雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, class. Today we're going to discuss the history of the postal service. As you know, the first organized postal systems appeared in ancient Persia around 550 BC, but they were mainly for royal communication. It wasn't until the 19th century that postal services became accessible to the general public. In 1840, Britain introduced the Penny Post, which standardized the cost of sending a letter regardless of distance. This was a revolutionary idea because previously, postage was paid by the recipient, not the sender. The reform led to a dramatic increase in mail volume and inspired other countries to adopt similar systems. Now, let's look at some key figures...