6．Every February 14，people worldwide demonstrate their affection for family members，friends，teachers，and significant others with a gift or two．However，this display of love does not come cheap.55% of Americans celebrate Valentine's Day in 2017by spending an average of 136.57dollars each．It is no wonder that retailers （零售商） love the holiday．
In 1861，Richard Cadbury，a man from a British chocolate company came up with the idea of packaging chocolates in heart-shaped boxes for Valentine's Day．Not surprisingly，they were an instant success，and a tradition was born．Today，Americans spend over one billion dollars handing out boxes of chocolates to their loved ones．Sweethearts，the heart-shaped candy，are also very popular．According to the manufacturer，a majority of the 8billion pieces of candy made annually are sold between January 1and February 14．
Massachusetts businesswoman Esther Howland popularized Valentine's Day greeting cards in America．Often called"The Mother of the American Valentine"，the artist was the first to sell handmade paper cards with messages of love to retailers．With over 145million cards bought in the US and over a billion worldwide，Valentine's Day is now one of the biggest business chances for greeting card companies．It is no wonder that the day is often referred to as a"Hallmark Holiday"．
Flowers are also very popular．About 51% of people，mainly men，buy red roses for their loved ones．Given that Valentine's Day is very popular for wedding proposals（求婚），it should not come as a surprise that a lot of the money spent on this day is used to buy fine jewelry．With a quarter of Americans treating their loved ones to a romantic meal，the day is also much welcomed by restaurant owners．
Pope Gelasius，the man who made February 14 Valentine's Day in 496AD，would have never imagined that this festival would change into such an expensive celebration!
32．What does the first paragraph mainly tell us？D
A．People buy their friends gifts on February 14．
B．Valentine's Day is celebrated every year．
C．Valentine's Day is a good time to show love．
D．A lot of money is spent on Valentine's Day．
33．Which is true about Richard Cadbury's idea？B
A．It resulted in a new taste of chocolate．
B．It led to the birth of a new tradition．
C．It was put forward on Valentine's Day．
D．It helped the company earn one billion dollars．
34．Valentine's Day is referred to"Hallmark Day"becauseC．
A．people get greeting cards on that day
B．it was popularized by Miss Howland
C．it offers cards companies big business chances
D．retails help send messages of love on that day
35．What is probably a necessary gift for a wedding proposal according to the passage？D
A．Heart-shaped candy．
B．Messages of love．
C．A romantic meal．
D．A piece of jewelry．
分析 文章讲述了在2月14号这天，全世界的人都在对自己所爱的人表达心意，从而带动了相关行业的发展．
解答 32～35 DBCD
32．D 主旨大意题．根据第一段的介绍可知，55% of Americans celebrate Valentine's Day in 2017by spending an average of 136.57dollars each，2017年55%的美国人在情人节这天花费136.57美元，故答案为D．
33．B 细节推理题．第二段介绍一家英国巧克力公司在情人节推出心形的包装巧克力，大获成功，Not surprisingly，they were an instant success，and a tradition was born所以一项传统由此诞生，故答案为B．
34．C 细节题．根据第三段the artist was the first to sell handmade paper cards with messages of love to retailers在情人节这天，艺术家把人工做的卡片作为表达爱的方式，从而给卡片公司带来巨大的商机，故答案为C．
35．D 细节题．根据文章it should not come as a surprise that a lot of the money spent on this day is used to buy fine jewelry可知在求婚这天，很多钱用来购买珠宝，故答案为D．
点评 阅读要整体理解文章，在做细节题时根据题干定位细节，在语境中正确理解原句，然后对照选项做出合理的判断；必要的时候要进行推理，透过句子表面看作者的真正意图．如果是主旨大意的判断要把握文章整体，避免以偏概全．
