雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. The first pedal-powered bicycle was invented in the 1860s in France. However, it was not until the 1880s that the chain drive was introduced, making the bicycle much more efficient. Interestingly, the safety bicycle, which had two equal-sized wheels, became popular in the 1890s because it was easier to ride than the earlier penny-farthing. By the early 20th century, bicycles were widely used for transportation and recreation, leading to improvements in road conditions. So, as you can see, the bicycle's evolution was driven by both technological innovation and social needs.