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?
A. Because there were few women in his country at that time.
B. Because there wasn’t enough food for so many people.
C. Because he thought a single man was better than a married man as a solider..
【小题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 didn’t want to be a soldier
【小题3】The last paragraph mainly tells us ______.
A. Valentine’s Day is also popular in China now
B. it is a good idea to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China
C. it is interesting to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China
【小题4】 The best title for this passage should be ______.
A. Valentine’s Day in China  
B. A Brave Priest   
C. Valentine’s Day

 Monty was the son of a horse trainer. When he was in his ninth grade, he was asked to write a __31__ about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.

    That night he wrote a seven-page paper saying that someday he’d __32__ a horse ranch (牧场). He wrote about his dream in great detail and he __33__ drew a picture of a 200-acre ranch with all the buildings.

    He put a great deal of his __34__ into the project and the next day he handed it in __35__ his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a __36__ that read, “See me after class.”

    The boy with the dream went to see the teacher after class and asked, “__37__ did I receive an F?”

The teacher said, “This is an __38__ dream for a young boy like you. You come from a poor family. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of __39__. You have to buy the land. You have to pay for other things. There is no__40__ you could ever do it.” Then the teacher added, “__41__ you rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.”

The boy went home and thought about __42__ long and hard. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, “Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important __43__ for you.”

Finally, after sitting with it for a week, the boy turned in the __44__ paper, making no changes at all. He said to the teacher, “You can keep the F and I’ll keep my   45  .”

1.A. speech             B. paper                C. notice               D. diary

2. A. paint             B. win              C. own              D. sell

3. A. just              B. almost               C. ever             D. even

4. A. heart             B. life             C. advice               D. trust

5. A. to                    B. with             C. from             D. for

6. A. word              B. letter               C. note             D. post

7. A. How               B. Why              C. When             D. Where

8.A. unusual                B. unforgettable        C. unimportant      D. unrealistic

9. A. money             B. time             C. space                D. effort

10. A. wonder               B. way              C. problem          D. matter

11. A. Though               B. since                C. Until                D. If

12. A. himself              B. him              C. it                   D. itself

13. A. change               B. gift             C. message          D. decision

14. A. long             B. thick                C. same             D. correct

15. A. grade                B. dream                C. duty             D. secret

Monty was the son of a horse trainer. When he was in his ninth grade, he was asked to write a __36__ about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.

    That night he wrote a seven-page paper saying that someday he’d __37__ a horse ranch (牧场). He wrote about his dream in great detail and he __38__ drew a picture of a 200-acre ranch with all the buildings.

    He put a great deal of his __39__ into the project and the next day he handed it in __40__ his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a __41__ that read, “See me after class.”

    The boy with the dream went to see the teacher after class and asked, “__42__ did I receive an F?”

The teacher said, “This is an __43__ dream for a young boy like you. You come from a poor family. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of __44__. You have to buy the land. You have to pay for other things. There is no__45__ you could ever do it.” Then the teacher added, “__46__ you rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.”

The boy went home and thought about __47__ long and hard. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, “Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important __48__ for you.”

Finally, after sitting with it for a week, the boy turned in the __49__ paper, making no changes at all. He said to the teacher, “You can keep the F and I’ll keep my  50  .”

1.A. speech             B. paper                C. notice               D. diary

2. A. paint             B. win              C. own              D. sell

3.A. just               B. almost               C. ever             D. even

4. A. heart             B. life             C. advice               D. trust

5.A. to                 B. with             C. from             D. for

6. A. word              B. letter               C. note             D. post

7.A. How                B. Why              C. When             D. Where

8.A. unusual                B. unforgettable        C. unimportant      D. unrealistic

9.A. money              B. time             C. space                D. effort

10. A. wonder               B. way              C. problem          D. matter

11.A. Though                B. since                C. Until                D. If

12. A. himself              B. him              C. it                   D. itself

13.A. change                B. gift             C. message          D. decision

14.A. long              B. thick                C. same             D. correct

15.A. grade             B. dream                C. duty             D. secret