Question

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 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 power. 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. 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 in Europe, the use of the umbrella most 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. a symbol of power

C. protection against the sun    D. protection against the rain

2.According to the passage, the umbrella was probably first used in accident__________.

A. Babylon    B. China

C. Egypt    D. Rome

3.According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?

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 woman were made colorful in ancient times

D. The style of the umbrella hasn’t changed a lot since it was invented

4.What is the passage mainly about?

A. The sales of the umbrella    B. The history and the use of the umbrella

C. The invention of the umbrella    D. The differences among umbrellas

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.C

4.B

【解析】本文主要讲述的是雨伞的历史和人们对雨伞的使用。

1.C

细节题。根据文章第3段it became a symbol of honor. 和And again it was considered as a symbol of power.说明雨伞被认为是权力和荣誉的象征，故C正确。

2.B

细节题。根据文章第二段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 BC.说明B正确。

3.C

细节题。根据文章倒数2,3,4行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.说明雨伞一直就没有太大的变化，故C正确。

4.B

主旨大意题。本文主要讲述的是雨伞的历史和人们对雨伞的使用情况的介绍，故B正确。

【名师点睛】

本文主要讲述的是雨伞的历史和人们对雨伞的使用，本文主旨鲜明,很容易在文中找到答案。做题时要注意文章的首段和每一段的首句或尾句，因为它们往往就是文章的主题句。阅读中要注意要点之间的关系。然后带着问题，再读全文，找出答题所需要的依据，完成阅读任务。