About150yearsagothepersonwhosenttheletterdidnothavetopay.Thepersonwhogottheletterhadtopaythepostage(邮资)whichcostalot.
InasmallvillageinEngland“Here’saletterforMissAliceBrown”saidamailman.“I’mAliceBrown”agirlofabouteighteensaidinalowvoice.Themailmangavehertheletter.
Alicelookedattheenvelope(信封)foraminuteandthenhandeditbacktothemailman.
“I’msorryIcan’ttakeit”shesaid.“Idon’thaveenoughmoneytopaythepostage.”
Thepeoplestandingaroundwereverysorryforthegirl.ThenagentlemancameuptothemailmanandpaidthepostageforAlice’sletter.
Whenthegentlemangaveherthelettershesaidwithasmile“Ohthankyouverymuchsir.ThisletterisfrommybrotherwhowenttoLondontolookforjobs.I’vewaitedalongtimeforthisletterbutnowIdon’tneedit.Idon’thavetoopentheenvelopebecausethereisnothinginside.”
“Really?”thegentlemansaidinsurprise.“Howdoyouknowthat?”“Hetoldmethathewouldputsomesignsontheenvelope.Looksirthiscrossinthecornermeansthatheiswellandthiscirclemeanshehasfoundajob.That’sverygoodnews.”
ThegentlemanwasSirRowlandHill.HedidnotforgetAliceandherletter.
Hethoughtandthoughtformanyyears.“Thepostagehastobemuchlower”hesaidatlast.“Whataboutapenny(便士)foraletter?Andthepersonwhosendstheletterpaysthepostage.Hehastobuyastampandputitontheenvelope.”
Thegovernmentdecidedtoadopt(采纳)theplan.Thefirststampwasputoutin1840.Itwascalledthe“PennyBlack”.IthadapictureoftheQueenonit.
根据短文内容填空，每空填一词。
1.About150yearsagothepersonwhosenttheletterdidn’thavetopayforthepostage_________thepersonwho_________theletterhadto.
2.Thegentlemanfeltvery__________whenthegirlsaidtherewasn’t_________insidetheenvelope.
3.Alice’sbrotherwassucha_________youngmanthathejustputsome________ontheenvelopetotellhersisterhewaswell.
4.In1840thefirststamp_________the“PennyBlack”wasputout________apictureoftheQueenonit.
5.Afterthatpeopleneededto________apennybuyinga_______tosendaletter.