Today we're going to discuss the history of the postal service. Before the 19th century, delivering letters was slow and unreliable. In Britain, the postal system was reformed by Rowland Hill in 1840. He introduced the penny post, which charged a uniform rate of one penny for any letter up to half an ounce, regardless of distance. This was a major change because previously the cost depended on how far the letter traveled. Hill's idea also included the use of postage stamps, making prepayment possible. The first stamp, the Penny Black, was issued in May 1840. Interestingly, it was printed in sheets of 240 stamps, and each stamp had to be cut from the sheet with scissors because there were no perforations yet.
❓ What was the main change introduced by Rowland Hill's postal reform in 1840?
A. A) The cost of postage became based on the distance traveled.
B. B) The cost of postage became uniform regardless of distance.
C. C) Letters could only be sent within Britain.
D. D) Postage stamps were first used, but they were very expensive.
✅ 正确答案
B) The cost of postage became uniform regardless of distance.