Page 79 - Viva Real English 4 : Ebook

fly high enough. When this happened, many kites were tied together in trains. The

first kite was sent as high as it could sail. Its string was then attached to the second
kite, which would help the first kite go even higher. A third or even fourth kite
could be added to the train.

The American inventor Benjamin
Franklin once conducted a famous
experiment using a kite. Franklin
wanted to show that lightning was a

form of electricity. He thought that he
could prove it if he sent a kite to catch
the current from lightning flashes.
Franklin’s kite was made of light
sticks and silk fabric. An iron wire
was attached to its frame. At the end
of the long string of the kite he tied a
brass key. Then at the end of the string
he tied a silk ribbon which he would

hold while the kite flew. He knew silk
would not conduct electricity well,
and hoped it would keep him safe.

On a stormy afternoon Franklin set
out to try his kite. A brisk breeze was
blowing. Franklin’s kite rose quickly
into the dark clouds. Raindrops were

pelting down. He needed to keep the
silk ribbon dry because once wet it
would conduct electricity. Franklin
reached out and tapped the key with his finger. Sparks flew! It was electricity.

Benjamin Franklin was very lucky on that day: not because he proved his theory,
but because he didn’t get killed! Those who fly kites must remember this: no kites
on a stormy day. Metal should never be used to make a kite. Also, kites should

never be flown around power lines. It is dangerous to fly kites from a roof terrace
that does not have a parapet. People often fall fatally off the edge of the roof when

trains : (here) a number of things in a conduct : allow to pass
line brisk : cold and pleasant
brass : a bright yellow metal fatally : in a manner that can cause

death
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