No one knows when the first kite was made . The first record of a kite was more than 2 , 000years ago in China . Han Xin , the leader of an army , wanted to bring down a king . He decided to dig a tunnel (隊道) into the king's palace . He flew a kite over the wall of the palace to make sure the length (长度) of its string (线). In this way , he could determine how long the tunnel should be . His men in the tunnel took the kite string with them . When they reached the end of the string , they knew to dig up . Kites have been flown in Japan for hundreds of years . In the 1700s , kites were flown in autumn to give thanks for a good harvest . They were also flown to send good wishes to couples who had their first son . Today in Japan , kites are often flown as part of a celebration , such as the beginning of a new year . And kite festivals are held each year in many parts of the country . Kites have been used for scientific purposes in the western world . In 1752 , Benjamin Franklin tied a key to a kite and flew it in a storm to find out that lightening was a form of electricity . In the 1890s , Lawrence Hargrave invented the box kite to test ideas about flight . From 1898until 1933 , the United States Weather Bureau (气象局) used box kites to collect weather data . The Wright brothers also experimented (试验) with kites . What they learnt helped them make the first airplane flight in 1903 . 56 . Why did Han Xin want to dig a tunnel ? A . To pull down the palace . B . To fight against the king . C . To search for the king's treasure . D . To find out the length of the kite string . 57 . What does the underlined word" determine "in Paragraph 1probably mean in Chinese ? A .测定 B .选择 C .了解 D .考察 58 . One of the purposes of flying kites in Japan is . A . to give thanks for a good harvest in summer B . to express good wishes to the first - born daughter C . to celebrate the beginning of a new year D . to hold kite festivals all over the country 59 . When did the United States Weather Bureau begin to use box kites ? A . In 1752 . B . In 1898 . C . In 1903 . D . In 1933 . 6.0 . What would be the best title for the text ? A . The History of Kites B . The Experiments of Kites C . The Invention of a Kite D . The First Record of a Kite .