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
2015-09-26
32
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
细节题。从文章末段倒数第二段Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines inthe 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/u0XK777K
0
专业英语四级
相关试题推荐
Yelloworpinkflowers?Thegreenorbluesweater?Wemakedecisionsaboutcolorallthetime.Now,scientistsarestartingtof
Mygrandmothercutarecipesometimeinthe1940sor1950sfor"Mrs.Orr’sChocolateCake"fromtheMonitor.Whenmydadtasted
Whoneedsapublisher?BobYoung,CEOofprint-on-demandserviceLulu,com,saysthatthepublishingand【C1】______ofbooksonlin
InthesouthofSpain,therewasasmallvillagewhosepeoplewereveryjoyfulandlucky.Thechildrenplayedundertheshadeof
Thehealthyadolescentboyorgirllikestodotherealthingsinlife,todothethingsthatmatter.Hewouldratherbeaplumb
Hismotherretiredearlyonaccountofpoorhealth.Theunderlinedpartmeans____.
Oneoftheaimsofteachingscienceis,throughlearning,toenablestudentstodevelopacompletepersonalitybycreativity,ho
Didyouknowthatataskthat’sinterrupted(1)_____50%longerandhas50%moremistakesthananuninterruptedone?Ittakesa
TheinternationalconferenceofaiddonorstoEastTimorisscheduledon______.
WearablegadgetslikesmartwatchesandGoogleGlasscanseemlikeafadthathasallthedurabilityofCBradiosorDuranDuran
随机试题
甲公司以人民币为记账本位币,外币交易采用发生日的即期汇率折算,并按月计算汇兑损益。2015年9月30日,有关外币账户期末余额如下表所示。该公司10月份发生如下外币业务(假设不考虑相关税费):(1)10月8日,对外销售产品2000件,每件单价100美元
[2018年真题]预制装配式钢筋混凝土楼板与现浇钢筋混凝土楼板相比,其主要优点在于()。
上市公司确实需要改变可转换公司债券募集资金用途的,经股东大会批准即可。()
某机动车制造股份公司为增值税一般纳税人,2012年5月有关业务如下:(1)内销自产货物包括;销售A型小轿车80辆(消费税税率为5%),不含税单价8万元/辆;销售客货两用车32辆,不含税单价3.4万元/辆;销售农用汽车取得不含税销售额71.18万元
A公司于2014年12月10日以4000万元取得B上市公司5%的股权,对B公司不具有重大影响,A公司将其分类为可供出售金融资产,按公允价值计量。2015年4月1日,A公司又斥资50000万元自C公司取得B公司另外50%的股权。假定A公司在取得对B公司的股权
训练过程中之所以要进行区别对待主要是因为竞技项目和运动员个体间的多样性。()
Sweatingonpurposeisbecominganelitephenomenon.InadarkenedroomattheedgeofdowntownWashington,D.C.,electronicmus
WhenAndrewChadwick-Jones,amanagementconsultantwithOliverWymaninLondon,wenttopitchtoaprivate-equityfirmlatelas
在SQL语言的SELECT语句中,用于实现选择运算的子句是()。
Shefoundmeverydull.
最新回复
(
0
)