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    Alaska, which was called Russian America before it was sold to the United States, joined the Union as the forty-ninth in the year of 1959. Alaska is now the largest of all the fifty states of the United States. It was in 1867 that Seward, the Secretary of State(國務(wù)卿)bought Alaska from the Russians at a cost of 7.2 million dollars. Not only was Alaska difficult to reach, but it was also hard to live in, and it appeared to have no importance in time of wars. Besides, in Alaska, large treeless areas are covered with ice and snow all the year. For these reasons the buying of Alaska was called “Steward’s Folly(蠢事)” at the time.

    In 1896, however, gold was found in Alaska, and many people rushed there for it. Most people go to Alaska to see the endless beauty of nature that the northern land disclose(暴露)to them. For example, there are about 11,000 islands in Alaska. In a certain area of Alaska the sun does not set for eighty days every year.

58. 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 the use of the umbrella

C

57. In Europe, the umbrella was first used against the rain ______.

A. during the Middle Ages          B. by the 18th century

C. in Rome                       D. in Greece

56. Which of the following statements is not true about the umbrella?

A. No one exactly knows who was the inventor of the umbrella

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

C. The umbrella changed much in the shape in the 18th century

D. In Europe, the Greeks were the first to use the umbrella as a sunshade

55. According to this passage, the umbrella was probably first invented in ancient ______.

A. China       B. Egypt          C. Greece      D. Rome

54. What is mentioned in this article belongs to a study of English ______.      

   A. grammar           B. idioms                 C. expression         D. communication

B

To us it seems so natural to put up an umbrella to keep the water off when it rains. 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, dating back to 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 (象征) 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 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 Rome.

           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. By 1680, the umbrella appeared in France, and later on in England.

           By the eighteen 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 (種種) of colors.

53. In the case of humans, “back off” means _______.

A. to escape from the attackers              B. to get away quickly

C. to keep out the attackers                   D. to avoid the attackers in words

52. In order not to be attacked by its enemy, the animal will ______.

A. move backwards slowly             B. turn and run away

C. face the attacker                               D. Both A and C

51. When a cat arches its back high in a rigid curve, it shows that it is ______.

    A. happy               B. pleased          C. frightened        D. sad