Good morning. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. While many people credit the 19th-century inventors for its creation, the first two-wheeled vehicle actually appeared in 1817, invented by a German baron named Karl von Drais. His machine, called the 'draisine', had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground to move. Later, in the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel in France. Interestingly, the iconic high-wheeled 'penny-farthing' became popular in the 1870s, but it was dangerous because riders sat high above the ground. It wasn't until the 1880s that the safety bicycle, with two equal-sized wheels and a chain drive, made cycling accessible to the general public.
❓ Según la conferencia, ¿cuál fue una gran desventaja de la bicicleta 'penny-farthing'?
A. A. Era demasiado caro para que la mayoría de la gente lo comprara.
B. B. No tenía frenos y era difícil de controlar.
C. C. El jinete se sentaba muy por encima del suelo, lo que lo hacía peligroso.
D. D. Requería que los jinetes empujaran los pies por el suelo.
✅ 正确答案
C. The rider sat high above the ground, making it dangerous.