Good morning, class. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. You might think it's a simple invention, but its development took over a century. The first two-wheeled vehicle, called the 'draisine', appeared in 1817. It had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground. In the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel, creating the 'velocipede'. However, this design was uncomfortable and hard to control. The breakthrough came in 1885 when John Kemp Starley introduced the 'safety bicycle' with a chain drive and two equal-sized wheels. This design became the basis for modern bicycles. Interestingly, the pneumatic tire, invented in 1888 by John Boyd Dunlop, was initially intended for bicycles, not cars.
❓ 1885年推出的安全自行车的主要优势是什么？
A. A. 它的前轮上装有踏板。
B. B. 由于采用了链条传动和等径车轮，它更加舒适且更易于操控。
C. C. 它是第一辆使用充气轮胎的车辆。
D. D. 它允许骑手用脚在地面上推动前行。
✅ 正确答案
B. It was more comfortable and easier to control due to its chain drive and equal wheels.