A Clear View: The Story Behind the 1903 Windshield Wiper Patent
Imagine riding in a vehicle during a winter storm, but the driver cannot see the road ahead because ice and sleet are coating the front glass. Today, a driver simply flips a switch to turn on the windshield wipers. In the winter of 1902, however, that simple solution did not exist. During a visit to New York City, a traveler from Alabama named Mary Anderson noticed this exact problem while riding on an electric streetcar.
At the turn of the twentieth century, electric streetcars—also called trolleys—were a popular way to travel through busy city streets. On that freezing day in New York, falling sleet stuck to the streetcar's front window, blocking the motorman's view of the tracks and traffic. To see clearly, the motorman had to either lean his head out the side window into the freezing wind or open the front glass panels, which let icy air and snow blow straight inside. Even worse, drivers sometimes had to stop the streetcar completely, step outside into the storm, and wipe the glass off by hand.
- sleet:
- Partly frozen rain or ice pellets that fall from the sky during cold weather.
- motorman:
- The person who drives an electric streetcar or trolley.
- visibility:
- How clearly and how far a person can see under certain weather conditions.
- frigid:
- Extremely cold.
- dependable:
- Reliable and able to be trusted to work properly.
- commercial:
- Related to buying, selling, and making a profit in business.
- expired:
- Reached the end of the time when an official document or agreement is valid.
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.
Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Purpose
Analyze what the author aims to do and how choices serve audience and purpose.
Structure
Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.
Vocabulary
Practice words from the passage with a printable worksheet.
Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
Fix the Sentence
Practice editing sentences drawn from this passage with a printable worksheet.
Ready to use this passage in class?
Start free with the Mixed worksheet and 3 PDF downloads each week. Focused skill sets depend on plan.
Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What is the main idea of this passage, and which two details from the text support it?
- 2In 1902, why were the methods streetcar motormen used to see through sleet unsafe or uncomfortable?
You Might Also Like
About this explanatory article passage for Upper Elementary
“A Clear View: The Story Behind the 1903 Windshield Wiper Patent” is a explanatory article reading passage about Inventions and Patents, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 5 minutes to read (694 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.