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. 皇室的 B. 富裕的 C. 中产的 D. 平民的

4.According to the passage, the following is true except _________.

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.What’s the best title for the passage?

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

完形填空

先通读下面短文,掌握其大意,然后在每小题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中,选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

One evening last summer, when I asked my 14- year- old son, Ray,for help with dinner, his response(回答)shocked me. "What's a colander(漏勺)?" he asked. I could only blame . In the family, nobody else went into the kitchen except me. But that night, as I to him that a colander is the thing with holes in it,I wondered what else I hadn't Ray for.

As parents,while we focus on our sons' confidence and character,we perhaps don't always consider that we are raising someone's future roommates,boyfriends, husbands,or fathers. I came up with a plan: I would offer Ray a private home economics course. I was to find that he didn't say no. For two hours, three days a week, Ray was all mine.

I knew that he would rather have been playing basketball with friends than to mend socks with his mother,but in fact he was learning, and more than just housekeeping. "I appreciate(感激)what you do a mom," he told me one day. Ray now realizes there's masculine(男子气概的)about being helpless.

Now,not only can he make his own dinner, but also he can make a big meal for his family. That's I call a man. I'm glad that I prepared so great a present for my future daughter in-law.

1.A. themselves B. ourselves C. myself D. himself

2.A. explained B. continued C. thought D. advised

3.A. planned B. prepared C. produced D. punished

4.A. even B. also C. still D. either

5.A. But B. And C. Because D. So

6.A. cheerful B. nervous C. patient D. serious

7.A. learning B. checking C. asking D. affording

8.A. by B. for C. as D. with

9.A. something B. anything C. everything D. nothing

10.A. what B. how C. why D. who

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