February has long been a month of romance. With the sweet smell of roses in the air, romantic films hit cinemas and love stories fill newspapers and magazines.
On the 14th day, it is a custom for a boy to take his girlfriend out to dinner, buy her flowers and chocolates, write poems, sing to her or even spell out her name with rose petals! This is what you see on Valentine’s Day, a day named after Valentine who was a priest in the third century Rome. When the emperor (皇帝) decided that single men could become better soldiers than those with wives, he didn’t allow marriage.
But Valentine continued to perform marriage ceremonies for young lovers in secret. When his actions were discovered, the emperor sentenced him to death. While in prison, it is said that Valentine fell in love with the daughter of his prison guard. Before his death, he wrote her a letter, which he signed “From your Valentine”, an expression that is still in use today. Valentine died for what he believed in and so he was made a Saint (圣徒), as well as becoming one of history’s most romantic characters.
Nowadays, Valentine’s Day is also popular among Chinese young people. Some students are planning to make Valentine’s cards for parents, teachers and friends. Others want to hold parties at which they will exchange small gifts and eat heart-shaped cakes. The idea is to have fun and encourage people to share in the spirit of St. Valentine.
1.Why did the emperor in Rome not allow marriage in his country?
A. Because there were few women in his country at that time.
B. Because he thought men without wives could be better soldiers.
C. Because there wasn’t enough food for so many people.
D. Because he wanted to control the birth rate.
2.Valentine was put into prison because ______.
A. he killed one of the soldiers
B. he stole a lot of food
C. he didn’t obey the emperor’s order
D. he didn’t want to be a soldier
3.The last paragraph mainly tells us ______.
A. students in China send cards to their teachers
B. it is a good idea to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China
C. it is interesting to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China
D. Valentine’s Day is also popular in China now
4.People celebrate Valentine’s Day to _________.
A. get gifts B. honor a priest
C. enjoy romance D. get married
5.The best title for this passage should be ______.
A. Valentine’s Day B. A Brave Priest
C. Valentine’s Day in China D. A Romantic Man
Anna lived on the side of a valley. One summer, there was a very big 26 , and a lot of houses down below Anna’s were washed away. Anna’s house was 27 enough to escape the flood, so when the water had 28 and the other houses were 29 there with no roof and no walls and all covered with mud(泥), her house was just all right.
Her house was quite small, her husband was dead, and she had four children, 30 Anna took in one of the families that had lost 31 in the flood and she32 her home with them until it was 33 for them to rebuild their house.
Anna’s friends were 34 when they saw Anna do this. They could not understand why Anna wanted to give 35 so much more work and trouble when she already had quite a few children to36 .
“Well,” Anna 37 her friends, “at the end of the First World War, a woman in the town where I then lived found herself very 38 , because her husband had been killed in the 39 and she had a lot of children, 40 I have now. The day before Christmas, this woman said to her children, ‘We won’t be able to have much for Christmas this year, so I’m going to 41 only one present to all of us. Now I’ll go and get it.’ She came back with a 42 who was even poorer than they, and who had no parents. ‘Here’s our 43 ,’ she said to her children.
The children were 44 and happy to get such a present. They 45 the little girl, and she grew up as their sister. And I was that Christmas present.”
1.A. earthquake B. accident C. flood D. fire
2.A. below B. high C. big D. small
3.A. reduced B. come C. appeared D. disappeared
4.A. rising B. flowing C. falling D. standing
5.A. so B. but C. for D. since
6.A. nothing B. everything C. anything D. something
7.A. gave B. found C. shared D. built
8.A. possible B. necessary C. important D. obvious
9.A. worried B. disappointed C. puzzled D. satisfied
10.A. them B. herself C. him D. us
11.A. support B. supply C. grow D. educate
12.A. explained to B. asked for C. talked with D. turned up
13.A. sad B. poor C. rich D. happy
14.A. war B. storm C. rain D. flood
15.A. because B. as C. which D. that
16.A. get B. send C. buy D. make
17.A. boy B. girl C. student D. teacher
18.A. child B. daughter C. sister D. present
19.A. angry B. excited C. lovely D. sorry
20.A. disliked B. gained C. welcomed D. led
I saw a woman running toward me in the dark. Before I could recognize who she was, she had run back in the direction ______ she had come.
A. of which B. from where
C. in which D. from which
The other day he ______ a dollar bill in the suit he was sending to the cleaner’s.
A. came to B. came across
C. came intoD. came through
The company was named Gates Hall ______ a man named James Gates.
A. in need of B. in search of
C. with the help of D. in memory of
My new pen __________.Who __________ have taken it?
A. has been disappeared; can B. has disappeared; could
C. is missing; should D. has been lost; may
