Today we're going to discuss the history of the postal service. In the 19th century, the introduction of the postage stamp revolutionized communication. Before stamps, the recipient, not the sender, usually paid for the mail. This often led to refusal of delivery. The first adhesive stamp, the Penny Black, was issued in Britain in 1840. It featured a portrait of Queen Victoria and cost one penny. Interestingly, it was not printed in black for long, because the black ink was difficult to cancel with a black postmark. Therefore, later stamps were printed in other colors, like the Penny Red.
❓ Why was the Penny Black replaced by stamps of other colors?
A. A. The black stamp was too expensive to produce.
B. B. The black color made it difficult to see the cancellation mark.
C. C. The portrait of Queen Victoria was not clear in black.
D. D. The stamp was not popular among the public.
✅ 正确答案
B. The black color made it difficult to see the cancellation mark.