Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to look at the history of the bicycle. Now, you might think the bicycle is a fairly modern invention, but in fact, the first two-wheeled vehicle, called the draisine, was invented in Germany in 1817. It had no pedals, so riders pushed their feet against the ground to move. Later, in the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel in France, which made riding faster but also more dangerous. It wasn't until the 1880s that the chain drive was introduced, allowing the rear wheel to be powered, which is the design we still use today. So, to summarize, the key change that made bicycles safer and more practical was the addition of the chain drive.
❓ Что, по словам лектора, было главным преимуществом цепной передачи, введённой в 1880-х годах?
A. A. Это сделало велосипеды быстрее, чем раньше.
B. B. Это позволяло всаднику безопасно приводить в движение заднее колесо.
C. C. Это полностью устранило необходимость в педалях.
D. D. Это сделало велосипеды легче и удобнее для переноски.
✅ 正确答案
B. It allowed the rider to power the rear wheel safely.