英语阅读翻译三： Love, Cupid, hearts, chocolates, cards and flowers

英语阅读翻译
三：
Love, Cupid, hearts, chocolates, cards and flowers are everywhere — it’s Valentine’s Day! On February 14, Americans celebrate love and friendship. But where did this holiday of affection come from?
The ancient Romans celebrated the feast of Lupercalia, a spring festival, on the 15th of February. With the introduction of Christianity, the holiday moved to the 14th of February — the saint day that celebrated an early Christian martyr named Valentine. But somewhere along the way, Valentine’s Day came to represent romance
The romance we associate with Valentine’s Day may spring from the medieval belief that birds select their mates on February 14th. During the Middle Ages, human love birds recited verse or prose to one another in honor of the day. “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” wrote William Shakespeare. Poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning expressed love this way:
How do I love thee; let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach...
Do you write poetry? We also hear these sentiments in love songs. How many love songs can you think of that could send your message on Valentine’s Day?
“Will you be my Valentine?” Nowadays, people often ask this of their loved ones in greeting cards. Probably the first greeting cards, handmade valentines, appeared in the 16th century. As early as 1800, companies began mass-producing cards. Initially these cards were hand-colored by factory workers. By the early 20th century even fancy lace and ribbon-decorated cards were created by machine. Perhaps you will give or receive a card today or celebrate your family or that special someone in another way. Valentine’s Day also gives people a chance to reflect on the meaning of love.
1. Which one is not closely related to Valentine’s Day?
A. Chocolates. B. Love.
C. Putting on a costume. D. Romance.
2. Valentine originally referred to _________.
A. a Roman emperor B. a romantic young man
C. a medieval man D. a Christian martyr
3. The romance associated with Valentine’s Day originated from the belief that _____ .
A. birds select their love mates on that day
B. birds sing love songs to each other on that day
C. lovers recite love poems to each other on that day
D. lovers send cards to each other on that day
4. The first greeting cards were ________.
A. decorated with lace and ribbon B. handmade
C. made by machine D. mass-produced
5. The passage is mainly about _______.
A. the origin and history of Valentine’s Day
B. the way people celebrate Valentine’s Day today
C. why people celebrate Valentine’s Day today
D. the future of Valentine’s Day

自己读吧
爱,丘比特,心,巧克力,卡片,鲜花随处可见 - 这是情人节!2月14日,美国人庆祝爱情和友谊.但是,为什么会有这种感情的节日是从哪里来的?古代罗马人庆祝春节2月,在第15届的盛宴,对Lupercalia.随着基督教的引进,假日移至2月14日 - 圣一天,庆祝一个名为瓦伦丁早期基督教殉道者.但过去一段时间来,情人节浪漫的代表来到我们浪漫情人节一天赞同的春天可能从中世纪的信念,鸟类选择伴侣02月14日.在中世纪时期,人类爱情鸟朗诵诗歌或散文彼此在这一天的荣誉.“要我比你一个夏天的一天?”说威廉莎士比亚.诗人伊丽莎白巴雷特勃朗宁表示喜欢这种方式：我如何爱你,让我细数端详.我爱你的深度,广度和高度可以达到我的灵魂...你写诗?我们还听到情歌这些情绪.多少情歌你能想到的,可以发送您的邮件在情人节的?“你愿做我的情人?”如今,人们经常问卡,这是他们亲人的问候.大概是第贺卡,手工情人节,出现在16世纪.早在1800年,公司开始批量生产卡.开始时,这些卡是手由工厂工人着色.到20世纪初甚至幻想花边和丝带装饰卡是由机器制造.也许你会收到一张卡片,或在今天或庆祝你的家人,或以另一种方式特殊的人.情人节也给人民一个机会,以反映对爱的意义的.