Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Although many people think the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, early prototypes appeared as far back as the 15th century. However, the first practical pedal-driven bicycle was developed in 1839 by a Scottish blacksmith named Kirkpatrick Macmillan. His design had pedals attached to the front wheel, which made it difficult to steer. Later, in 1885, John Kemp Starley introduced the 'safety bicycle' with a chain drive and two equal-sized wheels, which became the basis for modern bikes. So, the key improvement in Starley's design was the use of a chain to drive the rear wheel, making riding much safer and more efficient.
❓ 講義によると、ジョン・ケンプ・スターレーの1885年の自転車デザインの主な利点は何でしたか？
A. A) 前輪にペダルが取り付けられ、より良い操作性を実現していた。
B. B) チェーンドライブを使用して後輪を駆動し、安全性と効率を向上させた。
C. C) それは15世紀にまで遡る、史上初めて発明された自転車でした。
D. D) それは以前のすべてのモデルよりも軽く、そして安価でした。
✅ 正确答案
B) It used a chain drive to power the rear wheel, improving safety and efficiency.