Question

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

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.C

4.C

5.D

【解析】

试题分析：文章主要介绍了雨伞的用途和历史。雨伞最初是用来遮阳而不是挡雨的。没有人知道是谁发明了雨伞，最先使用雨伞的可能是公元前11世纪的中国人。

1.Probably the first to use it were the Chinese in the eleventh century BC.”可知，雨伞很可能是公元前11世纪的中国人发明的，故选A。

2.Umbrellas have not changed much in style during all this time”可知，雨伞一直以来没有太大的变化，故选C。

3.And there was a strange thing connected with its use: it became a symbol of honor. ...the umbrella was allowed to be used only by those in high office.”可知，有一种奇怪的现象是，雨伞被当作地位和权力的象征，故选C。

4.But it is believed that the first persons in Europe to use the umbrella as protection against the rain were the ancient Romans.”可知，在欧洲，最先用雨伞来挡雨的是古罗马人，故选C。

5.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.”和接下来几段的内容可知，文章主要介绍了雨伞的用途和历史，根据最后一段“It wasn’t until the twentieth century that women’s umbrellas began to be made, in a whole variety of colors.”可知，女式雨伞到二十世纪才开始出现，颜色也有增多，故选D。

考点：历史类短文阅读