Shoe is a covering for the foot. Shoes have a  16   , and most shoes also have a heel. The upper part of most shoes extends no  17   than the ankle. Boots are footwear that reaches beyond the ankLe. People wear shoes in order to   18  their feet from the environment, sharp objects, and uncomfortable surfaces.Fashion often determines shoe styles. Tlie desire to be   19  has led to unusual styles. Many European men of the 1300’s wore shoes with an extremely long toe. Sometimes the long toe had to be fastened to the knee with a chain so that the   20  would not trip.Most shoes are made of leather. Other shoe materials include canvas, velvet, and such   21  substances as plastics. Materials and styles  22   somewhat, depending on climate, custom, and other   23 . For example, to keep their feet dry from the  24  ground, many farmers in the Netherlands wear heavy wooden shoes.No one knows   25  people first began to wear shoes. The first foot coverings worn in cold regions were probably baglike wrappings made of animal fur. The first known footwear used in   26   surroundings consisted of sandals made of plant fibers or leather. The ancient Egyptians wore such sandals   27   3700 B.C., and the ancient Greeks and Romans also wore sandals. In China, people wore cloth shoes thousands of years ago.Throughout   28  , people have worn shoes not only for protection but also for decoration and to  29  social status. Shoe styles have gone  30  and out of fashion, just as they do today. For example, the fashion in womens shoes changed to rounded toes in the 1500’s，low heels by the late 1500’s，and high heels in the 1600’s.

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