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 rain. It was first used 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, way back in the eleventh century B.C.
　　We know that the umbrella was also 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 authority. In the Far East In ancient times, the umbrella was allowed-to be used only by royal people or 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 use in ancient Greece. But it is believed that the first persons in Europe to use the umbrellas 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 16th century. And again it became a symbol of power and authority.
　　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 variety of colors.
　　6. The first use of umbrella was as_________.
　　A protection against rain
　　B a shade against the sun
　　C a symbol of power
　　D a symbol of honor
　　答案:B
　　本题考查的是考生对细节的把握。“But actually the umbrella was not invented as protection against rain．It was first used as a shade against the sun．”根据段后一句话可以得知。
　　7. _________were regarded as the people who first used umbrellas.
　　A Romans
　　B Greeks
　　C Chinese
　　D Europeans
　　答案:C
　　本题考查的是考生对具体句子的理解。“Probably the first to use it were the Chinese，”根据第二段可直接得知。
　　8. The umbrella was used only by royal people or those in high office_________.
　　A in European in the eighteenth century
　　B in ancient Egypt and Babylon
　　C in the Far East in ancient times
　　D during the Middle Ages
　　答案:C
　　本题考查的是考生对细节的把握。“In the Far East In ancient times，the umbrella was allowed to be used only by royal people or by those in high office．”根据第三段后一句可得知。
　　9. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
　　A Women enjoy using umbrella with varies kinds of colors
　　B The inventor of the umbrella is unknown
　　C Once ordinary people had no right to use umbrellas
　　D Umbrellas were popular and cheap in the ancient times
　　答案:D
　　本题考查的是考生对全文的把握以及关键点的理解。“And there was a strange thing connected with its use；it became a symbol of honor and authority．In the Far East In ancient times，the umbrella was allowed to be used only by royal people or by those in high office．”可知，雨伞在古代曾经是权利和荣耀的象征，所以只能由皇族和高官持有，故此项不对。
　　10. Which of the following may be the best title for the passage?
　　A When Was the Umbrella Invented
　　B The Role of Umbrella in History
　　C The Colors and Shapes of Umbrella
　　D Who Needed Umbrella First
　　答案:B
　　本题考查的是考生对全文意思的把握。通读全文可知，文章讲雨伞的不同角色，包括遮阳，遮雨，在古代还能象征权利和荣誉，所以B能地概括全文，其他项都太过片面。

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