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.
【小题1】Why did the emperor in Rome not allow marriage in his country?

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.

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.

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

. 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

第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分。满分40分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
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.
61. 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.
62. 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
63. 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
64. 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

I was a single parent of four small children, working at a low-paid job. Money was always not enough, but we had a   36  over our heads, food on the table, clothes on our backs, and if not a lot, always   37 . Not knowing we were poor, my kids (孩子们) just thought I was   38 . I’ve always been glad about that.

It was Christmas time, and although there wasn’t enough   39  for a lot of gifts, we planned to hold a family party. And the big   40  for the kids was the fun of Christmas   41 .

They planned weeks ahead of time, asking   42  what they wanted for Christmas. Luckily, I had saved $120 for them to buy   43 .

The big   44  arrived. I gave each kid a twenty-dollar bill and   45  them to look for gifts of about four dollars each. Then everyone scattered(散开). We had two hours to shop; then we would   46  again at the “Santa’s Workshop”.

Driving home, everyone was in high Christmas spirits,   47  my younger daughter, Ginger, who was unusually   48 . She had only one small, flat bag with a few candies　— fifty-cent candies! I was so angry, but I didn’t say anything   49  we got home. I called her into my bedroom and closed the door, ready to be   50  again. This is what she told me.

“I was looking   51 , thinking of what to buy, and I   52  to read the little cards on the ‘Giving Trees.’ One was for a little girl, four years old, and all she   53  for Christmas was a doll(玩具娃娃). So I took the card off the tree and   54  the doll for her. We have so much and she doesn’t have anything.”

I never felt so   55  as I did that day.

1.                A．roof           B．hat            C．sky  D．star

2.                A．little           B．less            C．enough   D．more

3.                A．busy           B．serious         C．strict D．kind

4.                A．effort          B．room           C．time D．money

5.                A．improvement    B．problem        C．surprise  D．excitement

6.                A．shopping       B．travelling        C．parties   D．greetings

7.                A．the other       B．each other      C．one by one    D．every other one

8.                A．toys           B．clothes         C．presents  D．bills

9.                A．day            B．chance         C．cheque   D．tree

10.               A．forced         B．reminded       C．invited    D．begged

11.               A．draw          B．stay           C．move D．meet

12.               A．including       B．besides         C．except    D．regarding

13.               A．quiet          B．excited         C．happy D．ashamed

14.               A．since          B．after           C．while D．until

15.               A．happy          B．angry          C．joyful     D．glad

16.               A．out            B．over           C．forward   D．around

17.               A．forgot          B．stopped        C．failed D．hated

18.               A．wanted         B．did            C．got   D．played

19.               A．made          B．searched       C．bought    D．fetched

20.               A．painful         B．rich           C．disappointed   D．angry

三、阅读理解(40%)
A
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 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.
51. Which of the following is not a custom for a boy to do on Valentine’s Day?
   A. to take his girlfriend out to dinner
   B. to buy his girlfriend flowers and chocolates     
   C. to make Valentine’s cards for teachers and friends
   D. to spell out his girlfriend’s name with rose petals
52. 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.
53. 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
54. 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