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!

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,way 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 office.
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 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 a symbol of power and authority．By 1680,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.

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

A.Women enjoy using umbrellas with various kinds of colors nowaday
B.The inventor of the umbrella is unknow
C.Once ordinary people had no right to use umbrell
D.Umbrellas were popular and cheap in ancient time

The department deferred the decision for six months.

A:put off
B:arrived at
C:abided by
D:protested against

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,as early as 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 honour and authority.In the Far?East in ancient times the umbrella was allowed to be used only by royalty or by those in high office.
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 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 a symbol of power and authority.By 1680,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 colours.

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 honour and power
D.a way of women's decoration

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,way 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 office.
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 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 a symbol of power and authority．By 1680,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.

The umbrella was used only by royalty or those in high office__.

A.in Europe in the eighteenth century
B.in ancient Egypt and Babylon
C.in the Far East in ancient times
D.during the Middle Ages