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. 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, was 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 and authority. In the Far East in ancient times, the umbrella was allowed to be used only by royalty or by those in high offices.
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 umbrella as protection against 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 a symbol of power and authority. By1680, 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 colors.
1.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
2. ________ were the people who first used umbrellas.
A.Chinese B.Romans C.Greeks D.Egyptians
3.The umbrella was used only by royalty or by those in high offices_______.
A.in Europe in the 18th century B.in ancient Egypt and Babylon
C.in the Far East in ancient times D.during the Middle Ages
4.According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
A.Women enjoy using umbrellas with varied kinds of colors nowadays.
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 ancient times.
5.Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A.When Was the Umbrella Invented B.The History of Umbrella
C.Umbrella — A Symbol of Honor D.Who Used Umbrella First
长难例句分析
［长难例句］But it is believed that the first persons in Europe to use the umbrella as protection against rain were the ancient Romans.
［结构分析］本句中，it是形式主语，真正的主语是后面由that引导的名词从句，而这个名词从句是一个主系表结构，其中the first persons in Europe是主语，不定式to use...是定语，系动词是were，表语是the ancient Romans。
［参考译文］可我们认为在欧洲最初用伞防雨的人是古罗马人。
［长难例句］It wasn't until the twentieth century that women's umbrellas began to be made in a whole variety of colors.
［结构分析］本句是一个由it引导的强调句，转换成正常语序则应是Women's umbrellas did not begin to be made in a whole variety of colors until the twentieth century，其中not until the twentieth century作句子的时间状语。
［参考译文］直到20世纪，女士们的伞才开始被做成各种各样的颜色。
全文参考译文
对我们来说，下雨时打伞防雨看起来是很自然的。但事实上伞并不是为了遮雨而发明的，它最初的用途是遮阳。
事实上无人知道最早发明了伞的人是谁，但它在远古时代就已被使用。可能早在公元前11世纪，中国人就开始使用伞了。
我们知道在古埃及和古巴比伦伞被用来遮阳。并且有一件奇怪的事情和伞的使用相关：它成为荣誉和权利的象征。在古时的远东地区，只有皇亲国戚、达官贵人才能使用伞。
在欧洲，最早用伞遮阳的是希腊人。并且伞在古希腊被广泛使用。可我们认为在欧洲最初用伞防雨的是古罗马人。
伞的使用在中世纪事实上消失了。后来在16世纪晚期它又重现在意大利。并且又一次被视为权利和权威的象征。到1680年，伞出现在法国，而后是在英格兰。
到18世纪，在欧洲的多数地区，人们用伞来防雨。一直以来，伞在样式上没有太大的变化，虽然它们在重量上减轻不少。直到20世纪，女士们的伞开始被做成各种各样的颜色。
题目答案与解析
1.最初伞被用来_________。
A.防雨 B.遮蔽阳光 C.作为权利的象征 D.作为荣誉的象征
【答案】B
【解析】本题的依据是第一段的最后一句话Its first use was a shade against the sun，因此B项为正确答案。
2.最早使用伞的是_________。
A.中国人 B.罗马人 C.希腊人 D.埃及人
【答案】A
【解析】本题的依据是文章第二段的最后一句话Probably the first to use it were the Chinese，因此A项为正确答案。
3.在_________，只有贵族或高官才可以使用伞。
A.18世纪的欧洲 B.古埃及和古巴比伦
C.古时的远东地区 D.中世纪
【答案】C
【解析】本题的依据是文章第三段的最后一句话In the Far East in ancient times, the umbrella was allowed to be used only by royalty or by those in high offices，因此C项为正确答案。
4.按照本篇文章，下面哪项是错误的？
A.女士喜欢使用各种颜色的伞。 B.伞的发明者现在还不知道。
C.普通人曾经没有使用伞的权利。 D.在古代伞既便宜又普遍。
【答案】D
【解析】综观全文，只有D项文中并未提及，因此D项是正确答案。
5.下面哪项是本文最好的标题？
A.伞是何时发明的 B.伞的历史 C.伞——荣誉的象征 D.谁最早使用伞
【答案】B
【解析】从文中内容可知，作者是按照时间顺序讲述伞的历史。因此B项是正确答案。
