Part 2 · Exercise 2 — A brief history of the umbrella

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE UMBRELLA For ¹ its familiarity, the umbrella has a surprisingly long and curious history. Although we now associate it ² rain, the very first umbrellas were designed to provide shade ³ the fierce sun. It was the ancient Egyptians ⁴ first raised parasols over their nobility. For many centuries afterwards, the device remained a symbol of status rather ⁵ a practical tool. Not until an eighteenth-century Englishman named Jonas Hanway began carrying ⁶ openly in the rain did the umbrella begin to lose its feminine associations. He was widely mocked at first, ⁷ within a few decades no gentleman would be seen without one. Today, ⁸ that millions are produced every year, the humble umbrella is more popular than ever.