The Man behind Blue Jeans

Levi Strauss was born in 1829 in Bavaria, Germany. He was the fifth of six children. His father sold dry goods from door to door. (Dry goods include many different things: fabric, thread, scissors, combs, buttons, yarn, etc.)

In 1845, his father died. All six children decided to go to the United States. Two of Strauss’ bothers started a dry goods company in New York City. Strauss’ sister Fanny and her husband started a similar business in San Francisco. Strauss decided to go to the southeastern part of the United States. For eight years, he walked along the country roads selling dry goods from door to door –just like his father in Bavaria.

In 1853, Strauss decided to move to San Francisco. (At that time, thousands of people traveled to California to look for gold.) On the way to California, Strauss sold almost all of his dry goods. He had only one thing left—some canvas.

In California, Strauss tried to sell the canvas to the gold miners. He said they could make tents from the canvas. But they weren’t interested in canvas for tents. Strauss didn’t know what to do with the canvas. Then, he had an idea. Strauss could see that the miners needed new pants. There were holes in their pants because the fabric wasn’t strong. He decided to make the canvas into pants. They called them “Levi’s”. Later, Strauss stopped using canvas and used a different fabric. It was a heavy cotton fabric—the same kind people wear today.

Levi Strauss died in 1902. He never married and left his money to his nephews. He left the world much more—the jeans that so many people wear.

________ isn’t a kind of dry goods.

 A. Thread    B. Gold    C. Comb    D. Yarn

What is canvas?

A. Tent.    B. Pants.    C. A very strong fabric.

D. Anything which is used to make all kinds of trousers.

Why did the miners call the pants “Levi’s”?

A. Because the pants belonged to Levi Strauss’ father

B. In memory of Levi Strauss’ father.          C. It’s the name of Levi’ Strauss’ nephew.

D. Because the pants are Levi’s invention.

Which of the following is NOT true about Levi Strauss?

A. He was born in Germany.     B. His parents had six children.

C. He had five children.        D. He died in 1902.

Jeans are trousers made of a kind of clothe called denim. For many people, blue jeans represent American culture.
The history of blue jeans usually begins with a man named Levi Strauss. Although he did not invent the jeans, he is considered the first person to produce and sell this kind of clothing in large amounts.
Levi Strauss was born in Bavaria, Germany. In 1847, he and his family moved to the US. He opened a store, first in New York, and then in San Francisco, California. Among the products he sold were jeans. These trousers were especially useful for miners in California who needed clothing made of a strong material.
Levi Strauss partnered with a clothing maker named Jacob Davis, who had invented a process for making rivets(铆钉) for jeans. These metal things helped strengthen the blue jean cloth to make the trousers stronger. In 1873, Strauss and Davis received a patent to officially own this invention. They began producing “ copper-riveted waist overalls(工装裤)”. In 1928 the Levi Strauss company used the word “Levi’s” as the trademark for their products.
The 19^th-century workers would probably be surprised to know that their trousers would one day become a fashion object. Today, jeans are worn by people of all ages, incomes and lifestyles. Jeans come in many colors other than blue and in many styles and at many prices.
A national museum in Washington, D.C. has one of the oldest known pairs of Levi’s jeans in its collection. Jeans have come to express different ideas about American culture based on the people who wear them. These include the heroes of the Wild West and famous Hollywood actors like James Dean and Marlon Brando in the 1950s. Writer James Sullivan published a book called Jean: A Cultural History of an American Icon. In the book, he says jeans serve as a sign for two American values, creativity and rebellion (叛逆).
【小题1】This passage is mainly about _______.

Jeans are trousers made of a kind of clothe called denim. For many people, blue jeans represent American culture.
The history of blue jeans usually begins with a man named Levi Strauss. Although he did not invent the jeans, he is considered the first person to produce and sell this kind of clothing in large amounts.
Levi Strauss was born in Bavaria, Germany. In 1847, he and his family moved to the US. He opened a store, first in New York, and then in San Francisco, California. Among the products he sold were jeans. These trousers were especially useful for miners in California who needed clothing made of a strong material.
Levi Strauss partnered with a clothing maker named Jacob Davis, who had invented a process for making rivets(铆钉) for jeans. These metal things helped strengthen the blue jean cloth to make the trousers stronger. In 1873, Strauss and Davis received a patent to officially own this invention. They began producing “ copper-riveted waist overalls(工装裤)”. In 1928 the Levi Strauss company used the word “Levi’s” as the trademark for their products.
The 19^th-century workers would probably be surprised to know that their trousers would one day become a fashion object. Today, jeans are worn by people of all ages, incomes and lifestyles. Jeans come in many colors other than blue and in many styles and at many prices.
A national museum in Washington, D.C. has one of the oldest known pairs of Levi’s jeans in its collection. Jeans have come to express different ideas about American culture based on the people who wear them. These include the heroes of the Wild West and famous Hollywood actors like James Dean and Marlon Brando in the 1950s. Writer James Sullivan published a book called Jean: A Cultural History of an American Icon. In the book, he says jeans serve as a sign for two American values, creativity and rebellion (叛逆).

1. 1.

   This passage is mainly about _______.

   1. A.
      the life story of Levi Strauss
   2. B.
      jeans and American culture
   3. C.
      why jeans are popular.
   4. D.
      the history of jeans
2. 2.

   We know from the passage that Levi Strauss _________.

   1. A.
      was the first person who wore jeans.
   2. B.
      moved to the US from Germany alone.
   3. C.
      not only sold jeans at first in his store
   4. D.
      helped Jacob Davis invent a kind of rivet
3. 3.

   Which of the following statements is TRUE about jeans?

   1. A.
      Strauss and Davis owned the invention of using rivets on jeans.
   2. B.
      In California, Levi’s was the only jeans seller in 1928.
   3. C.
      Jeans were called copper-riveted waist overalls at first.
   4. D.
      Jeans were originally made for heroes of the Wild West.
4. 4.

   According to the last but one paragraph,jeans should be best described as _________.

   1. A.
      strong
   2. B.
      cultural
   3. C.
      popular
   4. D.
      unique

Jeans are trousers made of a kind of clothe called denim. For many people, blue jeans represent American culture.

      The history of blue jeans usually begins with a man named Levi Strauss. Although he did not invent the jeans, he is considered the first person to produce and sell this kind of clothing in large amounts.

Levi Strauss was born in Bavaria, Germany. In 1847, he and his family moved to the US. He opened a store, first in New York, and then in San Francisco, California. Among the products he sold were jeans. These trousers were especially useful for miners in California who needed clothing made of a strong material.

Levi Strauss partnered with a clothing maker named Jacob Davis, who had invented a process for making rivets(铆钉) for jeans. These metal things helped strengthen the blue jean cloth to make the trousers stronger. In 1873, Strauss and Davis received a patent to officially own this invention. They began producing “ copper-riveted waist overalls(工装裤)”. In 1928 the Levi Strauss company used the word “Levi’s” as the trademark for their products.

The 19^th-century workers would probably be surprised to know that their trousers would one day become a fashion object. Today, jeans are worn by people of all ages, incomes and lifestyles. Jeans come in many colors other than blue and in many styles and at many prices.

A national museum in Washington, D.C. has one of the oldest known pairs of Levi’s jeans in its collection. Jeans have come to express different ideas about American culture based on the people who wear them. These include the heroes of the Wild West and famous Hollywood actors like James Dean and Marlon Brando in the 1950s. Writer James Sullivan published a book called Jean: A Cultural History of an American Icon. In the book, he says jeans serve as a sign for two American values, creativity and rebellion (叛逆).

This passage is mainly about _______.

   A. the life story of Levi Strauss                            B. jeans and American culture

   C. why jeans are popular.                                 D. the history of jeans

We know from the passage that Levi Strauss _________.

   A. was the first person who wore jeans.               B. moved to the US from Germany alone.

   C. not only sold jeans at first in his store              D. helped Jacob Davis invent a kind of rivet

Which of the following statements is TRUE about jeans?

   A. Strauss and Davis owned the invention of using rivets on jeans.     

B. In California, Levi’s was the only jeans seller in 1928.

   C. Jeans were called copper-riveted waist overalls at first.           

 D. Jeans were originally made for heroes of the Wild West.

According to the last but one paragraph,jeans should be best described as _________.

   A. strong            B. cultural              C.  popular           D. unique

Jeans are trousers made of a kind of clothe called denim. For many people, blue jeans represent American culture.

      The history of blue jeans usually begins with a man named Levi Strauss. Although he did not invent the jeans, he is considered the first person to produce and sell this kind of clothing in large amounts.

Levi Strauss was born in Bavaria, Germany. In 1847, he and his family moved to the US. He opened a store, first in New York, and then in San Francisco, California. Among the products he sold were jeans. These trousers were especially useful for miners in California who needed clothing made of a strong material.

Levi Strauss partnered with a clothing maker named Jacob Davis, who had invented a process for making rivets(铆钉) for jeans. These metal things helped strengthen the blue jean cloth to make the trousers stronger. In 1873, Strauss and Davis received a patent to officially own this invention. They began producing “ copper-riveted waist overalls(工装裤)”. In 1928 the Levi Strauss company used the word “Levi’s” as the trademark for their products.

The 19^th-century workers would probably be surprised to know that their trousers would one day become a fashion object. Today, jeans are worn by people of all ages, incomes and lifestyles. Jeans come in many colors other than blue and in many styles and at many prices.

A national museum in Washington, D.C. has one of the oldest known pairs of Levi’s jeans in its collection. Jeans have come to express different ideas about American culture based on the people who wear them. These include the heroes of the Wild West and famous Hollywood actors like James Dean and Marlon Brando in the 1950s. Writer James Sullivan published a book called Jean: A Cultural History of an American Icon. In the book, he says jeans serve as a sign for two American values, creativity and rebellion (叛逆).

1.This passage is mainly about _______.

   A. the life story of Levi Strauss                            B. jeans and American culture

   C. why jeans are popular.                                 D. the history of jeans

2.We know from the passage that Levi Strauss _________.

   A. was the first person who wore jeans.               B. moved to the US from Germany alone.

   C. not only sold jeans at first in his store              D. helped Jacob Davis invent a kind of rivet

3.Which of the following statements is TRUE about jeans?

   A. Strauss and Davis owned the invention of using rivets on jeans.     

B. In California, Levi’s was the only jeans seller in 1928.

   C. Jeans were called copper-riveted waist overalls at first.           

 D. Jeans were originally made for heroes of the Wild West.

4.According to the last but one paragraph,jeans should be best described as _________.

   A. strong            B. cultural              C.  popular           D. unique