题目内容
阅读理解
Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday?
The history of Valentine's Day—and its patron saint(守护神)—is covered in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains signs of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition.
So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become connected with this ancient tradition? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were dead . One legend describes that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius Ⅱ decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed (使……不受法律保护) marriage for young men—his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice(不公正)of the rule, fought against Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape cruel Roman prisons where they were often beaten, even killed.
According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first “Valentine” greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl—who may have been his jailor's daughter—who visited him during his imprisonment. Before his death, it is said that he wrote her a letter, which he signed “From your Valentine”, an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is gloomy, the stories certainly emphasize his appearance as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.
1．Why candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones every February?
[ ]
A．Mainly to show their love to their lovers.
B．Mainly to remember a person named Valentine.
C．Because they can't spend that day without these things.
D．Because February is a romantic month.
2．From this passage, why have people called that day Saint Valentine's Day?
[ ]
A．A priest called Valentine performed marriages for young lovers in secret.
B．A person called Valentine helped to save many Christians.
C．A person called Valentine wrote her lover a letter, which he signed “From your Valentine” .
D．It doesn't tell us exactly.
3．In the fourth paragraph, what's the meaning of the second “Valentine”?
[ ]
A．The person “Valentine”.
B．A thing as a gift in that day.
C．A signature in the lovers' day for the first time .
D．No real meaning.
4．What does the passage mainly talk about?
[ ]
A．How to spend Saint Valentine's Day.
B．The history of Saint Valentine's Day.
C．Why we should spend Saint Valentine's Day.
D．Why we should remember the person named Valentine.
解析：
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||