To us it seems so natural to put up an umbrella to keep the wate

To us it seems so natural to put up an umbrella to keep the water off when it rains．But actually the umbrella was not invented as protection against rain．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,way back in 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 of honor and authority．In the Far East in ancient times,the umbrella was allowed to be used only by royalty or 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 Romans. 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 and authority．By 1680,The umbrella appeared in France,and later on in England. By the eighteenth 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 of colors. The umbrella was used only by royalty or those in high office__.
A、in Europe in the eighteenth century
B、in ancient Egypt and Babylon
C、in the Far East in ancient times
D、during the Middle Ages
【正确答案】：C
【题目解析】：根据文章中的描述，我们可以找到与问题相关的关键信息。文章提到：“In the Far East in ancient times, the umbrella was allowed to be used only by royalty or by those in high office.” 这句话明确指出，在远东的古代，雨伞只能被皇室或高级官员使用。 对比给出的选项： A. in Europe in the eighteenth century - 文章中没有提到在18世纪的欧洲雨伞是皇室或高级官员的专属。 B. in ancient Egypt and Babylon - 文章提到在古埃及和巴比伦，雨伞用作遮阳伞，但没有提到它们是皇室或高级官员的专属。 C. in the Far East in ancient times - 这与文章中提到的内容一致。 D. during the Middle Ages - 文章提到在中世纪，雨伞的使用实际上消失了，因此这个选项不正确。 因此，正确答案是C。