The umbrella is a very common object. It keeps the 1and the sun off the people. Most umbrellas can be folded up(折叠) so it is 2 to carry them.

    However, the umbrella was not always as 3 as it is now. In the past, it was a symbol of importance. Some African countries still use umbrellas in this 4. Someone carries an umbrella and walks behind the king or important person.

    Umbrellas have a long history. People in different parts of the world began to 5 umbrellas at different times. The Chinese had them more than 3,000 years ago. From there, umbrellas 6 to India and Egypt. In Greece and Rome, 7, wouldn't use them. They believed umbrellas were only for women.

    England was 8 the first country in Europe where common people used umbrellas against rain. The weather there is very 9 and umbrellas are very useful.

     Everybody uses umbrellas today. The next time you 10 one, thinking that for centuries only great men and women used them, you'll feel you are the important person, too.

    It is raining outside. A bus 1 at a small bus stop. A man 2 out of the window. He sees a woman. She is selling 3. The man wants 4 a cake. But he doesn't want to go out because it is raining. The man sees a boy. The boy is 5 the window. “Come here, boy, ” the man says, “Do you know 6 the cake is?” “Twenty fen. ” the boy says. The man 7 the boy forty fen and asks him to buy two cakes. “One is for you and 8 is for me, ” he says to the boy. After 9 minutes, the boy comes back. He 10 a cake. He gives the man twenty fen and says, “Sorry, there is  only one cake left. ”

根据短文理解，从A、B、C、D四个选项中选择最佳答案填空。

    Alison cornered me in the kitchen. “Daddy, I really want a rat.”

    "Again?” I saw the ugly grey things with round eyes and long tails in my mind. She wanted one of those in our 1?

    “No, Daddy, a pet rat kept at home."

    This topic was around in our family for about one year. This time, Alison told 2 seriously how she would take care of the rat herself, how she would learn to be 3 by doing so. I wanted to say “no” as usual, 4 it was not the right response for this situation. I suggested that Alison should 5 me that she would be responsible by researching some basic questions we had about   6 : How much do they cost? What care do they need?

    I thought the answers she found 7 change her mind. Alison searched for information and made many notes. She learned 8the best cage for rats is and what types of food they can (and can't) eat. She learned that two rats are 9 than one — they like staying together.

    Alison proved herself with her efforts, so I 10 finally. If she continued to do so, caring for the rats and preparing food for them, she would learn the responsibility we always wanted her to have.    

    We 11 several pet stores, asking for baby rats. One store told us it just received some that would be ready on sale in a week. Alison was so 12 — her dream would come true soon.   

    On Sunday afternoon, I drove Alison there. I must say, 13 seeing the rats, I found they were much cuter. Alison 14 picked out two little ones with her soft little hands. She cradled the cage with them, 15. We went back to our car, and huge smile was still on her face.

    “I can't believe I have them after a year of begging!"

    “It wasn't your begging,” I told her. “You showed me you were responsible so I wanted to reward that.”

    Something frightening happened to me the other day. I was on my way home 1 school. I got off the bus and started to walk towards my 2 . Then I thought: “Funny! There's a car outside.”

    It was one of those big American cars. I looked inside 3 I wanted to see what it was like. At first I thought there was nobody in it. Then I saw an old man 4 on the floor of the car. He had blood（鲜血）all over his face and his eyes were closed. I was too frightened, so I went indoors to 5 the police.

    Mum wasn't at home and I was 6 . I dialed（拨打）999 and asked for the police. A policeman wrote down my name and address. But I don't think he believed my words. Then I 7 a car start. I looked out of the window and the American car wasn't there 8 more.

    The police never came and I still don't know what happened to the man. But it gave me a terrible fright（吓了一跳）. My dad said it was a good 9 and he enjoyed it very much! But I am sure that it was all 10 .

    Ashley was outspoken, fashionable, and the "Queen Bee" in my school.

    I looked up to her and idolized her. I listened to the music she listened to, wore the clothes she wore. I even took art class though I had really wanted to take theatre. I finally fitted in 1 group.

    One day, I skipped out of my last class a few minutes early to

2 seats for our group at the dining hall. Concentrating on my homework, I didn't notice they had sat down behind me. Before I could say a word, I realized what they were 3.

    I listened silently. "She's such a loser," one girl said.

    Another girl added, "Ashley, she 4 follows you, trying to copy you."

    "I wish she would leave us alone. We were in the same summer school and now she thinks we're best friends." The once familiar voice sounded so 5 and strange.

    I was mortified. My hands were shaking. I couldn't help crying 6. I felt heart—broken for the very first time. How did this happen? I 7 we were friends.

    I ran home. My mother just held me while I sobbed for hours. The advice she gave was so 8, and I had heard it a million times. "Just be yourself and people will like you for 9you are." This time it became so profound. Then and there I 10 to find myself back. That was exactly—what I did.

    Over the next month, I went through a lot of 11. I bought new clothes that I wanted to wear. I no longer went to art class 12 them, and took theatre. I began making new friends. I developed my own 13 and never again followed the crowd.

    I had an amazing school year. 14 I look back, I think it was the year when I discovered the person I was going to be. Despite the pain I felt that day, it was a 15 they had given me.