雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today, I'd like to discuss the history of the bicycle. As you know, the first bicycle, called the 'draisine', was invented in 1817 by a German baron. It had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground to move forward. However, it wasn't until the 1860s that pedals were added to the front wheel in France. This design, known as the 'velocipede', was popular but uncomfortable due to its rigid frame and wooden wheels. Later, in the 1870s, the 'penny-farthing' emerged with a large front wheel and a small rear wheel, allowing greater speed but posing safety risks. Finally, the modern 'safety bicycle' with two equal-sized wheels and a chain drive was introduced in the 1880s, which became the basis for bicycles we use today.