雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the postal service in Britain. One key figure is Rowland Hill, who in 1837 proposed a uniform penny post. This meant that the cost of sending a letter was based on weight, not distance. Prior to this, recipients often had to pay high fees, which many could not afford. Hill's reform made postage affordable for the general public. Interestingly, the first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black, was introduced in 1840, featuring a portrait of Queen Victoria. It was an immediate success, and within a year, the volume of mail had doubled.