雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Today we're going to discuss the history of the postal service in Britain. In the early 19th century, before the reforms of 1840, sending a letter was very expensive. The cost was based on the distance traveled and the number of sheets of paper, and it was usually paid by the recipient, not the sender. This often caused problems, as people would refuse to accept letters they couldn't afford. In 1840, Sir Rowland Hill introduced the Penny Post, which charged a flat rate of one penny for a letter of up to half an ounce, regardless of distance. This revolutionary change made postage affordable for ordinary people, and the number of letters sent increased dramatically within a few years.