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 11th 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 royal people or by those in high class.

In Europe, the Greeks were the first to use the umbrella as a sunshade. And the umbrella was 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 the rain in all parts 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 different kinds of colors.

1.The underlined word “it” in Paragraph 5 refers to ________.

A.Italy B.the 16th century C.the umbrella D.the use of the umbrella

2.The umbrella was first widely used against the rain ________ around Europe.

A.in the Middle Ages B.by 1680 C.by the 18th century D.in the 20th century

3.Which of the following statements is true about the umbrella?

A.Some researchers exactly know who the inventor of the umbrella was.

B.The umbrella was first invented to be used as protection against the sun instead of rain.

C.The umbrella changed much in style and became lighter in weight in the 18th century.

D.In Europe, the Greeks were the first to use the umbrella as a kind of modern fashion.

4.This passage mainly talks about ________.

A.the history and use of the umbrella B.why the umbrella was so popular in Europe

C.the process of making an umbrella D.when and how the umbrella was invented

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