雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the postal service. In the 19th century, the introduction of the penny post in Britain revolutionized communication. Before that, postage was paid by the recipient, and the cost depended on the distance traveled. The penny post, introduced in 1840, charged a flat rate of one penny for any letter weighing up to half an ounce, regardless of distance. This made sending letters affordable for ordinary people. Interestingly, the first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black, was also issued that year. However, it was soon replaced by the Penny Red in 1841 because the black stamp was difficult to cancel.