Today we're going to discuss the history of the postal service. In the 19th century, mail was often delivered by horse-drawn coaches, which could take weeks to cross a country. The invention of the railway in the 1830s revolutionized mail delivery, cutting travel time dramatically. By the 1850s, most major cities had rail connections, and mail could be sorted and transported overnight. However, it wasn't until the introduction of the penny post in 1840 that ordinary people could afford to send letters, as the cost was previously very high. This led to a massive increase in the volume of mail, which in turn prompted the development of more efficient sorting systems.
❓ According to the lecture, what was a major consequence of the penny post introduced in 1840?
A. A) The use of horse-drawn coaches declined immediately.
B. B) The volume of mail increased significantly.
C. C) Railway networks were expanded to rural areas.
D. D) The cost of sending letters became even higher.