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 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.
小题1:According to this passage, the umbrella was probably first invented in ancient_______.
A．China
B．Egypt
C．Greece
D．Rome小题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.小题3:A strange feature of the umbrella’s use is that it was used as__________.
A．protection against rain
B．a symbol of honor and power
C．a shade against the sun
D．women’s decoration小题4:In Europe, the umbrella was first used against the rain_______________.
A．during the Middle Ages
B．in Rome
C．by the 18th
D．in Greece小题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
小题1:A
小题2:C
小题3:B
小题4:B
小题5:D
题目分析：本文主要讲述的是雨伞的历史和人们对雨伞的使用
小题1:A 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A正确。
小题2: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。
小题3:B 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B正确。
小题4:B 细节题。根据文章第3段But it is believed that the first persons in Europe to use the umbrella as protection against the rain were the ancient Romans.说明B正确。
小题5:D 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D正确。
点评：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。