From the earlier time it was well ___1___ to the Peruvians that when a cut ___2___ made in the thick skin of a ___3___ tree, a white liquid like milk came ___4___. From this fluid (流动的) a sticky ___5___ of rubber might be made. This rubber is ___6___ and wax-like when warm so that it is ___7___ to give any form.
The Peruvians ___8___ the discovery that it is very good for ___9___ out water. Then in the early ___10___ of the century they made overshoes to ___11___ their feet dry. Then a certain Mr Mackintosh ___12___ coats of cloth which were ___13___ with rubber. Today Mackintosh raincoats are still ___14___ after him.
But these first rubber shoes ___15___ raincoats were unpleasantly soft and sticky in ___16___. They were also stiff and very ___17___ in winter. They were like wax(蜡) although they ___18___ a bit stronger.
But the rubber ___19___ use today has been improved. It is ___20___ sticky but soft and elastic(弹性的) and strong enough for any season.
1. A. talked     B. heard  C. seen    D. known
2. A. has  B. was     C. may    D. will
3. A. rubber    B. apple  C. orange       D. oak
4. A. from      B. through      C. out     D. up
5. A. raincoat  B. shoes  C. border D. mass
6. A. hard       B. fast     C. stubborn     D. soft
7. A. important      B. impossible  C. possible      D. uncertain
8. A. made      B. found  C. wrote  D. neglected
9. A. finding   B. keeping      C. making      D. pouring
10. A. kind     B. part    C. sort     D. halves
11. A. clean    B. clear   C. keep   D. prevent
12. A. made    B. found  C. appeared    D. gave
13. A. full      B. like     C. lined   D. applied
14. A. looked  B. named C. made  D. searched
15. A. or B. and     C. with    D. but
16. A. today    B. summer      C. winter D. rain
17. A. soft      B. sticky  C. elastic D. cold
18. A. felt       B. made  C. needed       D. produced
19. A. Mr Mackintosh    B. the Peruvians     C. we      D. is
20. A. also      B. always       C. neither       D. not