Practice mode Reading Comprehension

What is the main point of the passage about the history of the bicycle?

Read the passage: The bicycle did not appear in a single moment of genius but developed step by step over most of the nineteenth century. In 1817 the German inventor Karl von Drais built a wooden 'running machine' with two wheels but no pedals; riders pushed it along with their feet. Later designs added pedals fixed directly to the front wheel, which led to the penny-farthing, with its huge front wheel and tiny rear one. Riding it was fast but dangerous. In the 1880s the so-called safety bicycle, with two wheels of similar size and a chain driving the rear wheel, made cycling far easier. When air-filled rubber tyres arrived soon afterwards, the basic shape of the modern bicycle was complete.

Correct answer B. The modern bicycle developed gradually through a series of improvements.

Explanation

The opening sentence says the bicycle developed step by step, and the passage traces each stage from the running machine to the safety bicycle, which is its main point.

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Answer checked 11 October 2026 How we write and check questions

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Correct answer D. Shrinking back up the valley

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What is the author’s main purpose in the passage about brisk walking?

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Correct answer D. Careful to avoid waste and unnecessary spending

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Question 04 Reading Comprehension

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What is the main point of the passage about the history of the bicycle?

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