二、阅读理解：

　　Passage One

　　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. It was first used 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 also used in ancient Egypt and Babylon as a sunshade. (81)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 royal people 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 umbrellas 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 16th century. And again it became a symbol of power and authority.

　　Umbrellas have not changed much in style during all this time, though they have become much lighter in weight. It wasn't until the twenties century that women's umbrellas began to be made in a variety of colors.

　　41. The first use of the umbrella was as .

　　A. Protection against the rain B. A shade against the sun.

　　C. A symbol of power D. A symbol of honor

　　42. The are regarded as the people who first used umbrellas.

　　A. Romans B. Greeks C. Chinese D. Europeans

　　43. The umbrella was used only by royal people 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

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

　　A. Women's umbrellas are made in various kinds of colors.

　　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.

　　45. Which of the following may be the best title for the passage?

　　A. When Was the Umbrella Invented

　　B. The Roles of Umbrellas in History

　　C. The Colors and Shapes of Umbrellas

　　D. Who Needed the Umbrella First

　　Passage Two

　　Doctors are starting to find more and more information that suggests a connection between exercise and brain development. According to some research, it seems that exercise can make blood vessels, including those in the brain, stronger and more fully developed.

　　The effects of exercise on brain development can even be seen in babies. Babies who do activities that require a lot of movement and physical activity show greater brain development than babies who are less physically active. Margaret Barnes, a pediatrician, believes in the importance of exercise. (82)She thinks that many learning disabilities that children have in elementary school or high school can be traced back to a lack of movement as babies.

　　In studies with seniors, research has shown that exercise helps older people as well. The exercise doesn't have to be very difficult. The main goal is just to increase the heart rate. And especially when learning new movements, such as yoga or tai chi, it appears that new memory paths open up in the brain. This can improve people's short-term memory.

　　46. What is the main idea of this passage?

　　A. How to take exercise B. How exercise helps the brain

　　C. How to enjoy music D. How the brain can change

　　47. According to the passage, how does exercise affect the brain?

　　A. It helps people think more clearly B. It improves long-term memory

　　C. It makes babies more intelligent D. It strengthens blood vessels

　　48. According to Margaret Barnes, many learning problems that children have in school may be caused by .

　　A. low intelligence B. a lack of exercise when very young

　　C. social problems D. difficult relationships with teachers

　　49. Why are voga and tai chi recommended to seniors?

　　A. They are new movements B. They are good for memory

　　C. They can slow down their heart rate. D. They are good for joints

　　50. What type of patients does a pediatrician probably treat?

　　A. Patients with mental problems B. Patients with physical problems

　　C. Children D. Old people