He ________ the girl the first time he saw her．

1. A.
   lost his heart to
2. B.
   lost his heart in
3. C.
   lost heart to
4. D.
   lost hearts to

Valentine’s Day is named for Saint Valentine, an early Christmas churchman who helped young lovers. Valentine was killed for his Christian beliefs on February 14 more than 1700 years ago, but the day which is named after him is even earlier than that.

   More than 2,000 years ago, the ancient Romans celebrated a holiday for lovers. As part of the celebration, girls wrote their names on pieces of paper and put them in a large container. Boys reached into the container and pulled one out. The girl whose name was written on the paper became his lover or sweet heart for a year.

   Now, lovers still put their names on pieces of paper and they sent each other Valentine’s Day cards that tell of their love. Sometimes they also send gifts, like flowers or chocolate candies. Americans usually send these gifts and cards through the mail system. But some use another way to send this message. They have it printed in a newspaper. The cost is usually a few dollars. Some of the messages are simple and short, “Jane, I love you very much”. Others say more. This one, for example, “Dan, Roses are red. Violets are blue. I hope you love me as much as I love you. Forever, May.”

   Most of the newspapers that print such messages are local, but USA Today is sold throughout the United States and 90 other countries. This means someone can send a Valentine message to the lover in a far-away place almost anywhere in the world. These messages cost 80 dollars and more. An employee of USA Today says readers can have a small heart or rose printed along with their messages this year. Will this kind of Valentine’s Day message reach the one you love? Well, just make sure he or she reads the newspaper.

When was the day named after Valentine?

A. More than 1700 years ago before Valentine’s death.      B. More than 2, 000 years ago.

C. On February 14.                                  D. It is not mentioned in the passage.

Which of the following is Wrong about the ancient Romans holiday in the text?

A. Girls put paper with their names into a container.

B. Boys and girls became sweet hearts by chance.

C. Girls and boys chose life lovers in the holiday.

D. It was celebrated as a holiday for lovers.

Now lovers celebrate Valentine’s Day _________.

A. like what the ancient Romans did         B. by sending gifts to each other

C. by printing newspapers                       D. by spending lots of money

What can we learn from the text?

A. The ancient Roman girls were more easy-going.

B. Valentine was killed for not helping the government.

C. USA Today helps readers to send roses with printed messages.

D. Valentine was honored for his Christian belief and warm heart.

The text is written to _________.

A. tell us something about Valentine’s Day                 B. advertise for USA Today

C. tell us that Americans are open to express love          D. sell roses on Valentine’s Day       

I really hadn’t meant to yell at them. But that grey afternoon saw it just as my son and daughter were making a terrible mess on the floor in the kitchen.

With a tiresome report to write, I felt bothered at my desk. Suddenly, it occurred to me that my kids were at fault. A voice inside me insisted that I do something quickly.

“Ok, you two here, but what an awful thing you are attempting!” I was shouting angrily. I made for them, while it became evident that the boy wanted no part of me. “Get away from us!” he shouted back, there being an expression of support from his sister.

All of a sudden, I found the fault in myself. Quickly I shaped my hands into pincers(钳子) and crawled towards them, “Crabby（暴躁的） Daddy is here. Ha, Ha, Ha, he likes to yell at children, and then eat them!” My son continued to keep me away, but now he was laughing and crying at the same time. My mission to repair the damage caused by my yelling seemed to work well. Still, I regretted not having controlled myself first in a right way.

Need I let them know how badly they were acting by blaming? This is a lesson that serves myself. It only shows just how to get rid of something (ill-feelings, responsibility…) by blaming others. It’s not my “best self”.

We have to search for our “best self” when with our children. They don’t need perfect parents, but they do need parents who are always trying to get better. Here, I am reminded of the words of a great thinker. “When a man lives with God, his voice shall be as sweet as the murmur of the book…” Then, in our lifetime, couldn’t we always speak to our kids in such a sweet voice since most of us consider them as the most precious in the world? And before we reach this level, what should we do when we come across various difficult cases with our children?

The author couldn’t help yelling at his kids this time probably because________.

A. the weather was so unpleasant         B. he was tired of his boring work

C. the kids didn’t ask him to join them     D. a Daddy has his right to do so

Which of the following made the author aware of his fault?

A. No obvious reason.              

B. The boy’s yelling back.

C. His self-awareness.              

D. The girl’s shouting back

According to the passage, the author will _____ in another similar situation.

A. play a crab again like this time  

B. apologize to kids in a sincere way

C. avoid blaming kids in a hurry   

D. beat them up about such things

What will the writer go on to write about in the next paragraph(s)?

A. How to behave ourselves properly when kids are at fault.

B. How to play with our children in a more interesting way.

C. How to deal with the housework with children around us.

D. How to persuade children to do what they are told to.

What does “the boy wanted no part of me” in the third paragraph mean?

A. The boy was happy because I loved them.

B. The boy was curious because I wanted to help them.    

C. The boy was very happy for I was angry.    

D. The boy didn’t want me to join them.

根据短文内容，从下框A~F选项中选出能概括每段主题的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该选项涂黑。选项中有一项为多余项。
A、The Long History of Marriage.
B、 Three Historical Stages of Marriage.
C、 Small Pay for a Happy Marriage.
D、Requirements for Marriage.
E、 Wedding and Marriage Ceremonies.
F、 Reasons for Marriage.
【小题1】______
Married people know they must adjust to one another to make their marriage successful, and that adjustments require thoughtfulness, co-operation, and sacrifices of some personal desires. Through the ages, however, people in all lands have found that these adjustments are very little to pay for the lifetime rewards of a happy marriage.
【小题2】______
Some countries, such as England and Switzerland, require that banns(结婚预告), or public notices of a proposed marriage, be announced. In most civilized countries couples must get a license to marry. Most states require a blood test or a general check-up before granting a license.
【小题3】______
Wedding and marriage are not the same. The wedding is the ceremony that marks the beginning of a marriage. The basic element of marriage is the “consensus(意见一致) in the marriage ceremony---that is, the mutual agreement of the two people to be married.
【小题4】______
The history of marriage may be as old as that of the man and family. In ancient times the man’s family often provided presents for all the relatives of the girl. If the gifts were favorably received, the man would be given the woman he wanted.
【小题5】______
Marriage has developed through three stages. At first it was simply mating. The second stage gradually developed the legal process and moral obligations, and the rights of each mate began to be defined. The third stage stresses ethical(道德的) rights.