Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Now, you might think the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, and you'd be right. However, the first two-wheeled vehicle, called a 'draisine', appeared in 1817, invented by a German baron. It had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground. Later, in the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel in France. But these early bicycles had wooden frames and iron wheels, making rides extremely bumpy. It wasn't until the 1880s that the 'safety bicycle' with a chain drive and two equal-sized wheels became popular, which is closer to what we ride today.
❓ Каков был основной недостаток самых первых двухколесных транспортных средств, упомянутых в лекции?
A. Они были слишком тяжёлыми, чтобы на них ездить.
B. У них не было педалей, и их нужно было толкать ногами.
C. У них были деревянные рамы, которые легко ломались.
D. Они использовались только немецкими баронами.
✅ 正确答案
They had no pedals and required pushing with feet.