For many students who desire to move around but not far freely, one of the most common vehicles is the bicycle. For such a seemingly simple invention, its story is not that simple.
Most historians trace its origin back to 1817, when a German nobleman named Karl von Drais invented a wooden, two-wheeled machine that riders moved forward with their feet. His invention became popular in both England and France, where it eventually became known as the velocipede. Unfortunately, it was eventually banned as a danger to pedestrians and was rarely seen after the early 1820s.
Things were quiet for several decades until the bicycle development took off in the 1860s. An important milestone happened in Paris in 1863 when pedals were added to the front axle (轴). This occurred in Pierre Michaux’s workshop, but it’s unclear whether he or his employee, Pierre Lallement, should be given credit for the innovation Lallement moved to the United States, where he obtained a patent for “improvements in velocipedes” in 1866. These new machines proved to be popular, and the name “bicycle” had come into use by 1869. However, many people referred to them as “bone shakers”, which described their clunky ride due to a heavy wooden frame and steel wheels.
In the 1870s, “high wheelers” or “penny-farthings” became popular. However, with a large front wheel and a much smaller rear wheel, they could be dangerous, if riders had to stop suddenly, as they would “take a header” when their momentum ( 动量) carried them over the front wheel onto their heads. Eventually, English inventor John Kemp Starley designed a “safety bicycle” with two same small wheels, a chain drive, and a set of gears. With tires added in and brake systems bettered in the following decades, bicycle production had skyrocketed to over one million bicycles by 1899.
Mass production of bicycles increased their popularity greatly, since they became affordable for the average person. Over the course of the 20th century, manufacturers continued to improve the features and design of bicycles as new technologies appeared.
56. Why was the early bicycle forbidden after its invention?
A.It was simply pushed by riders’ feet. |
B.It was considered as a threat to traffic safety. |
C.It was made in Germany with cheap materials. |
D.It lacked a patent from an official organization. |
57. What change did the 1860s see in the bicycle?
A.The growth of its manufacturers. |
B.The replacement of its front axle. |
C.An improvement in its drive part. |
D.An advance in its production environment. |
58. What does the underlined word “clunky” in Paragraph 3 mean?
A.Stable and safe. | B.Easy but expensive. | C.Convenient and interesting. | D.Heavy and awkward. |
59. What was a feature of high wheelers?
A.It had a set of tires. |
B.It moved at quite a low speed. |
C.Its two wheels were different in size. |
D.Its brake system was highly sensitive |
60. What is the main idea of the text?
A.Bicycles have a long and rich history. |
B.The world becomes smaller due to bicycles. |
C.Bicycles have gained wide popularity worldwide. |
D.New technologies encourage bicycles’ development. |