雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Today we're going to discuss the history of the postal service. Before the 19th century, sending a letter was very expensive and slow. In the UK, the cost was based on the distance traveled and the number of sheets of paper. The receiver, not the sender, had to pay. This often led to people refusing to accept letters. In 1840, Rowland Hill introduced the Penny Post, which charged a flat rate of one penny for any letter weighing up to half an ounce within the UK. This made postage affordable for ordinary people and led to a huge increase in mail volume.