In today's lecture, we'll discuss the history of the bicycle. The first bicycle, invented in the early 19th century, had no pedals; riders pushed their feet along the ground. Later, the penny-farthing, with its large front wheel, became popular in the 1870s, but it was dangerous due to its height. The safety bicycle, introduced in 1885, featured equal-sized wheels and a chain drive, making it much more stable. This design quickly replaced the penny-farthing and is the basis for modern bicycles. Interestingly, the pneumatic tire, invented in 1888, was originally developed for bicycles, not cars, which greatly improved comfort and speed.
❓ Какое было главное преимущество безопасного велосипеда перед пенни-фартингом?
A. A. Он был легче и удобнее для переноски.
B. B. Она имела цепной привод и колёса одинакового размера, что делало её более устойчивой.
C. C. Это был первый велосипед с педалями.
D. D. Он был дешевле в производстве, чем более ранние модели.
✅ 正确答案
B. It had a chain drive and equal-sized wheels, making it more stable.