Have you ever posted letters to your friends or parents? If so, you must have put stamps on the letters before you sent them. But, how did people receive letters before stamps were invented, and who came up with the idea of using stamps?

   In the past, stamps and envelopes were not used. When people wanted to send a letter, they would close the paper with a seal（封印）. The person who got the letter had to pay for it. Because costs at that time were very high, most people refused to accept letters. In fact, the sender would often place secret marks on the outside of the letter. The person who was sent the letter would read the secret message. Then, they would refuse to accept the letter and did not have to pay for it.

    In Britain, Sir Rowland Hill introduced the “Post Office Reforms” in 1837. He decided that letters could go to any place in the country for a penny even if the letter had to go far away. The cost was to be paid by the sender of the letter. Payment was recorded by placing a small piece of coloured paper on the letter, the stamp! On May 6,1840, the first stamp called the “Penny Black” was born. Because the stamp was printed in black, the stamp became known as the “Penny Black”. This is now the world’s most famous stamp. This new system spread fast.

The best title for this passage should be______

A. The First Stamp.                  B. How Stamp Was First Made

C. Why the First Stamp Was Made      D. When Was Stamp First Made

Before stamps were used,______ would pay for the letter.

A. the sender        B. the receiver     C. the government    D. no one

The first stamp was made______.

A. more than 160 years ago        B. more than two centuries ago

C. less than 100 years ago         D. about 100 years ago

Which of the following is true about the first stamp of China?

A. It was made much earlier than the first stamp of the US

B. The stamp had a snake on it

C. The stamp couldn’t be found now

D. The stamp had a picture of a dragon on it

   To extinguish (熄灭) different kinds of fires, several types of fire extinguishers have been invented. They must be ready for immediate use when fire breaks out. Most portable (手提式的) kinds operate for less than a minute, so they are useful only on small fires. The law requires ships, trains, buses and planes to carry extinguishers.

    Since fuel, oxygen (氧气) and heat must be present in order for fire to exist, one or more of these things must be removed or reduced to extinguish a fire. If the heat is reduced by cooling the material below a certain temperature, the fire goes out. The cooling method is the most common way to put out a fire. Water is the best cooling material because it is low in cost and easy to get.

    Another method of extinguishing fire is by cutting off the oxygen. This is usually done by covering the fire with sand, steam or some other things. A blanket may be used do cover a small fire.

    A third method is called separation, which includes removing the fuel, or material easy to burn, from a fire, so that it can find no fuel.

    The method that is used to put out a fire depends upon the type of fire. Fires have been grouped in three classes. Fires in wood, paper, cloth and the like are called Class A fires. These materials usually help keep the fire on. Such fires can be stopped most readily by cooling with water.

68. If a fire breaks out on a bus, which of the follow should be ready there for you to use?

A. Sand           B. Water         C. A blanket.           D. An extinguisher.

69. To cover a small piece of burning wood with a basin in order to stop the fire is an example of         .

A. separating the fire                                 B. reducing the heat

C. removing the fuel                                 D. cutting off the oxygen

70. In choosing how to put out a fire, we should first be clear about          .

A. when it breaks out                                B. how it comes about

C. what kind it is                                       D. where it takes place

71. What would the author probably discuss in the paragraph that follows?

A. Another class of fires                                   B. Another type of extinguishers

C. How fires break out.                                 D. How fires can be prevented.

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 mostof 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.

According to this passage, the umbrella was probably first invented in ancient_______.

       A．China         B．Egypt     C．Greece          D．Rome

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.

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)

In Europe, the umbrella was first used against the rain_______________.

       A. during the Middle Ages   B. by the 18^th   C. in Rome      D  .in Greece

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

 To extinguish （熄灭）different kinds of fires, several types of fire extinguishers have been invented. They must be ready for immediate use when fire breaks out. Most portable （手提式的）kinds operate for less than a minute, so they are useful only on small fires. The law requires ships, trains, buses and planes to carry extinguishers.

 Since fuel（燃料）, oxygen and heat must be present in order for fire to exist, one or more of these things must be removed or reduced to extinguish a fire. If the heat is reduced by cooling the material below a certain temperature, the fire goes out. The cooling method is the most common way to put out a fire. Water is the best cooling material because it is low in cost and easy to get.

 Another method of extinguishing fire is by cutting off the oxygen. This is usually done by covering the fire with sand, steam or some other things. A blanket may be used do cover a small fire.

 A third method is called separation, which includes removing the fuel, or material easy to burn, from a fire, so that it can find no fuel.

 The method that is used to put out a fire depends on the type of fire. Fires have been grouped in three classes（级别）. Fires in wood, paper, cloth and the like are called Class A fires. These materials usually help keep the fire on. Such fires can be stopped most readily by cooling with water.

If a fire breaks out on a bus, which of the following should be ready there for you to use?

 A. Sand                 B. An extinguisher      C. A blanket.           D. Water

To cover a small piece of burning wood with a basin in order to stop the fire is an example of _______.

 A. separating the fire                             B. cutting off the oxygen

 C. removing the fuel                               D. reducing the heat

In choosing how to put out a fire, we should first be clear about_______.

 A. when it breaks out                 B. how it comes about

 C. what kind it is                      D. where it takes place

What would the author probably discuss in the paragraph that follows?

 A. Another class of fires                       B. Another type of extinguishers

 C. How fires break out.                        D. How fires can be prevented.

 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, back in the eleventh 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 common 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 on 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 colours.
45. According to this passage, the umbrella was probably first invented in ancient _______.
A. China         B. Egypt       C. Greece         D. Rome
46. Which of the following statements is not true about the umbrella?
A. No one exactly knows who was the inventor of the umbrella.
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.
47. A strange feature(特征) 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 honour and power              D. women’s decoration
48. In Europe, the umbrella was first used against the rain ___________.
A. during the Middle Ages   B. by the eighteenth century   C. in Rome   D. in Greece