A

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.

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.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 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 did not change much in style during all this time,though they became 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.

21.According to this passage,the umbrella was probably first used in ancient¡¡¡¡¡¡. 

A.China¡¡¡¡¡¡     B.Egypt

C.Greece          D.Rome

22.In Europe,the umbrella was first used against the rain ¡¡¡¡¡¡. 

A.during the Middle Ages

B.by the eighteenth century

C.in ancient Rome

D.in ancient Greece

23.This passage mainly talks 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