In today's lecture, we'll discuss the history of the bicycle. The first practical bicycle, called the 'draisine', was invented in Germany in 1817 by Karl von Drais. It had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground. In the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel, creating the 'velocipede'. However, it was nicknamed the 'boneshaker' due to its uncomfortable ride on cobblestone streets. Later, in the 1880s, the 'safety bicycle' was introduced with two equal-sized wheels and a chain drive, making it much safer and more popular. This design is the basis for modern bicycles.
❓ “安全自行车”比早期车型更受欢迎的主要原因是什么？
A. A. 它比之前的自行车更轻便、更快捷。
B. B. 它的座椅更舒适，轮胎也更柔软。
C. C. 它更安全，因为其车轮尺寸相同且采用链条驱动。
D. D. 它的制造成本比脚踏车更低。
✅ 正确答案
C. It was safer because of its equal-sized wheels and chain drive.