雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Today we're going to discuss the history of the postal service in Britain. Before the 19th century, sending a letter was very expensive, and the cost was usually paid by the recipient, not the sender. This meant that many people refused to accept letters they couldn't afford. In 1840, Sir Rowland Hill introduced the Penny Post, which charged a uniform rate of one penny for any letter weighing up to half an ounce, and the sender had to pay in advance. This reform made postal services accessible to ordinary people and led to a massive increase in the volume of mail. Interestingly, the first adhesive postage stamp, the 'Penny Black', was also issued that same year.