首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
外语
Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine
Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine
admin
2017-01-15
55
问题
Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday?
The history of Valentine’s Day—and its patron saint—is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition.
So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young, single men—his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.
According to a legend, Valentine actually sent the first "valentine greeting" himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl—who may have been his jailor’s daughter—who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed "From Your Valentine", an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and most importantly, romantic figure. It’s no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.
The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. The greeting, which was written in 1415, can be viewed today at the British Museum in London, England. Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.
In Great Britain, Valentine’s Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one’s feelings was discouraged. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began to sell the first mass-produced valentines in America.
Which of the following statements is INCORRECT according to the passage?
选项
A、In Great Britain, Valentine’s Day began to be popularly celebrated around the 17th century.
B、Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1800s.
C、The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written by Duke of Orleans.
D、Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France in the Middle Ages.
答案
B
解析
从文章末段倒数第二段Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s.可知[B]为答案。[A]与最后一段的段首句对应,[C]与倒数第二段的段首句对应,[D]与第四段的最后一句对应,因此均可排除。
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/e8JK777K
0
专业英语四级
相关试题推荐
Doctorsoften______uneasinessinthepeopletheydealwith.
Duringthereadinglesson,theteacheraskedstudentstoreadafew______fromthenovel.
Theprincipalstressedusingmultimediateachingwouldneverreplacetheone-to-one______betweenpupilandteacher.
Economicglobalizationdoesnotsuggestthegovernment______itsresponsibilitiesandroles.
Whatisthepassagemainlyabout?
Accordingtothepassage,asurveyaboutbutterfliesiscarriedonby______.
Accordingtothepassage,whomightbeespeciallyinterestedinthenewprogram?
Accordingtothepassage,ifoneenjoyslife,he/sheissuretoprefer______.
TheGreenhouseEffectTogetabetterunderstandingofglobalwarming,/itisimportanttounderstandthegreenhouseeffect
随机试题
肠梗阻手术探查中,哪种情况下其预后不佳
对癫痫诊断意义较小的脑电图波型是
下列关于合同主体资格的论述,错误的是()。
股份有限公司的股东大会在审议有关关联交易事项时,关联股东不得参与投票表决,其所代表的有表决权的股份不计入有效表决总数。()
某公司员工张某执行本公司任务完成了一项发明创造,其公司就该发明获得了发明专利权。在没有约定的情形下,下列说法哪些是正确的?
公安领导工作的内容不包括()。
据相关统计,长期伏案工作、较少运动的三、四十岁的年轻人,患颈椎病的比例也很高,市中医院推拿门诊每天接待治疗的病人中,患颈椎病的年轻人居然占到了70%以上,而且大多发生了颈椎退行性改变。专家感叹,如今,颈椎病已没有明显的年龄界限了,十几岁、二三十岁患颈椎病已
Whatisaphrasebookdesignedfor?
BothheandI______hardatChinese.
TipsforPublicSpeakingI.TheprocessofpreparationinpublicspeakingA.KnowingtheneedsofaudienceB.Matching【B1】_____
最新回复
(
0
)