History of Bicycles
Listen to the following passage about the history of bicycles:
The bicycle was invented in the early 19th century, and it has evolved significantly over the years. The first bicycles were known as draisines, invented by Karl Drais in 1817. They were made of wood and did not have pedals. Riders would push themselves along with their feet. Later, in the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel, leading to the creation of the penny-farthing design, which had a large front wheel and a small rear wheel. This design was quite popular but also dangerous, leading to many accidents. By the late 1800s, the safety bicycle was invented, featuring two wheels of equal size and a safer riding position. Today, bicycles are a common mode of transportation and recreation worldwide, and they come in various styles and designs.
Note: This question has been adapted from its original format to accommodate a reading-based version. In the official TOEFL exam, speaking and listening sections require verbal responses and audio prompts, which are not represented here. Please note that this adaptation may not fully reflect the nature or difficulty of the official exam. The audio feature for these sections will be available soon.