Valentine's Day is supposed to be about love and romance. But unfortunately, it can be just the opposite. Because of that, Feb. 15th starts the busy season for divorce lawyers, as people who were unhappy with their marriages heading into the day often decide that they no longer want to be with the one they used to love.
A study of divorce filings (档案) in New York, Illinois and California by AttorneyFee. com, a legal referral (推荐) site, found that February is the busiest month of the year for divorce filings, up about 18% from the average month. And those seeking referrals for a divorce lawyer on the site increase 38% following the holiday, with the biggest rise on the day after Valentine’s.
Another legal site, Avvo. com, reports a 40% increase in those seeking information and advice about divorce in the period right after Valentine’s Day.
“There's a very large number of people who are considering the divorce all the time, deciding whether or not to file," said Richard Komaiko, a co-founder of AttorneyFee. “On Valentine’s Day, this thing is carefully considered.”
Komaiko said February has factors other than the holiday that could lead to an increase in divorces. January is the busiest month of the year for bankruptcy (破产) filings, highlighting the financial problems that often divide couples. In addition, the cold weather of February can keep couples that are having trouble indoors and closer to each other, adding to problems.
But Alton Abramowitz, president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, believes the holiday itself often worsen the relationship for couples who are having trouble. "There’s always the clients who come in a day or two after saying ‘I can’t believe it. I made this beautiful dinner for my husband for Valentine’s Day, but he called to say he was stuck in the office and then didn't come home at all.’" Abramowitz said, “the day can create problems that lead to them finally getting caught."
1.What makes Valentine’s Day convey the meaning opposite to love and romance?
A.Valentine's Day won't bring people love and romance.
B.Many divorce filings change the nature of Valentine's Day.
C.Couples having troubles tend to break up after Valentine's Day.
D.Divorce lawyers dislike the atmosphere of Valentine's Day.
2.According to the study made by AttorneyFee. com, divorce filings are ________.
A.occurring most after the new year B.less connected with Valentine's Day
C.more likely to be handled online D.at the height of popularity in February
3.People intending to divorce may make use of Valentine’s Day to ________.
A.reflect on the divorce B.take legal action
C.make negotiations D.put the divorce aside
4.According to Komaiko, why do divorces grow in number in February?
A.Because financial problems and cold weather may bring more problems.
B.Because the long winter holiday makes couples hard to get through.
C.Because the husband is too busy with work to spend the day with his wife.
D.Because Valentine’s Day gets couples into financial trouble.
Osaka, Japan—Defending champions China lifted the FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Cup trophy（奖杯）with perfect 11 straight wins after easing past Argentina 3-0 here on Sunday. With their eleventh win at the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Cup, China won the FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Cup.
This year, the World Cup has been played across different cities, and Team China had training sessions even on traveling days when some participating teams chose to rest up after a tiring flight.“Coach Lang focuses on details of the technique in the training sessions, and I feel our team has become more balanced.” Captain Zhu Ting said. This firm approach explains how China managed to turn the table against the United States at the World Cup. Never quit, especially in adversity. That’s what the spirit of Chinese women’s volleyball means.
When the team struggled, Zhu was always there, doing whatever was needed to carry the team forward. That’s why she has become a national volleyball icon, just like “Iron Hammer” Lang. As for Lang, she took over the flag from her former coach Yuan Weimin, who was behind China’s rise in the beginning. From coach Yuan to coach Lang, and spiker（主攻手） Lang to spiker Zhu, the flag bearers may have changed over time, but the craving for championships and the steely desire and determination remain the same.
Volleyball is a team sport and behind the on-court team, there is always a supportive coaching team and staff. Lai was one of the members, shouldering responsibilities as both vice director of China’s Volleyball Management Center and as assistant coach. Apart from coordinating between coaches and players, Chinese coaches and foreign coaches and sometimes within Chinese coaches, she also has to do chores. During Rio 2016, assistant coach Yuan Lingxi headed for the arena（竞技场）at 6am every day to film the matches and would return to the Olympic Village at 2am when he would start analyzing China’s opponents and file reports. There are many Lais and Yuans that are not known by the public, but who remain indispensable for the team to overcome difficulties and reach their peak.
1.What does the spirit of Chinese women’s volleyball mean according to paragraph 2?
A.Being a special team. B.Sticking to the end.
C.Winning every game. D.Training hard every day.
2.Why does Zhu Ting become a national volleyball icon?
A.She wins many awards in the World Cup.
B.She keeps strong desire and determination.
C.She takes lots of training after the tiring flight.
D.She does almost everything to help the team forward.
3.What does the author intend to convey in the last paragraph?
A.Hard work is vital in volleyball matches.
B.The coach has a great influence on players.
C.The staff behind the on-court team is also essential.
D.Understanding opponents is necessary to win the game.
I work as the reception manager at my hotel.
A booking came in a few weeks ago with a note attached that a guest would be travelling with her deaf father. This note helped us in preparing for their arrival. As they would be here for a number of days, his daughter wanted to make his trip to Ireland as smooth as possible.
Upon seeing this note and knowing I would be the one to check them in, I decided to learn some very basic sign language. I greeted the guest in my usual fashion, asking for the surname on the booking. Once I heard the name，I immediately realized who was standing in front of me.
I had been learning for two weeks how to say: “Welcome to Ireland. My sign language is terrible, but please, if you need anything during your stay, just let me know and we will help you.”
I smiled at the father and daughter in front of me. Turning to the father, I greeted him in ASL (American Sign Language) and began the bit I had learned for him. His daughter broke down crying and told me I was sweet. But the father just smiled and was so happy. Honestly, seeing his reaction was enough for me. It was absolutely worth the last few weeks of learning basic ASL.
Sadly, I wasn’t working the day they checked out, but they left a gift for me, a small box with some chocolates and a book on ASL. Inside was a note saying: “Thank you very much for what you did. My father has been in amazing spirits from the time you checked us in and insisted we get you a gift before we left. You have no idea how much this meant to my father and me, and we can’t thank you enough. You've made his trip very special with one simple gesture.”
I cried for a solid five minutes when I came into work the next day and found this gift in my locker.
1.The daughter left a note when booking the hotel in order to __________.
A.ask for special service for herself
B.give some useful advice to the hotel
C.express gratitude to the hotel manager
D.make her father’s trip more comfortable
2.The daughter cried when they checked in because __________.
A.the author’s sign language was really terrible
B.her father was unwilling to live in that hotel
C.she appreciated what the author had done for her father
D.the author wouldn’t be working when they checked out
3.Seeing the father’s reaction during check-in, the author probably felt __________.
A.thankful B.satisfied
C.disappointed D.regretful
4.From this passage, we can know that __________.
A.the author made the daughter’s check-out smooth
B.the author was deeply moved by an unexpected gift
C.the daughter cried for five minutes before they left
D.the daughter asked the author to learn sign language
假定你是李华。你的美国朋友Sam得知你最近参加了由学校组织的研学旅行活动，来信向你咨询相关情况，请你给他回信，内容包括：
1. 活动目的；
2. 活动地点和内容；
3. 活动感受。
注意：
1. 格式已为你写好，不计入总词数; 2. 词数：100左右。
参考词汇：研学旅行study trip
Dear Sam,
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(
)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用(＼)划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Dear Bill,
You must know how deeply saddened I was over your loss. Your sister and I were the dearest friend and recalling the past, I dare saying she was like a sister to me. I will miss him very much.
I could always count at her whenever I needed help, whether with a big project and a small task that she was always so willing to help me with. I came to trust her judgment and wise as well and her advice were always so well thought out and helpful.
She was a terrible great friend and I know our lives will never be same without her. I could never find a better and more caring friend. She has been left us with so many wonderful memories. I will cherish them forever.
In Deep Sorrow,
Betty Smith
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
In August, cases of a mysterious severe lung disease rocked the health society, 1. doctors looking for the cause of the illness. They found the link between vaping and lung disease. Now, there are 805 lung injury cases reported across 46 states in the United States. There had been twelve 2.(death) reported, and all cases reported a history of e-cigarette use.
E-cigarette use poses a significant and avoidable health risk to young people in the United States. Besides increasing the 3.(possible) of addiction and long-term harm to brain development and respiratory health, e-cigarette use 4.(associate) with the use of other tobacco products that can do even 5.(great) damage to the body. Even breathing in e-cigarette smoke that someone else has breathed out 6.(carry) health risks.
It is important to prevent harm to youth and young adults from e-cigarettes. Everyone has 7. role, including parents, health care providers, teachers, and those 8. work with and care about young people. A visit to a health care professional is a great chance 9.(educate) your child on the potential risks of e-cigarette use. Ask your provider to discuss these health risks, including nicotine addiction and the impact of nicotine on the 10.(develop) brain, etc.
