The Incredible Machine: Ferris Wheel

It can be understood that Coney Island, Navy Pier, and the Santa Monica Pier are all examples of

• Amusement parks

• Ferris wheels

• Vacation spots

• Boat docks

Select all that are correct.  According to the passage, the Ferris wheel was originally designed for

• Coney Island

• The world's fair

• Disney World

• Singapore

As used in paragraph 1, the word attraction most nearly means

• Sense

• Park

• Ride

• Vision

This passage was most likely written to

• Describe the author’s favorite amusement park rides

• explain the original design of Ferris wheels and how they work today

• Describe the history of Ferris wheels and why they are so popular

• Explain the history of Ferris wheels and why the author likes them

The impressive engineering and beauty of Ferris wheels is what the author likes best about them. 

• True

• False

The Incredible Machine Everyone has a favorite attraction at an amusement park, and I am no different. However, unlike most people who seem to prefer rollercoasters, my favorite ride is a little more gentle. Every time I go to Coney Island, Navy Pier, or the Santa Monica Pier, I absolutely have to ride the Ferris wheel. The Ferris wheel is simple and yet also quite complex. That is, riding it is easy, but how it works is complicated. A series of carts are attached to a wheel, which is attached to a rim. That rim rotates vertically around an axis, and gravity keeps the carts upright. As simple as the ride seems, only advanced engineers can make safe and fun Ferris wheels.   What It Lacks in Thrills… While the Ferris wheel is not as thrilling as a roller coaster, it is still very exciting. The fact of being high in the air makes it so much more entertaining than a lot of rides. I mean, how often do you hang from that high up in daily life? Nevertheless, I have to admit, I don’t seek Ferris wheels out because of their excitement. Rather, I find them very relaxing. At the top of the Ferris wheel, you get beautiful sights of the park. You also get a sense of calm that you don’t get in the hustle and bustle of the park below.   Additionally, Ferris wheels are also gorgeous to look at when they are lit up at night. In fact, the original Ferris wheel was designed as much to be seen as to be ridden.   It Happened at the World’s Fair The first Ferris wheel was made by and named after George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. He designed it for the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. It was the tallest attraction there, standing 264 feet high. However, visitors to the fair were impressed by the size of the ride as well as the mechanics of it. In 1893, anything that was not turned by hand was considered a sight to see. And the wheel, which was a machine, was truly incredible to see. Further, as one visitor put it, the wheel was amazing because it seemed to be missing support. That is, it did not look like it could stand on its own. And yet it did and even rotated!   They Keep Reaching Higher and Higher Ferris wheel technology has only improved since then. Most of today’s Ferris wheels are much larger than that first one. The largest in the world is the "Singapore Flyer," which stands slightly taller than twice what Ferris’s did! Today, the Ferris wheel is the most common amusement park ride. But that does not mean you should take them for granted. Instead, be thankful for Ferris’ invention. The next time you’re at an amusement park, don’t just look up at the impressive wheel in the sky on your way to a newer attraction. Take it for a spin!

In the final section of the passage, we learn how Ferris wheels "keep reaching higher and higher." This seems to be a common trend among the developers of modern technology. What makes us want to continually strive to create something bigger and better? Is this good? Please explain using 150 words or more and no more than 400 words.