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 in the 11th 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.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 the umbrellas for women began to be made，in all kinds of colours.
1.Ancient people first used umbrella as ________.
A. a symbol of honor
B. protection against the sun
C. a symbol of power
D. protection against the rain
2.According to this passage，the umbrella was probably first invented in ancient________.
A. Egypt B. Babylon
C. Rome D. China
3.The underlined word “royal” might mean “________” in Chinese.
A. 皇室的 B. 富裕的
C. 中产的 D. 平民的
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 colourful 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
Tom is an eight－year－old student in Grade Three.He is not interested in his lessons.He spends most of his time playing basketball.At night，he doesn't sleep until very late in order to play.In the morning，he usually gets up late and hurries to school.Sometimes he sleeps in class.
Tom's father is worried about his poor schoolwork.He tries to make him work harder.One day，his father said to him，“My boy，if you get one hundred marks in the exam，I'll buy a new basketball for you.” The boy was very happy to hear that.
The next day Tom came runninghome.“Oh，dad.I got one hundred，” He shouted，“I got forty in English this morning and sixty in Chinese this afternoon！”
根据短文内容，判断正(T)误(F)。
1.Tom spends most of time playing basketball.
2.Tom sometimes sleeps in class.
3.Tom's father tries to make him work harder.
4.Tom got one hundred marks in the English exam.
5.Tom got a new basketball from his father.
He comes from a small village far from any big town.He is the son of a farmer.He is Wu Yulu，an ordinary ______ from a village.
Even when he was a child，he took a great interest ______ robots.He made his first mini－electrical machine at the age of 8.He worked on robots all day.Local villagers thought Wu Yulu was crazy.______，he never gave up his dream.He ______ most of his time on robots and didn't care about farming.
He has made more than thirty robots with different functions.Some clean，some wash the dishes，and ______ light cigarettes，pour water or serve food.
“I will never stop ______ robots and I'm glad that I have ______，”said Wu Yulu.“In 2009，I was invited to an exhibition in Shijiazhuang，the capital of Hebei Province，with my robots.I am ______ that my robots were on show along with Shenzhou Ⅶ.”
Influenced by Wu Yulu，his son Wu Wangyang loves robots，______．The man is a college student，majoring in some robots design，and always helps his father make robots.______，he and his father Wu Yulu will surely invent more and more useful robots.
1.A. inventor B. cleaner C. worker D. robot
2.A. for B. on C. in D. at
3.A. However B. Before C. After D. When
4.A. cost B. spent C. paid D. took
5.A. other B. the other C. another D. others
6.A. to do B. doing C. making D. to make
7.A. kept on B. kept out C. put out D. put on
8.A. interested B. proud C. happily D. carefully
9.A. only B. either C. also D. too
10.A. At first B. At times C. In the future D. In a minute
—Jimmy，will you be able to come to my tea party tomorrow afternoon?
—________.If my mum allows me to，I'll call you.
A. Perhaps B. Here it is
C. Promise D. Sounds great
The Internet is still young，but it is growing very ________.
A. slowly B. fast
C. more slowly D. faster
Some people believe that traditional banks________ by online banks soon.
A. replace B. were replaced
C. will replace D. will be replaced
