To us, it seems so natural to put up an umbrella to keep the water off when it rains. But in fact the umbrella was not invented as protection against the rain. Its first use was as a shade (遮蔽) against the sun.
Nobody knows who first invented it, but the umbrella was used in very ancient times. Probably the first to use it were the Chinese, back in the eleventh century BC.
We know that the umbrella was used in ancient Egypt and Babylon as a sunshade. And there
was a strange thing connected with its use : it became a symbol of honor and power(权力). In the
Far East in ancient times, the umbrella was allowed to be used only by those in high office or by
royal people such as the kings or queens.
In Europe, the Greeks were the first to use the umbrella as a sunshade. The umbrella was in
common use in ancient Greece, but it is believed that the first people in Europe to use the umbrella as protection against the rain were the ancient Romans. During the middle ages in Europe, the use of the umbrella almost disappeared. Then it appeared again in Italy in the late sixteenth century. And again it became a symbol of power.
Umbrellas have not changed much in style during all this time, though they have become much lighter in weight. It wasn't until the twentieth century that the umbrellas for women began to be made in all kinds of colors.
1.Ancient people first used umbrellas as ____.
A. a symbol of honor
B. protection against the sun
C. a symbol of power
D. protection against the rain
2.According to the passage, the umbrella was probably first used in ancient ______.
A. Egypt . B. Babylon C. Rome D. China
3.The underlined word royal might mean _ in Chinese.
A. 王室的 B. 富有的
C. 中产阶级的 D. 贫穷的
4. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
A. The ancient Greeks used the umbrella in their daily life.
B. Europeans hardly used the umbrella during the middle ages.
C. The umbrellas for women were made colorful in ancient times.
D. The style of the umbrella hasn't changed a lot since it was invented
5.This passage is mainly about ___________.
A. the sales of the umbrella
B. the differences among umbrellas
C. the invention of the umbrella
D. the history and the use of the umbrella
(FOR SALE)
Sunshine Apartment | Seaview | Diamond House |
$98,000 | $132,000 | $110,000 |
Built in 1967 | Built in 1984 | Built in 1997 |
bedroom, living room kitchen, 2 bathrooms | 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms kitchen, 2 dining rooms | 2 bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom, living room |
a small garage | a big beautiful garden | a garden and a garage |
9 km from the city center | 23 km from the city center | in the city center |
1.Diamond House was built ___________.
A. nearly twenty years ago
B. hundreds of years ago
C. in 1984
D. about ten years ago
2.Seaview is __________ more expensive than Sunshine Apartment.
A. thirty-four thousand dollars
B. twelve thousand dollars
C. five thousand dollars
D. twenty-two thousand dollars
3.Which of the following is true?
A. Seaview has got 3 bedrooms and two kitchens.
B. Diamond House has got a garden and a garage.
C. Diamond House is cheaper than Sunshine Apartment.
D. Sunshine Apartment has got a small garden.
4.If you like doing shopping in the city center every day, you’d better buy ___________.
A. Seaview B. Sunshine Apartment
C. Diamond House D. None of them
5.Where can you probably read this passage?
A. In a nature magazine B. In a storybook
C. In the business newspaper. D. In a science book.
完形填空(共15小题,每小题1分,计15分)
阅读下面短文,掌握其大意,然后从各题所给的四个选项中选出一个最佳答案。
More and more students want to study in “hot” major(主修课) in the university. a result, many students want to their interests and study in these such as foreign languages, international business and law, etc. But only a few students can study in these “hot” majors, because the number of these “hot” majors limited (限制的).
If one interest in his work or study, can he do well? I this from one of my classmates. He is the countryside. His parents are farmers. Though he biology, he chose “international business”. He to live a life which is different that of his parents. In the end, he found he was in doing business at all. He found all the subjects to be . this wouldn't have happened if he had chosen his major according to his own interests.
Choosing your major according to your own is the best way to succeed.
1.A. Being B. For C. Having D. As
2.A. give up B. appear C. give D. master
3.A. place B. room C. areas D. space
4.A. is B. are C. would be D. have been
5.A. had no B. had C. has no D. has
6.A. why B. and what C. how D. where
7.A. suggested B. guessed C. searched D. learned
8.A. out of B. off C. in D. from
9.A. studied B. likes C. learns D. succeeds
10.A. wants B. doesn’t want C. enjoys D. doesn’t like
11.A. from B. as C. to D. for
12.A. interested B. clever C. not interested D. not clever
13.A. lovely B. rare C. obvious D. tiring
14.A. So B. Then C. Just then D. Maybe
15.A. interests B. experience C. mind D. heart
--–Many people think women are better at cooking than men .
--- . Most top chefs (厨师) in the world are men .
A. I agree B. Exactly
C. That’s not the case D. Not at all
––– Excuse me, can I have a talk with Mr. Miller this afternoon?
––– A moment, please. Let me check_______.
A. if Mr. Miller will be free
B. when will Mr. Miller have time
C. if Mr. Miller had a meeting
D. when does Mr. Miller come back
–David is imaginative . He usually good ideas . --- Yes , He’s used to using his head at all times
A. comes up B. comes up with
C. comes over to D. comes down in