群文阅读指在单位时间内阅读相关联的多个文本，关注文章的语言特点、意义建构、结构特征、写作手法，通过在讨论中梳理整合、拓展联系、比较异同，全面提高学生的阅读素养。
群文阅读--Valentine’s Day
一、阅读理解
A
Valentine’s Day (情人节) is named for Saint Valentine an early Christmas churchman who reportedly helped young lovers. Valentine was killed for his Christian beliefs on February 14 more than 1700 years ago, but the day that has his name is even earlier than that.
More than 2,000 years ago, the ancient Romans celebrated a holiday for lovers. As part of the celebration, girls wrote their names on pieces of paper and put them in a large container. Boys reached into the container and pulled one out. The girl whose name was written on the paper became his lover or sweet heart for a year.
Lovers still put their names on pieces of paper and they sent each other Valentine"s Day cards that tell of their love. Sometimes they also sent gifts, like flowers or chocolate candy. Americans usually send these gifts and cards through the mail system. But some used another way to send this message. They have it printed in a newspaper. The cost is usually a few dollars. Some of the messages are simple and short "Jane, I love you very much". Others say more. This one, for example, "Dan, Roses are red. Violets are blue. I hope you love me as much as I love you. Forever. May."
Most of the newspapers that print such messages are local, but USA Today is sold through-out the United States, and 90 other countries as well. This means someone can send a Valentine message to lover in a far-away city or town almost anywhere in the world. These messages cost 80 dollars and more. An employee of USA Today says readers can have a small heart or rose printed along with their messages this year. Will this kind of Valentine"s Day message reach the one you love? Well, just make sure he or she reads the newspaper.
1.When was the day named after Valentine?
A.More than 1700 years ago before Valentine"s death
B. More than 2000 years ago
C. On February 24
D. It is not mentioned in the passage.
2.What is the cost of printing a message to show one"s love? It"s _______.
A.a few dollars
B. a few dollars in a local newspaper and 80 dollars in USA Today
C. 80 dollars, and more
D. very expensive
3.What can be inferred from the passage?
A.The ancient Roman girls were more open and easy - going than boys
B. Valentine was killed for helping lovers
C. Readers of USA Today can send roses to their lovers along with printed messages
D. Valentine was honored by people for his firm Christian belief and warm heart
4.What is the purpose of the passage?
A. To briefly introduce the origin of Valentine"s Day and the modern style.
B. To advertise for USA Today.
C. To tell you that Americans are open to express their love.
D. To sell roses on Valentine"s Day.
B
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 for 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 (神父) in the third century Rome. When the emperor 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, 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 did 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 heartshaped cakes. The idea is to have fun and encourage people to share in the spirit of St.Valentine.
1．Which of the following is NOT a custom for a boy to do on Valentine's Day?
A．To take his girlfriend out for dinner.
B．To buy his girlfriend flowers and chocolates.
C．To make Valentine's cards for teachers and friends.
D．To spell out his girlfriend's name with rose petals.
2．Why did the emperor in Rome forbid marriage in his country?
A．Because there were few women in his country at that time.
B．Because he thought men without wives could be better soldiers.
C．Because there wasn't enough food for so many people.
D．Because he wanted to control the birth rate.
3．Valentine was put into prison because ________.
A．he killed one of the soldiers
B．he stole a lot of food
C．he didn't obey the emperor's order
D．he didn't want to be a soldier
4．The last paragraph mainly tells us ________.
A．students in China send cards to their teachers
B．Valentine's Day is also popular in China now
C．it is interesting to celebrate Valentine's Day in China
D．it is a good idea to celebrate Valentine's Day in China
5．The best title for this passage should be ________.
A．A Romantic ManB．A Brave Priest
C．Valentine's Day in ChinaD．Valentine's Day
二、语法填空
阅读下面短文，按照句子结构的语法性和上下文连贯的要求，在空格处填入一个适当的词或使用括号中词语的正确形式填空。
On February 14, it is a custom for a boy to take his girlfriend out to dinner, buy her flowers and chocolates! This is what you see on Valentine’s Day, a day named 1．______ Valentine who was a priest in the third century Rome. When the king decided that single men could become 2．_______ (good) soldiers than those with wives, he didn’t allow 3．__________ (marry). But Valentine continued to perform marriage ceremonies for young lovers 4． secret. When his actions 5．_______ (discover), the king sentenced him to 6．______ (die). While in prison, it is said that Valentine 7．_______ (fall) in love with the daughter of his prison guard. Before he died, he wrote her a letter, where he signed “From your Valentine”, an 8.________ that is still in use today.
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 9．______ small gifts will 10．______(exchange). The idea is to have fun and encourage people to share in the spirit of St. Valentine.
三、书面表达
近年来，一些西方节日（如圣诞节情人节等）在中国越来越流行。许多人对这些节日狂热追捧，而对于一些中国传统节日（如春节、中秋节等）则无兴趣。请你就这一社会现象谈谈你的看法。
要求：1. 表达连贯，逻辑正确 2. 字数100左右
四、补充阅读
Valentine's Day -- What dads want
Valentine’s Day is traditionally reserved for romantic dinners, flowers, chocolate and clothing the world in red. It’s a time to express devotion and appreciation to our significant other.
But parenthood often changes us in ways big and small, readjusting our values and priorities, even on a holiday set aside for amorous fun.
The origin of Valentine’s Day is one of those traditions enshrouded in mystery - part history and part legend. Some people believe the Catholic Church reimagined the pagan fertility festival of Lupercalia, which was held each February 15th – and instead refocused attention on Saint Valentine, a martyred priest who defied the emperor’s orders and married lovers in secret.
Regardless of where the facts end and the fiction begins, Valentine’s Day has become big business. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans will spend $27.4 billion this year – up from just over $20 billion in 2019.
That’s a lot of chocolate and red roses!
But what do men really want for Valentine’s Day – especially fathers?
More than anything, men want to be loved and respected by their wives – and loved by their children, to the point their kids enjoy spending time with them.
Society often depicts fathers as bumbling fools, but being a dad is hard work. The demands they feel are very real – there’s the boss at the office and the bills that never stop.
Just when you think you’re getting ahead, the hot water heater blows out or the car breaks down. After a long day of work, you have to referee squabbles at home, taxi kids to practices and spend your Saturday mornings down at the ballfield.
And if you don’t work, the kids won’t eat and the mortgage will be foreclosed on – so, no pressure.
But the parenting season is so brief and so quick that it’s only the short-sighted father who doesn’t try to maximize time with his kids. So, good dads keep trying to find points of connection with the family.
As someone who grew up in a dysfunctional home – my father was abusive to my mother and abandoned us when I was five - I’m acutely aware of what kids want because I know what I missed.
So, I parent out of my pain. I’m eager to spend time with my sons, Trent and Troy, doing the things they love and the things we love doing together. We love to camp, ride our ATVs, ski and go to ballgames. We have special memories of hunting and fishing in Colorado’s aspen and pine forests or up in Big Sky Country in Montana. Both of my boys are in their late teens now, and if I could, I would turn back the clock and relive highlights of the past.
But I can’t. None of us can.
Time is the world’s most precious and yet fleeting commodity. We all get the same amount of it each day, yet we sometimes seem to think everybody else has more of it than we do.
I don’t know where you’re at this Valentine’s Day week. Gallup recently suggested the majority of people are happy with their economic status – but what about life at home with your family?
Maybe you’re struggling with your spouse or wishing you could spend more time with your kids. Healing wounds is never easy – but it’s always worth the time and effort.
As a father, I want my boys to love the world and the people around and have a good personal relationship with the all the people around the world.
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth,” the apostle John wrote.
What does this father want this year? To say thank you and happy Valentine’s day to my beautiful wife, Jean. She has been there for me and our boys through good times and bad. I want to thank her for her love and bask in her love reflected back at me. THAT is the best Valentine’s gift of all.
参考答案：
A、1-4: ABDA
B、1-5: CBCBD
C、1. after 2. better 3. marriage 4. in 5. were discovered 6. death 7. fell 8.expression 9. parties 10. be exchanged
参考范文：
Western holidays such as Christmas, Valentine’s Day, are getting more and more popular in China. Some Chinese people even get crazy on them. But at the same time, people seem to have less enthusiasm for our traditional festivals such as the Spring Festival and the Mooncake Festival.
In my opinion, the celebration of western holiday is a good way of learning the western cultures, which helps to promote understanding and communication between Chinese cultures and other cultures. Besides, the celebration can also make our life more interesting. However, we should make great efforts to preserve and enrich our own traditional culture.
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