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

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

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

England was________the first country in Europe where common people used umbrellas against rain. The weather there is very________and umbrellas are very useful.

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

2 . Just like Mickey Mouse, Hello Kitty is a famous cartoon character. You can see her on many ______ of things, like bags, clothes, food and books. People all over the world love the ______ Hello Kitty.

44 years ago, a Japanese company Sanrio made Hello Kitty. It first ______ on a wallet. To people’s ______, in the artist’s design, Hello Kitty is a ______! That’s why people always see her ______ with two feet.

Hello Kitty is in the third ______ in her school. Her favorite ______ is apple pie. She lives with her parents and twin sister ______ London. It is quiet there. And her grandpa and grandma live far away in a forest. On weekends, her father often drives his ______ to take them to visit her ______. It’s ______ that Hello Kitty even has a pet cat like herself.

The artist said 44 years ago, many Japanese worked and ______ in Britain, so she made Hello Kitty a(n) ______ person. Hello Kitty has a very______ life now. She’s the symbol of all the good things.