February has long been a month of romance（浪漫）. 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（牧师） 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（主持） marriage ceremonies（典礼） for young lovers in secret. When his actions were discovered, the emperor sentenced him to death. While in prison（监狱）, 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 （签名）“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（心形的） 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 wanted to control the birth rate.
C. Because there wasn’t enough food for so many people.
D. Because he thought men without wives could be better soldiers.
2.Valentine was put into prison because ______.
A. he killed one of the soldiers
B. he didn’t obey the emperor’s order
C. he stole a lot of food
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. Valentine’s Day is also popular in China now
C. it is interesting to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China
D. it is a good idea to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China
4.The best title for this passage should be ______.
A. Valentine’s Day in China B. A Brave Priest
C. Valentine’s Day D. A Romantic Man
Several years ago, I worked as a truck driver for a company. On Saturdays I usually spent several hours doing something to keep my truck in good condition.
One Saturday, as I was cleaning my truck, I noticed the boss’s elderly father came out to ask his grandson to take him fishing after work. The grandson told him all about how much he would love to do that, but he just couldn’t because he had other plans already. The old man hobbled (蹒跚) off to the house.
Then I heard the grandson telling his dad, "I’m not taking that old man fishing! It’s worse than taking a kid."
That just broke my heart.
I quit working immediately and went home to fetch my fishing gear (渔具) and a chair. Then I came back and invited the old man to go fishing. He accepted happily.
When we got to the river, I let him sit in the chair at the edge of the water. It wasn’t long before he got a fish. He got one fish after another. His eyes were shining like a child. About half an hour later, he told me he was tired and needed to go home. So I took him and the fish home.
Two weeks later, the old man died. His family told me later that all he talked about during that time was his fishing trip. I am satisfied that I have taken an old man on his last fishing trip, but I am sorry that his family have lost their last chance. Whenever you get the chance, don’t forget about taking Grandpa fishing. Someday, you may be in the same place and you’ll want your family to care about you, too.
1.The writer wrote the passage mainly to ________.
A. tell us something about his work
B. tell us about a fishing experience
C. persuade us to take Grandpa fishing
D. persuade us to care about the elderly
2.The old man’s Grandson refused to fish with him because ______.
A. he had something more important to do that day
B. he didn’t like to fish with an old man
C. he was tired of his job and he wanted to rest
D. he preferred fishing with a child
3.What’s the possible meaning of the underlined word "quit"?
A. start B. stop C. imagine D. try
4.According to the passage, we can infer（推断） that the author is _______.
A. willing to make his boss happy
B. in need of care from his family
C. prefers fishing to his work
D. kind and warm-hearted
The world’s oldest person, Ms. Baines, died. She celebrated her 115th birthday with congratulations from Barack Obama, President of the United States. Over her life she lived through the terms of 21 US presidents.
Gertrude Baines passed away(去世) peacefully in her sleep at the Western Convalescent Hospital in Los Angeles, where she had lived for her last ten years. Emma Camanag , the hospital’s leader ，said she was a respectable lady. "It is really an honor for the hospital to take care of her over the last 10 years and we will greatly miss her. It is just like we have lost a relative（亲戚）," said Emma.
Ms. Baines, who was born in Shellman, Georgia, in 1894, had no living relatives. She grew up in the southern US during difficult times. During that time, African American people were required to use separate, often poor, public services. She married young and later divorced (离婚). Her only child, a daughter, was born in 1909 and died of a terrible disease at the age of 18. Ms. Baines worked as a maid (女佣) in Ohio before moving to Los Angeles where she lived on her own until she was well over 100.
She once told an interviewer（记者）, "As for the secrets of long life, I do not have any disappointments（失望） in my own life."
She gained some fame when she voted for Mr. Obama in the US presidential election（总统大选）, saying she supported him "because he’s for the colored people". It was only the second time in her life she had voted, the first time being for John F. Kennedy.
Ms. Baines became the world’s oldest person in January. Japanese woman, Kama Chien, 114, has now taken over the title.
1.It was an honor for the hospital to take care of Ms. Baines because ________.
A. she was a respectable lady
B. she was a relative of the hospital’s leader
C. she lived in the hospital for years
D. she voted for Mr. Obama in the election
2.Ms. Baines voted for Mr. Obama because he ________.
A. was very popular in the hospital
B. did even better than John F. Kennedy
C. did good things for African Americans
D. congratulated her on her birthday
3.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Ms. Baines used to serve others in Ohio.
B. Ms. Baines died in a hospital in Los Angeles.
C. Ms. Baines and her husband had only one child.
D. Ms. Baines liked to live alone.
4.The passage is mainly about ________.
A. the world’s oldest person, Ms. Baines
B. why Ms. Baines voted for Mr. Obama
C. how Ms. Baines lived for so long
D. Ms. Baines and President Obama
Once I thought love meant flowers, gifts and sweet kisses. So, I really ___ whether there is love between my parents. Every day they are very busy ___ to earn money to pay the high schooling for me. They don’t act in the ___ ways that I read in books or I see on TV, and sending flowers to each other on Valentine’s Day is even_____.
One day, my mother was sewing（缝） a quilt(被子). I asked her if there was ___ between them. She stopped her work and raised her head with ____. Then she lowered(低下) her head and ____sewing the quilt. I was very ___ because I thought I had hurt her. But after a few minutes, she said, “look at this thread（细线）. Sometimes it ___, but most of the time it disappears in the quilt. If life is a quilt, then love should be a thread. It can ___ be seen anywhere or anytime, but it’s really there, and makes the quilt____.” I listened carefully but I couldn’t understand her___ the next spring.
My mother suddenly got sick seriously and had to stay in the hospital for a one-month treatment. Every morning and dusk after she___ from the hospital, my father___ my mother walking slowly on the country road. There were beautiful flowers, green grass and trees, and the sun gently shine them___ the leaves. All of these ___ the most beautiful picture in the world. ___ their eyes, I know they love each other deeply. From this experience, I ___ that love was just a ___ in the quilt of our life. Love is _____ making life strong and warm.
1.A. believe B. hesitate C. doubt D. know
2.A. keeping B. willing C. learning D. trying
3.A. magic B. romantic C. average D. special
4.A. unsuitable B. impolite C. uneasy D. impossible
5.A. difference B. love C. similarity D. fight
6.A. surprise B. anger C. smile D. calm
7.A. finished B. continued C. forgot D. considered
8.A. excited B. worried C. shocked D. disappointed
9.A. exists B. works C. appears D. breaks
10.A. easily B. hardly C. simply D. usually
11.A.long-lasting B. long-dated C. long-suffering D. long-winded
12.A. after B. before C. until D. since
13.A. returned B. escaped C. remained D. heard
14.A. led B. let C. caught D. helped
15.A. from B. through C. across D. throughout
16.A. made with B. made up C. made into D. made of
17.A. Reading B. Watching C. Seeing D. Checking
18.A. expected B. realized C. noticed D. read
19.A. material B. design C. color D. thread
20.A. everywhere B. inside C. anywhere D. Outside
When the students _____ the teacher about their problems, he was ready to give a helping hand.
A. reminded B. consulted C. persuaded D. combined
If you cheat in the exam ,you could hardly ___________ it .
A. throw away B. get away C. get away from D. get away with
