We use elevators（电梯） all the time, but try and imagine life without them. Tall buildings wouldn't be possible without the elevator. It's convenient and safe, but did you know that long-ago people were afraid of using elevators?
People had been using ropes to move things for thousands of years before the modern elevator. The ancient Romans moved heavy things by using rope. Then in 1743, the French king had a" flying chair". His men lifted the king up to the second floor by using ropes. Although elevators had been improving over time, people were afraid to use them. People liked the idea of an elevator, but they believed it might suddenly fall.
In 1853, Elisha Otis is the inventor（发明者） of the modern elevator. He made safety brakes（刹车） to stop the elevator from falling. Otis had been thinking about people's fear of elevators. He decided to do an elevator act at a show in 1854. Otis stood on his elevator and cut the rope that was holding it. The elevator fell, but the safety brakes suddenly stopped it. How amazing! Three years later, customers at a store in New York could travel to the fifth floor by using an Otis elevator.
The next step was to improve the elevator ride. People had been feeling afraid about using elevators because they were small and noisy In the 1920s, elevators started playing relaxing music cover up other sounds. Then there was a great idea to put mirrors in elevators. People could check their hair and faces instead of fearing the elevator. They made the elevator seem bigger and quicker.
These days, elevators aren't scary. Elevators are getting faster, and office buildings, apartments and hotels are getting higher. You can find Otis elevators in most cities around the world. Remember to enjoy your ride in the elevator when you're going up to the thirty-fifth floor!
①An Otis elevator was first put into use in New York.
②People used to move heavy things by using ropes.
③Elevators can be found in most parts of the world.
④Flying chair was once used to lift a king to the second floor.
