Good morning. Today we're going to discuss the history of the postal service. In the 19th century, the introduction of the penny post in Britain revolutionized communication. Before that, letters were paid for by the recipient, not the sender, and the cost depended on distance. This made sending letters very expensive for ordinary people. The penny post, introduced in 1840, standardized the cost at just one penny regardless of distance, and the sender paid in advance. This simple change led to a massive increase in the volume of mail. By the end of the century, over a billion letters were being sent annually in Britain alone.
❓ What was the main effect of the introduction of the penny post in 1840?
A. It reduced the cost of sending letters for recipients.
B. It made sending letters cheaper and more accessible for the general public.
C. It increased the distance letters could be sent.
D. It required senders to pay more for longer distances.
✅ 正确答案
It made sending letters cheaper and more accessible for the general public.