To us it seems so natural to put up an umbrella to keep the water off when it rains, But actually the umbrella was not invented as protection against the rain, Its first use was as a shade 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 B C.
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. In the Far East in ancient times, the umbrella was allowed to be used only by those in high office.
In Europe, the Greeks were the first to use the umbrella as a sunshade. And the umbrella was in commonly used in ancient Greece. But it is believed that the first persons in Europe to use the umbrella as protection against the rain were the ancient Romans.
During the Middle Ages, the use of the umbrella practically disappeared. Then it appeared again in Italy in the late sixteenth century. And again it was considered as a symbol of power. By 1680, the umbrella appeared in France and later in England.
By the eighteenth century, the umbrella was used against rain throughout most of Europe.
Umbrellas have hot changed much in style during all this time, though they have become much lighter in weight. It wasn’t until the twentieth century that women’s umbrellas began to be made , in a whole variety of colors.
1.According to this passage, the umbrella was probably first invented in ancient_______.
A．China B．Egypt C．Greece D．Rome
2.Which of the following statements is not true about the umbrella?
A．No one exactly knows who the inventor of the umbrella was
B．The umbrella was first invented to be used as protection against the sun.
C．The umbrella changed much in style in the eighteenth century
D．In Europe, the Greeks were the first to use the umbrella as a sunshade.
3.A strange feature of the umbrella’s use is that it was used as__________.
A．protection against rain B．a shade against the sun
C．a symbol of honor and power D．women’s decoration (装饰)
4.In Europe, the umbrella was first used against the rain_______________.
A.during the Middle Ages B.by the 18th C.in Rome D.in Greece
5.This passage talks mainly about_______________.
A．when and how the umbrella was invented
B．why the umbrella was so popular in Europe
C．the development of the umbrella
D．The history and use of the umbrella
It was a cold winter’s night when I stopped for gas on my way home from work. I was tired and had a slight 16 .
I worked in a 17 doctor’s office and this was one of those days when the unexpected happened, making the schedule run 18 than usual. It seemed I was going to be late 19 home and my husband, being the 20 person, would be ready to pronounce me late once again. Maybe if I hurried, I could still _21 __it home.
I was heading inside to 22 for my gas when I noticed an older couple at the counter. I heard them asking for 23 to the local hospital. It was the same hospital that I had just _24_ a few minutes ago.
The young man at the counter was trying to be 25 in explaining how to get there, with two other people making 26 . One of them was 27 trying to give them a whole different route back. It was then that I walked over to the couple and said, “Would you like to follow me to the 28 ?”
A look of 29 crossed the woman’s face.
“I’m going right by there,” I said, which wasn’t a (an) 30 since I had just made up my mind to do 31 that.
I got in my car and began the journey back. I was trying to watch to be sure they were right 32 me. It took only fifteen minutes to get there as rush hour traffic was beginning to 33 . I felt better than I had all day and my headache was nearly gone.
Later, as I arrived home, my husband 34 me, “So you aren’t ever late any more.”
I said, “Sometimes it’s 35 to be late.”
1.A. break B. cold C. fever D. headache
2.A. foreign B. common C. noisy D. busy
3.A. later B. earlier C. easier D. simpler
4.A. getting B. cooking C. calling D. working
5.A. tough B. generous C. punctual D. rough
6.A. get B. take C. arrive D. make
7.A. pay B. charge C. wait D. search
8. A. opinions B. trouble C. directions D. instructions
9.A. reached B. visited C. called D. left
10.A. skilled B. helpful C. experienced D. active
11.A. comments B. promises C. jokes D. offers
12. A. only B. still C. even D. ever
13. A. station B. office C. hospital D. hotel
14.A. happiness B. relief C. sadness D. peace
15.A. lie B. fact C. reason D. duty
16. A. partly B. voluntarily C. exactly D. perfectly
17.A. across B. before C. beside D. behind
18. A. go up B. die down C. take up D.get through
19.A. teased B. yelled C. joked D. laughed
20.A. possible B. special C. good D. safe
Though ______money,he managed to start his own business.
A. lacked B. lacking in C. lacking D. lacked of
I had not been invited to the party,so I felt______and a bit hurt.
A. left out B. left behind C. left behind D. left off
The wild flowers looked like a soft blanket _______the desert.
A. covering B. covered C. cover D. to cover
When ____ about the source of his income, he hesitated for a moment, obviously not willing to give us a direct answer.
A. asked B. asking C. being asked D. having asked
