Read the article about Grand Central Terminal, a train station in New York City, and then answer the following questions. Grand Central Terminal in New York City is possibly America's most famous railway station. Visitors are likely to see not only commuters, but also tourists taking photos of the world-famous clock or enjoying the shops. It's actually the third station to occupy the site. The first was Grand Central Depot, built by Cornelius Vanderbilt, which opened in 1871. In 1899, this was replaced by a larger building named Grand Central Station. It wasn't until 1903 that construction of the station now known as Grand Central Terminal began. As the station needed to continue operating, only limited work could be done during the day. This meant the project took ten years to complete. Another reason for this was that the construction company didn't hire enough workers. Before work on Grand Central Terminal began, people had complained for years about pollution from steam trains running through the city. In 1902, there was an accident between two trains near the station entrance. It happened when one of the drivers couldn't see ahead because of the steam. The city council quickly agreed the area needed to be safer, so they decided that steam trains would be stopped from operating in the city. The Vanderbilt family therefore announced that their new station and trains would only use electricity. However, steam trains continued to run until the new station was ready, so work had to be paused regularly to allow the steam trains to pass. When it was finished, the new station looked impressive. The Vanderbilts wanted to emphasise that it was one of the world's first all-electric buildings, so they installed 4000 light bulbs. These regular light bulbs remained in use until 2008, when they were replaced with energy-efficient bulbs. The station's design also included slopes for passengers. In contrast to other stations, which only had stairs, passengers could now quickly get to different parts of the station without having to carry suitcases up and down steps. The new terminal had a huge impact on the area's business district because the majority of the station was moved underground. This allowed more space on the streets above for new shops and businesses. It also improved air quality. However, this move wasn't straightforward. Heavy machinery to break rocks could only be used when passengers weren't present, which meant it couldn't be done quickly. Additionally, once the digging was done, workers had to wait for clear tracks before removing rock. Perhaps the most famous building constructed above the station is the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Guests arriving by train could access the hotel without going outside the station, thanks to an elevator which linked the two buildings. It was used by important people, including President Roosevelt. However, another man, General John Pershing, had the honour of using it before anyone else. He suffered ill health, so couldn't walk too far. Buildings show their age over time, and a project to restore the station began in the 1990s, which included cleaning the ceiling. As a record of the past, however, a small area of ceiling was left in its natural state. Also, as the building originally had just one set of stairs, another was added. The new stairs were built higher than the old ones to indicate that they were a later addition. When it was built, Grand Central Terminal was seen as a cultural centre, with people enjoying its restaurants, or watching movies in its own cinema. Today, there are even tennis courts, although few people realise that these were originally studios where many famous films were made. Nowadays, Grand Central Terminal is a symbol of New York and one of the world's top ten tourist attractions. 1 When was the work on Grand Central Terminal started? 2 What caused steam trains to be banned from New York City? 3 How did the Vanderbilts demonstrate the station building's use of electricity? 4 What new feature made it easier for people to move around the station? 5 What change in the station's location had a positive effect on the local area? 6 Who was the first person to travel to the hotel above the station in a special elevator? 7 What was done in the 1990 s to provide information about the building's history? Give two details. . 8 Which part of the station was later converted into sports facilities?

Answer:

\(1903\)
accident
4000 light bulbs
slopes
the station was (moved) underground / moved underground
General John Pershing
Award 1 mark for each detail up to a maximum 2 marks: small area of ceiling was left in its natural state (new) stairs were built higher (than the old ones)
studios

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