雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Now, most people think the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, but in fact, a primitive version appeared in France in the 1790s. It had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground. However, it was not until 1860s that pedals were added to the front wheel. This design was called the 'boneshaker' because riding on cobbled streets was extremely uncomfortable. Later, in the 1870s, inventors in England developed the 'penny-farthing' with a large front wheel, which allowed greater speed but was dangerous to mount and dismount. Finally, in 1885, John Kemp Starley introduced the 'safety bicycle' with two equal-sized wheels and a chain drive, making it much safer and more practical. This design became the basis for modern bicycles.