十一、情人节的来历

　　Valentine‘s Day may come from the ancient Roman feast of Lupercalia. __1__ the fierce wolves roamed nearby，the old Romans called __2__ the god Lupercus to help them. A festival in his __3__ was held on February 15th. On the eve of the festival the __4__ of the girls were written on __5__ of paper and placed in jars. Each young man __6__ a slip. The girl whose name was __7__ was to be his sweetheart for the year.

　　Legend __8__ it that the holiday became Valentine‘s Day __9__ a Roman priest named Valentine. Emperor Claudius II __10__ the Roman soldiers NOT to marry or become engaged. Claudius felt married soldiers would __11__ stay home than fight. When Valentine __12__ the Emperor and secretly married the young couples，he was put to death on February 14th，the __13__ of Lupercalia. After his death，Valentine became a __14__. Christian priests moved the holiday from the 15th to the 14th—Valentine’s Day. Now the holiday honors Valentine __15__ of Lupercus.

　　Valentine‘s Day has become a major __16__ of love and romance in the modern world. The ancient god Cupid and his __17__ into a lover’s heart may still be used to __18__ falling in love or being in love. But we also use cards and gifts，such as flowers or jewelry，to do this. __19__ to give flower to a wife or sweetheart on Valentine‘s Day can sometimes be as __20__ as forgetting a birthday or a wedding anniversary.

　　1.[A] While [B] When [C] Though [D] Unless

　　2.[A] upon [B] back [C] off [D] away

　　3.[A] honor [B] belief [C] hand [D] way

　　4.[A] problems [B] secrets [C] names [D] intentions

　　5.[A] rolls [B] piles [C] works [D] slips

　　6.[A] cast [B] caught [C] drew [D] found

　　7.[A] given [B] chosen [C] elected [D] delivered

　　8.[A] tells [B] means [C] makes [D] has

　　9.[A] after [B] since [C] as [D] from

　　10.[A] ordered [B] pleaded [C] envisioned [D] believed

　　11.[A] other [B] simply [C] rather [D] all

　　12.[A] disliked [B] defied [C] defeated [D] dishonored

　　13.[A] celebration [B] arrangement [C] feast [D] eve

　　14.[A] goat [B] saint [C] model [D] weapon

　　15.[A] because [B] made [C] instead [D] learnt

　　16.[A] part [B] representative[C] judgement [D] symbol

　　17.[A] story [B] wander [C] arrow [D] play

　　18.[A] portray [B] require [C] demand [D] alert

　　19.[A] Keeping [B] Disapproving[C] Supporting [D] Forgetting

　　20.[A] constructive [B] damaging [C] reinforcing [D] retorting

　　答案

　　1.B 2.A 3.A 4.C 5.D 6.C 7.B 8.D 9.A 10.A

　　11.C 12.B 13.D 14.B 15.C 16.D 17.C 18.A 19D. 20.B

　　总体分析

　　本文介绍了情人节的由来。第一段介绍情人节的前身牧神节以及该节日里抽签选恋人的庆祝活动。第二段介绍情人节是为了纪念一位罗马牧师。第三段指出情人节已经成为爱的主要象征。

　　全文翻译

　　圣瓦伦丁节(即，情人节)可能源自古罗马的牧神节。当凶猛的狼群在四周游荡时，古老的罗马人请求牧神卢帕克斯来帮助他们。一个向该神表达敬意的节日于2月15日举行。在这个节日的前夕女孩们的名字被写在纸条上并放入罐中。每位年轻的男子都抽一张纸条，被抽中名字的女孩在未来一年中将成为他的恋人。

　　传说这个节日之所以成为圣瓦伦丁节是为了纪念一位名叫瓦伦丁的罗马牧师。国王克劳底斯二世命令罗马士兵不得结婚或订婚。克劳底斯认为结了婚的士兵更愿意留守家中而不是上战场。当瓦伦丁违抗了国王的意愿，秘密让年轻人成了婚之后，他于2月14日即牧神节的前夕被处决。瓦伦丁死后，成了圣徒。基督教会牧师们将这个节日从15日改为14日，即，圣瓦伦丁节。现在这个节日纪念的是瓦伦丁而再不是牧神卢帕克斯。

　　圣瓦伦丁节在现代世界里已经成为爱和浪漫的一个主要象征。古代的爱神丘比特和他射入爱人心中的箭也许仍然被用来表现爱上某人或谈恋爱。但是我们也使用卡片和礼物，比如鲜花或珠宝来做同样的事情。在圣瓦伦丁节忘记给妻子或恋人送花有时能像忘记生日或结婚纪念日一样糟糕。