? Does it commemorate Napoleons birthday?

Pyramids of Giza, Egypt. Was Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel a classical artist and sculptor like Michelangelo and Donatello?

Taj Mahal. Was the construction of the Eiffel Tower an artistic or industrial undertaking? Is the Eiffel Tower low (short) medium-height or very tall (high)?

Machu Picchu. From the very beginning, Parisians absolutely loved the Eiffel Tower. Is this right or wrong?

St. Basil’s Cathedral. Has the Eiffel Tower only served as a decoration or attraction?

Angkor Wat. The Eiffel Tower has always been metal-colored. Is this correct or incorrect?

Great Wall of China. What do people associate with the Eiffel Tower? Is there only one “Eiffel Tower” in the world?
 
 
 
Notre Dame Cathedral. My friends and I have visited the Eiffel Tower. Yes or no?

Big Ben, Clock Tower. What are some famous monuments in your country, or monumens that you have visited?

Colosseum. What monuments, buildings or structures would you like to visit? I would like to visit . . . . . .

Leaning Tower of Pisa. Is it a good idea to invest money and resources to build monuments, buildings and structure?

Sydney Opera House. What might happen in the future?

Pyramid of the Sun, Mexico. Should rich people, governments and ordinary people build grand monuments, structures and buildings? If you were a billionaire, what would you do?