Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Now, many people think the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, but in fact, a crude version appeared as early as the 1790s in France. However, it had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground. The first pedal-driven bicycle was developed in Scotland in 1839 by a blacksmith named Kirkpatrick Macmillan. Interestingly, his invention was not widely adopted because of concerns about safety and the poor condition of roads. It wasn't until the 1880s, with the introduction of the safety bicycle, which had equal-sized wheels and a chain drive, that cycling became popular among the general public.
❓ According to the lecture, why was Kirkpatrick Macmillan's pedal-driven bicycle not widely adopted?
A. A. It was too expensive to produce.
B. B. There were safety concerns and poor road conditions.
C. C. The design was not patented.
D. D. People preferred the earlier French version.
✅ 正确答案
B. There were safety concerns and poor road conditions.