Hi, everybody. My name is Shauna, and this is the American English Podcast.
My goal here is to teach you the English spoken in the United States.
Your common expressions, pronunciation tips, and interesting cultural snippets or stories.
I hope to keep this fun, useful, and interesting.
Let's do it! Welcome to today's English lesson.
We're going to be talking about the history of one of the most famous rides in the world—the Ferris Wheel.
Do you know what a Ferris Wheel is?
Through my research, I discovered that in many languages, this ride is simply called the Giant Wheel.
Hó de Gigante in Portuguese, Riesenrad in German, but in English, it's Ferris Wheel because the man who made the first one was named George Ferris.
Today, you'll hear the story of how and why the first Ferris Wheel came to life.
But that's not all.
As I tell the story today, you'll hear many irregular past tense verbs, words like think, pay, and choose.
In the past, they're thought, paid, and chose.
They don't follow the usual rules for the past tense, so they don't have ED endings.
They're unique. And ten of them in the story—well, a few more than that—but they require some memorization.
My favorite way to memorize is, of course, through stories, repetition, and having fun.
So, after the story, we'll practice these verbs with new examples to help you remember them.
Then, we'll listen to the story again.
At the very end, you'll hear fun facts about Ferris Wheels in general.
Stay tuned for that part.
It's my favorite part of these irregular verb episodes because there's more detail.
Just to reiterate, this lesson is about irregular verbs and the Ferris Wheel.
Before we begin, though, I would like to talk about rides.
Where do you find rides?
You might find them at an amusement park.
You might also find them at a fair.
Do you know the difference between the two?
Amusement parks are typically fixed locations, so permanent locations like Disneyland, Disney World, Six Flags, or Universal.
They don't travel from city to city, they're permanent.
So, rides at amusement parks reflect that.
They're typically more thrilling.
There are larger roller coasters, some with higher drops, and there are usually more themes.
Fairs, on the other hand, are not permanent.
County fairs or state fairs are really popular in the US.
Usually, they appear in summertime and attract a lot of locals and tourists with rides and cooking competitions, and so much more.
The thing is, there are a few rides that you'll find at fairs and amusement parks because they're just popular.
The first, of course, I already mentioned, roller coasters.
Roller coasters are fast.
They have big drops, twists, and turns.
There's, sometimes, there are other animals, and it goes in a circle, and your animal goes up and down slowly as you move.
Number three, there are, of course, bumper cars, usually at amusement parks and at fairs, and that's pretty self -explanatory.
Bumper cars are small cars you drive in, and you bump into other people, which is usually funny because you don't know the people you're bumping into.
Number four is one that Lucas really hates, and it's the spinning teacups.
You know what a spinning teacup is.
I'm sure you've been in it.
It's where you sit inside of a big cup that spins you around, and it makes you feel very dizzy.
Hey, Lucas, how do you feel about the spinning teacups at fairs and amusement parks?
Don't like it. It makes me dizzy.
It spins too fast, and yeah.
You hate it. Yeah, I don't like it.
Dizzy means unsteady, light -headed when it feels like the world around you is spinning.
Let's just say it's not Lucas's cup of tea.
So once again, we had roller coasters, carousels, bumper cars, spinning teacups, but one of the most famous rides around the world is, without a doubt, the ferris wheel, which is a massive wheel that turns in place, and passengers sit on the outside rim of that wheel, usually in a car, carriage, gondola.
There are plenty of words for that actual physical space that you sit inside.
What's your favorite ride?
Do you enjoy going on the bumper cars?
Do you like riding roller coasters?
Do you like thrills?
Or do you like the slow movement and views of a ferris wheel?
Imagine yourself on a ferris wheel just for a minute, gently rising above the carnival lights.
Have you ever wondered where this iconic ride came from?
Well, without further ado, let's dive into its story.
It all began at the 1893 Colombian Exposition in Chicago, commonly known as the World's Fair.
And the event was remarkable.
It was a celebration of the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas, and it was designed to showcase the artistic, scientific, and industrial achievements of the But the fair had a unique challenge.
It needed a showpiece that could rival the architectural marvel of the Eiffel Tower, the highlight of the 1889 World's Fair in Paris.
Daniel H. Burnham, the lead architect of the event, thought deeply about how to surpass the grandeur of the Eiffel Tower.
Was it even possible?
Engineers and inventors from across the country pitched ideas, but none captured the bold, innovative spirit Burnham sought until George Ferris Jr.
entered the scene. Ferris, who spent years as a bridge builder and civil engineer, proposed a daring idea, a massive rotating wheel that would lift people high into the sky.
Unlike the smaller wooden wheels of the time, Ferris' innovation would use steel instead of wood and feature nearly 3 ,000 light bulbs, which were a novelty at the time.
The completed wheel would be 264 feet tall, with passenger cars the size of train carriages, each capable of holding up to 60 people.
Critics doubted it could be built safely, let alone function reliably.
It required over 100 ,000 precisely manufactured parts.
Yet Ferris believed in it, he drew plans for the structure, chose skilled engineers to assist him, and kept faith in the project despite the skepticism.
Building the wheel, though, was a monumental undertaking, and it cost a significant amount of money.
Apart from his own contributions, investors paid a fortune to see the dream come true.
The $385 ,000 spent is equivalent to around $15 million today.
Construction began in January 1893, during a harsh Chicago winter.
Workers braved freezing temperatures and strong winds as they excavated the foundation and assembled the massive structure.
In six months' time, they brought Ferris' ambitious vision to life.
On June 21, 1893, Ferris' wheel, known as the big wheel, was unveiled at the Colombian Exposition, and it was an instant sensation.
Towering above the fairgrounds, it offered breathtaking views of Chicago and Lake Michigan.
Over 1 .4 million people rode the wheel during the fair, each paying 50 cents for a 20 -minute spin.
That was a lot of money at the time, but tickets sold easily.
The wheel became the fair's centerpiece, and historians agree.
It led to a new era of grand -scale amusement parks and rides, such as wooden coasters, swing rides, and more.
So what happened to the wheel?
After the fair, the original Ferris wheel was relocated twice, first to Chicago's North Side, and later to the St.
Louis World's Fair.
It was eventually dismantled in 1906.
Today, the Ferris wheel stands as a timeless symbol of joy and amusement, with modern versions like the London Eye and the High Roller in Las Vegas honoring Ferris' legacy.
So what were the 10 irregular verbs you heard in the story?
Let's go through them.
Number one. To think.
To think in the past is thought.
Daniel H. Burnham, the lead architect of the event, thought deeply about how to surpass the grandeur of the Eiffel Tower.
Let's go through some more examples of thought.
She thought long and hard before deciding to move to a new city.
He thought he saw a ghost in the hallway.
Number two. To spend.
To spend in the past is...spent.
Ferris, who spent years as a bridge builder and civil engineer, proposed a daring idea.
She spent hours trying to fix the computer.
We spent the whole day at the beach.
Number three. To draw.
To draw in the past is...drew.
Or sometimes we say drew.
Sounds like a J. Critics doubted it could be built safely, let alone function reliably.
Yet Ferris believed in it.
He drew plans for the structure, chose skilled engineers to assist him, and kept faith in the project despite the skepticism.
Let's go through a few other examples.
The child drew beautiful pictures.
My grandma drew a heart in the sand.
Number four. To choose.
What's to choose in the simple past?
Chose. He drew plans for the structure, chose skilled engineers to assist him, and kept faith in the project despite the skepticism.
He chose to stay home and watch a movie instead of going out.
I chose a salad instead of a hamburger.
Wanna shop Walmart Black Friday deals first?
Walmart Plus members get early access to our hottest deals.
Join now and get 50 % off a one -year annual membership.
Shop Black Friday deals first with Walmart Plus.
See terms at Walmartplus .com.
Number five. To keep.
To keep in the past is...kept.
We just went over this twice, but here we go once again.
Yet Ferris believed in it.
He drew plans for the structure, chose skilled engineers to assist him, and kept faith in the project despite the skepticism.
She kept her favorite childhood books on a special shelf in her room.
He kept his promise to call me.
Number six. To cost.
To cost in the past is...cost.
It doesn't change. Not to mention, it cost a significant amount of money.
Our home renovations cost way more than we budgeted for.
The new car cost a lot of money.
Number seven. To pay.
To pay in the past is...paid.
Apart from his own contributions, investors paid a fortune to see the dream come true.
She paid close attention to her teacher's instructions.
I paid for the expensive dinner with my credit card.
Number eight. To sell.
To sell in the past is...sold.
That was a lot of money at the time, but tickets sold easily.
He sold his car to buy a more fuel -efficient model.
They sold their house last year.
Number nine. To become.
To become in the past is...became.
The wheel became the fair's centerpiece.
More examples? After years of hard work and dedication, she finally became a doctor.
The caterpillar eventually became a butterfly.
Number 10. To lead.
To lead in the past is...led.
The wheel became the fair's centerpiece and led to a new era of grand scale amusement parks and rides, such as wooden coasters, swing rides, and more.
Her strong leadership led the team to victory in the final match.
The artifact's discovery led to groundbreaking research in archaeology.
There were many other simple past tense forms that we introduced in previous lessons.
For example, to come in the past is...came.
To seek in the past is...sought.
To bring in the past is brought.
There were a few more, but in any case, I hope you learned the 10 we just went over.
We're going to do a quiz on them now.
Fill in the blank with the correct past tense form.
Are you ready? They never...mmm...they'd find such a rare book at the flea market.
What's the past tense of to think?
Thought. They never thought they'd find such a rare book at the flea market.
Number two. We...mmm...more than we planned on the vacation, but it was worth every penny.
What's to spend in the past?
Spent. We spent more than we planned on the vacation, but it was worth every penny.
Number three. The artist...mmm...and painted a beautiful sketch of the mountain scenery.
What's the past tense of to draw?
Drew. The artist drew and painted a beautiful sketch of the mountain scenery.
Number four. She...mmm...the red dress over the blue one for the gala.
What's the past tense of to choose?
Chose. She chose the red dress over the blue one for the gala.
Number five. The children...mmm...the secret about the surprise party.
What's the past tense of to keep?
Kept. The children kept the secret about the surprise party.
Number six. The handmade necklace...mmm...a lot, but its sentimental value made it priceless.
What's the past tense of to cost?
Cost. It doesn't change.
The handmade necklace cost a lot, but its sentimental value made it priceless.
Number seven. The couple...mmm...a fortune for their wedding venue.
What's the past tense of to pay?
Paid. The couple paid a fortune for their wedding venue.
Number eight. The bakery...mmm...out of their famous croissants within hours.
What's the past tense of to sell?
Sold. The bakery...sold out of their famous croissants within hours.
Number nine. As the sun set, the sky...mmm...a beautiful mix of orange and pink.
What's the past tense of to become?
Became. As the sun set, the sky became a beautiful mix of orange and pink.
Number 10. The guide...mmm...the group through the dense forest.
What's the past tense of to lead?
Led. The guide led the group through the dense forest.
Thanks for listening.
Now let's hear the story one last time.
Enjoy! Imagine yourself on a ferris wheel, gently rising above the carnival lights.
Have you ever wondered where this iconic ride came from?
Well, let's dive into its story.
It all began at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, commonly known as the World's Fair.
And the event was remarkable.
It was a celebration of the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas, and it was designed to showcase the artistic, scientific, and industrial achievements of the era.
But the fair had a unique challenge.
It needed a showpiece that could rival the architectural marvel of the Eiffel Tower, the highlight of the 1889 World's Fair in Paris.
Daniel H. Burnham, the lead architect of the event, thought deeply about how to surpass the grandeur of the Eiffel Tower.
Was it even possible?
Engineers and inventors from across the country pitched ideas, but none captured the bold, innovative spirit Burnham sought, until George Ferris Jr.
entered the scene. Ferris, who spent years as a bridge builder and civil engineer, proposed a daring idea, a massive rotating wheel that would lift people high into the sky.
Unlike the smaller wooden wheels of the time, Ferris's innovation would use steel instead of wood and feature nearly 3 ,000 light bulbs, which were a novelty at the time.
The completed wheel would be 264 feet tall, with passenger cars the size of train carriages, each capable of holding up to 60 people.
Critics doubted it could be built safely, let alone function reliably.
It required over 100 ,000 precisely manufactured parts.
Yet Ferris believed in it, he drew plans for the structure, chose skilled engineers to assist him, and kept faith in the project despite the skepticism.
Building the wheel, though, was a monumental undertaking, and it cost a significant amount of money.
Apart from his own contributions, investors paid a fortune to see the dream come true.
The $385 ,000 spent is equivalent to around $15 million today.
Construction began in January 1893, during a harsh Chicago winter.
Workers braved freezing temperatures and strong winds as they excavated the foundation and assembled the massive structure.
In six months' time, they brought Ferris's ambitious vision to life.
On June 21, 1893, Ferris's wheel, known as the Big Wheel, was unveiled at the Columbian Exposition, and it was an instant sensation.
Towering above the fairgrounds, it offered breathtaking views of Chicago and Lake Michigan.
Over 1 .4 million people rode the wheel during the fair, each paying 50 cents for a 20 -minute spin.
That was a lot of money at the time, but tickets sold easily.
The wheel became the fair's centerpiece, and historians agree.
It led to a new era of grand -scale amusement parks and rides, such as wooden coasters, swing rides, and more.
So what happened to the wheel?
After the fair, the original Ferris wheel was relocated twice, first to Chicago's North Side, and later to the St.
Louis World's Fair.
It was eventually dismantled in 1906.
Today, the Ferris wheel stands as a timeless symbol of joy and amusement, with modern versions like the London Eye and the High Roller in Las Vegas honoring Ferris's legacy.
Thanks for listening.
Before we wrap up today's lesson, let's go through a few fun facts about Ferris wheels.
So as we learned today, Ferris created the first modern Ferris wheel, but I mentioned that it was dismantled.
Dismantled means taken apart, and it was actually moved twice before it was scrapped and before it was thrown away.
It's sort of depressing in my mind because it was actually exploded with dynamite, according to Smithsonian Magazine.
My first thoughts after hearing this was why in the world would you get rid of the first Ferris wheel?
Shouldn't it be in a museum or something?
Now, there's actually a few reasons.
First of all, it was in a prime location, and there was pressure to build expensive real estate where it was located.
Secondly, it was expensive to maintain.
Thirdly, there was a decline in popularity of Ferris wheels as modern theme parks rose in popularity.
The original plan before it was scrapped was to create a sort of beer garden where you could drink and see vaudeville shows on there, but the liquor license they applied for wasn't granted.
Can you imagine if that had actually happened?
Some of you might say, well, I've seen a Ferris wheel on the Chicago skyline.
You're not wrong. There is one.
Chicago is home to the Centennial wheel, which is a permanent Ferris wheel located at Navy Pier, and it's not as tall as the original, but it does offer panoramic views of the city skyline and Lake Michigan, and it's sort of in honor of the original Ferris wheel in Chicago.
It's open year round, so if you want to visit, you won't freeze your booty off.
There's climate control inside those gondolas.
So, yeah, go visit.
But the last fun fact is actually something I researched on AI.
I wanted to know where are the most notable Ferris wheels in the world?
And I wasn't sure what AI was going to come up with because it's sort of a subjective question, but I have to say the answers were very well organized.
Each of their choices had three criteria for what made it notable.
The height, the views, and a cool factor about it.
So in terms of height alone, I have to say engineers around the world are so competitive.
So a Ferris wheel was unveiled in Nanqing, China.
I think that's how you pronounce it, in May 2006 at 525 feet tall.
Then a few years later, in 2008, the Singapore flyer was opened at 541 feet tall, so from 525 in China to 541 in Singapore.
Then in 2014, the high roller in Vegas was unveiled at 550 feet tall.
They just kept getting higher.
So then Dubai came and built the absolute tallest Ferris wheel in the world, Eye in Dubai, at a whopping 820 feet high.
The capsules are large enough to host small events or parties, which is pretty cool.
And that's also what it says under its cool factor.
In any case, Eye in Dubai is the tallest Ferris wheel in the world.
In my personal opinion, the views and cool factor kind of go together.
Here are three other notable Ferris wheels.
So if you've ever been to Las Vegas, you know the city loves lights.
It's the city that never sleeps.
Or is that New York?
Las Vegas also doesn't sleep.
So you can actually party at a bar in the Las Vegas high roller, their Ferris wheel, while enjoying a view of the stunning city lights below.
The next we had was the Singapore Flyer.
From the largest observation deck in Asia, you can have a multi -course meal while looking at Marina Bay, gardens by the bay, and even parts of Indonesia and Malaysia on clear days.
That sounds very chic.
Very nice. So ride the Singapore Flyer if you want those special views and a very nice meal.
Last but not least, there's the London Eye, located on the south bank of the River Thames.
If you've ever been to London, you know it's right next to some iconic landmarks, like Big Ben.
And AI tells me that you can also see Buckingham Palace and St.
Paul's car. Is that true?
I never actually went on the London Eye.
The line was too long, so you guys tell me.
Which Ferris wheel did you like riding on most in your life?
It's kind of funny.
It is pretty memorable, I guess.
The most interesting Ferris wheel I rode on was probably the one in front of the Louvre in Paris.
I think there's a big one there now, but there used to be a really small one when I studied abroad there many years ago.
In any case, I hope you enjoyed that lesson.
Be sure to sign up to premium content if you're interested in the bonus material that goes along with this lesson, including the transcript, the premium transcript reader, a quiz, a video, and more.
You can find the link to that at americanenglishpodcast .com.
Thank you for listening to this episode of the American English Podcast.
Remember, it's my goal here to not only help you improve your listening comprehension, but to show you how to speak like someone from the States.
If you want to receive the full transcript for this episode, or you just want to support this podcast, make sure to sign up to premium content on americanenglishpodcast .com.
Thanks and hope to see you soon.
Whenever you're online shopping through your favorite businesses, whether that be Allo or Gemshark, and you get the rush of adding something to your car and heading to checkout, so rarely do you ever think about the business behind the business.
The business that makes selling so easy, and for shoppers, buying so easy.
For millions of businesses, that business is Shopify.
It is home of the number one checkout on the planet with a shop pay that boots conversions up to 50%, meaning there is way less cards going abandoned and way more sales going up.
So if you're into growing your business, your commerce platform better be ready to sell whenever your customers are scrolling or strolling on the web in your store, in their feed and everywhere in between.
Businesses that sell more sell on Shopify.
Upgrade your business and get the same checkout as Gemshark uses.
Sign up for your $1 per month trial period at Shopify .com slash Sonoro, all lowercase.
Go to Shopify .com slash Sonoro to upgrade your selling today.
Shopify .com slash Sonoro.
