Several different stories are told about the origin（由来） of Saint Valentine's Day（情人节）. One legend(传奇) dates as far back as the clays of the Roman Empire, according to the story, Claudius, the Emperor of Rome, wanted to increase the size of the army. He knew that it would be easier to get young man who were not married to join. Therefore he made a rule that no young man could marry until he had served a certain number of years in the army.

A priest（牧师） named Valentine broke the rule and secretly married a great many young people. Finally, Claudius found out about Valentine and put the priest in prison, where he remained until his death on February 14.

After his death, Valentine was made a saint, and the day of his death was named Saint Valentine's Day. It became the custom for lovers to send each other message on this day. Now Saint Valentine's Day is a time for people to send one another greeting of many kinds.

February 14, Valentine's Day, is a sweethearts' day, on which people in love with each other express their tender emotions. People sometimes put their love message in a heart-shaped box of chocolates, or a bunch of flowers tied with red ribbons. Words of letters may be written on the flower covered card, or something else. Whatever the form may be, the message is almost the same "will you be my Valentine?"

1.Valentine was put in prison because ________.

A. he secretly got married                                       

B. he didn't serve in the army

C. he married many young people secretly              

D. he broke the laws

2.According to the rule ________.

A. no young men could get married unless they were old enough

B. young men could marry if they served in the army for several years

C. no one could get married without the emperor's permission

D. young could marry only in the army

3.This passage mainly tells us about _________.

A. how Valentine died                                             

B. the Emperor of Rome

C. how Valentine's Day is celebrated                    

D. the origin of Valentine's Day

4.February 14 is chosen Valentine's Day because __________.

A. lovers express their tender emotions on this day   

   B. people want to remember Valentine

C. people send one another greetings of many kinds on this day

D. people want to fix a date for lovers to express their emotions

 

How often one hears children wishing they were grown up, and old people wishing they were young again. Each age has its pleasures and its pains, and the happiest person is the one who enjoys what each age gives him without wasting his time in useless regrets.

Childhood is a time when there are few responsibilities to make life difficult. If a child has good parents, he is fed, looked after and loved, whatever he may do. It is impossible that he will ever again in his life be given so much without having to do anything in return. In addition, life is always presenting new things to the child-things that have lost their interest for older people because they are too well-known. But a child has his parents, he is not so free to do what he wishes to do. He is continually being told not to do things or being punished for what he has done wrong. When the young man starts to earn his own living, he can no longer expect others to pay for his food, his clothes, and his room, but has to work if he wants to live comfortably. If he spends most of his time playing about in the way that he used to as a child, he will go hungry. And if he breaks the laws of society as he used to break the laws of his parents, he may go to prison. If, however, he works hard, keeps out of trouble and has good health, he can have the great happiness of building up for himself his own position in society.

according to the second paragraph, the writer thinks that _______.

A. life for a child is comparatively easy

B. a child is always loved whatever he does

C. if much is given to a child, he must do something in return

D. only children are interested in life

After a child grows up, he ________.

A. will have little time playing

B. has to be successful in finding a job

C. can still ask for help in time of trouble

D. should be able to take care of himself

Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A. People are often satisfied with their life.

B. Life is less interesting for old people.

C. Adults are freer to do what they want to do.

D. Adults should no longer rely on others.

The main idea of the passage is ________.

A. life is not enjoyable since each age has some pains

B. young men can have the greatest happiness if they work hard

C. childhood is the most enjoyable time in one’s life

D. one is the happiest if he can make good use of each age in his life

The paragraph following this passage will most probably discuss _______.

A. examples of successful young men

B. how to build up one’s position in society

C. joys and pains of old people

D. what to do when one has problems in life

Several different stories are told about the origin（由来） of Saint Valentine's Day（情人节）. One legend(传奇) dates as far back as the clays of the Roman Empire, according to the story, Claudius, the Emperor of Rome, wanted to increase the size of the army. He knew that it would be easier to get young man who were not married to join. Therefore he made a rule that no young man could marry until he had served a certain number of years in the army.

A priest（牧师） named Valentine broke the rule and secretly married a great many young people. Finally, Claudius found out about Valentine and put the priest in prison, where he remained until his death on February 14.

After his death, Valentine was made a saint, and the day of his death was named Saint Valentine's Day. It became the custom for lovers to send each other message on this day. Now Saint Valentine's Day is a time for people to send one another greeting of many kinds.

February 14, Valentine's Day, is a sweethearts' day, on which people in love with each other express their tender emotions. People sometimes put their love message in a heart-shaped box of chocolates, or a bunch of flowers tied with red ribbons. Words of letters may be written on the flower covered card, or something else. Whatever the form may be, the message is almost the same "will you be my Valentine?"

Valentine was put in prison because ________.

A. he secretly got married                                        

B. he didn't serve in the army

C. he married many young people secretly              

D. he broke the laws

According to the rule ________.

A. no young men could get married unless they were old enough

B. young men could marry if they served in the army for several years

C. no one could get married without the emperor's permission

D. young could marry only in the army

This passage mainly tells us about _________.

A. how Valentine died                                             

B. the Emperor of Rome

C. how Valentine's Day is celebrated                    

D. the origin of Valentine's Day

February 14 is chosen Valentine's Day because __________.

A. lovers express their tender emotions on this day   

   B. people want to remember Valentine

C. people send one another greetings of many kinds on this day

D. people want to fix a date for lovers to express their emotions

How often one hears children wishing they were grown-ups and old people wishing they were young again. Each age has its pleasures and its pains, and the happiest person is the one who enjoys what each age gives him without wasting his time in useless regrets.

     Childhood is a time when there are few responsibilities to make life difficult. If a child has good parents, he is fed, looked after and loved, whatever he may do. It is impossible that he will ever again in his life be given so much without having to do anything in return. In addition, life is always presenting new things to the child — things that have lost their interest for older people because they are too well-known. But a child has his parents. He is not so free to do what he wishes to do; he is continually being told not to do things or being punished for what he has done wrong.

When the young man starts to earn his own living, he can no longer expect others to pay for his food, his clothes, and his room, but has to work if he wants to live comfortably. If he spends most of his time playing about in the way that he used to as a child, he will go hungry. And if he breaks the laws of society as he used to break the laws of his parents, he may go to prison. If, however, he works hard, keeps out of trouble and has good health, he can have the great happiness of building up for himself his own position in society.

According to the second paragraph, the writer thinks that __.

    A. life for a child is comparatively easy

    B. a child is always loved whatever he does

    C. if much is given to a child, he must do something in return

    D. only children are interested in life

Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

    A. People are often satisfied with their life.

    B. Life is less interesting for old people.

    C. Adults are free to do what they want to do.

D. Adults should no longer rely on others.

The underlined word "responsibilities" in the second paragraph means__________.

    A. duties      B. jobs       C. suggestions     D. desires

The main idea of the passage is _________ .

    A. life is not enjoyable since each age has some pains

    B. young men can have the greatest happiness if they work hard

C. childhood is the most enjoyable time in one's life

D. one is the happiest if he can make good use of each age in his life

How often one hears children wishing they were grown-ups and old people wishing they were young again. Each age has its pleasures and its pains, and the happiest person is the one who enjoys what each age gives him without wasting his time in useless regrets.

   Childhood is a time when there are few responsibilities to make life difficult. If a child has good parents, he is fed, looked after and loved, whatever he may do. It is impossible that he will ever again in his life be given so much without having to do anything in return. What’s more, life is always presenting new things to the child — things that have lost their interest for older people because they are too well-known. But a child has his parents. He is not so free to do what he wishes to do; he is continually being told not to do things or being punished for what he has done wrong.

When the young man starts to earn his own living, he can no longer expect others to pay for his food, his clothes, and his room, but has to work if he wants to live comfortably. If he spends most of his time playing about in the way that he used to as a child, he will go hungry. And if he breaks the laws of society as he used to break the laws of his parents, he may go to prison. If, however, he works hard, keeps out of trouble and has good health, he can have the great happiness of building up for himself his own position in society.

1.According to the second paragraph, the writer thinks that __.

   A. life for a child is comparatively easy

   B. a child is always loved whatever he does

   C. if much is given to a child, he must do something in return

   D. only children are interested in life

2.After a child grows up, he __.

   A. will have little time playing

   B. has to be successful in finding a job

   C. can still ask for help in time of trouble

   D. should be able to take care of himself

3.Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

   A. People are always satisfied with each part of their life.

   B. Life is less interesting for old people.

   C. Children are free to do what they want to do.

D. Adults should no longer rely on others.

4.The underlined word "responsibilities" in the second paragraph means__________.

    A. duties            B. jobs         C. suggestions          D. desires

5.The main idea of the passage is _________ .

    A. life is not enjoyable since each age has some pains

    B. young men can have the greatest happiness if they work hard

C. childhood is the most enjoyable time in one's life

D. one is the happiest if he can make good use of each age in his life