填空题

Let’s proceed to the main exhibit hall and look at some of the actual vehicles that have played a prominent role in speeding up mail delivery. Consider how long it used to take to send a letter across a relatively short (36) . Back in the 1600’s it took two weeks on (37) to get a letter from Boston to New York, a distance of about 260 miles. Crossing a river was also a (38) . Ferry service was so (39) that a carrier would sometimes wait hours just to catch a ferry. For journeys inland, there was always the stagecoach, but the ride was by no means (40) because it had to be (41) with other passengers. The post office was pretty ingenious about some routes. In the nineteenth century, in the Southwestern desert, for instance, camels were (42) in to help get the mail through. In Alaska, reindeer were used. This practice was discontinued because of the (43) temperament of these animals. We’ll stop hem a minute so that you can enter this replica of a railway mail car, (44) . In fact, the United States transported most bulk mail by train for nearly 100 years. (45) . Please take a few moments to look around. I hope you’ll enjoy your tour. And as you continue on your own, may I suggest you visit our impressive philatelic collection. (46) .