Lesson17 Umbrellas
The umbrella is a very ordinary object. It keeps the rain in bad weather and the sun off in good. Most umbrellas fold up,so it's easy to carry them.
However, the umbrella did not begin its life as an ordinary object. It was a sign of royalty or importance. Some African tribes still use umbrellas in this way today. Someone carries an umbrella and walks behind the king or important person.
Umbrellas are very old. The Chinese had them in the eleventh century B.C. From there, umbrellas traveled to India, Persia, and Egypt.
When the Spanish explorers went to Mexico, they saw the Aztec kings using umbrellas. English explorers saw Native American princes carrying umbrellas on the eastern coast of North America. It seems that people in different parts of the world invented umbrellas at different times.
England was probably the first country in Europe where ordinary people used umbrellas.
Everybody uses umbrellas today. The next time you carry one, remember that for centuries only great men and women used them.
keep off 制止,使避开,不让接近
royalty ? 王权,皇室
the Aztec kings 阿兹特克王
Native Americans prince 印第安王子