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 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. 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 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 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 eighteenth
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
Trip 1 Black Bear Count
There have been fires in this area in the last few years and the Office of the National Park is not sure how many black bears are still living. Some bears have been seen since the fires, and the Office has asked for young people to help count them. The entire trip will last three hours. Booking is necessary.
Cost: Free When: May 8
Trip 2 Garland Valley
Bring your drink and lunch for this walk in a beautiful area of the Blue Mountains. Garland Valley is close to the town of Garland but is part of the National Park. Many wild animals live in this area, including many rare birds. This is a great walk for bird-lovers. The trip lasts four hours. Booking is necessary.
Cost: $ 15 When: May 8, May 15
Trip 3 Flashlight Adventure
Put on your warm clothes, bring a flashlight and a pair of glasses, and come for a night walk along the Dungog Valley. A guide will lead the tour. Many of the animals you will see on this trip. The guide will tell you about the lives of the animals you see. Numbers are strictly limited on night trips, so be sure to book early. This walk lasts two and a half hours.
Cost: $ 12 When: May 8, May 15, May22
Equipment to be needed:
•Please bring enough water and food for all walks.
•Wear good walking shoes—no high heels.
•Wear a hat for day walks.
•Dress warmly for night walks.
•Children must be with an adult.
•Make sure your flashlight works well and bring extra batteries for night walks.
•Follow all instructions from guides during the walks. The mountains are a dangerous place.
Bookings:
Bookings for the above trips can be made by telephone(893-4847)or on the Internet at www. Bluemountaintour.com.
1.Where are these trips?
A. In a large city.
B. In a park in the mountains
C. In a special kind of zoo.
D. In three different countries.
2.What is the best title for the passage?
A. Adventure Travel in America
B. Hunting around the Great Mountains
C. Discovery Trips in the Blue Mountains
D. Interesting Trips in the East of the USA
3.Which of the following is NOT necessary for the three trips?
A. Good walking shoes.
B. A pair of glasses.
C. Food and water.
D. A sleeping-bag
4.Which following statement about Flashlight Adventure is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Bring your drink and lunch for this walk.
B. Many of the animals you will see on this trip.
C. The guide will tell you about the lives of the animals you see.
D. There is no need to book early.
5.This passage is probably a/ an_____.
A. news report
B. book review
C. travel diary
D. advertisement
When Dave was eighteen, he bought a secondhand car for 200 so that he could travel to and from work more than by bus. It worked quite well for a few years, but then it got so old, and it was costing him much in repairs that he decided that he had better it.
He asked among his friends to see if anyone was particularly to buy a cheap car, but they all knew that it was falling to pieces, so of them had any desire to buy it. Dave's friend Sam saw that he was when they met one evening, and said, “What's , Dave?”
Dave told him, and Sam answered, “Well, what about advertising it in the paper? You may more for it that way than the cost of the advertisement!” Thinking that Sam's was sensible(合理的), he put an advertisement in an evening paper, which read “For sale: small car, very little petrol, only two owners. Bargain at 50.”
For two days after the advertisement first appeared, there was no . But then on Saturday evening he had an
enquiry(询问). A man rang up and said he would like to him about the car. “All right,” Dave said, feeling happy. He asked the man whether ten o'clock the next morning would be or not. “Fine,” the man said, “and I'll my wife. We intend to go for a ride in it to it.”
The next morning, at a quarter to ten, Dave parked the car in the square outside his front door, to wait there for the people who had his advertisement. Even Dave had to that the car really looked like a wreck(残骸).Then, soon after he had got the car as clean it could be, a police car stopped just behind him and a policeman got out. He looked at Dave's car and then said, “Have you reported this to us yet, sir?”
1.A. directly B. safely C. properly D. easily
2.A. so B. such C. very D. too
3.A. keep B. repair C. sell D. throw
4.A. anxious B. lucky C. ashamed D. generous
5.A. some B. neither C. none D. most
6.A. delighted B. upset C. calm D. astonished
7.A. on B. up C. it D. that
8.A. learn B. miss C. get D. find
9.A. message B. advice C. request D. description
10.A. uses B. loses C. has D. spends
11.A. doubt B. help C. trouble D. answer
12.A. tell B. see C. agree D. call
13.A. exact B. suitable C. early D. late
14.A. follow B. meet C. bring D. introduce
15.A. recognize B. gain C. admire D. test
16.A. happening B. meaning C. turning D. failing
17.A. read B. inserted C. answered D. placed
18.A. forget B. show C. disagree D. admit
19.A. as B. that C. so D. such
20.A. bargain B. sale C. accident D. result
---You mean we will have the mid-term exam in early November?
---Yes. ________
A. It’s up to you. B. Go ahead.
C. See you again soon. D. You’ve got it.
--David has made some mistakes in the test.
--________, and ________.
A. So he did; so have you B. So has he; so you have
C. So he has; so have you D. So has he; so you have
What do you think __________ when I meet something like this?
A. I should do B. should I do
C. that I should do D. do I