Good morning, class. Today we're going to discuss the history of the postal service. Before the 19th century, mail delivery was slow and unreliable. Letters were carried by horse riders or ships, and delivery could take weeks or even months. In 1840, the first postage stamp, the Penny Black, was introduced in Britain. This changed everything. It made prepayment possible and standardized the cost, regardless of distance. As a result, mail volume increased dramatically. By the late 19th century, railways and steamships sped up delivery, and the first international postal union was formed in 1874 to coordinate cross-border mail.
❓ 根据讲座内容，1840年引入邮票的主要影响是什么？
A. A. 它降低了长途邮件投递的成本。
B. B. 它使邮件投递比以前更快了。
C. C. 它允许寄件人预付费用，并统一了资费标准。
D. D. 它促成了国际邮政联盟的成立。
✅ 正确答案
C. It allowed senders to pay in advance and standardized the rate.