Saint Valentine's Day. I-Read the text and put the verbs into the Past Simple. Then, complete the chart.

Saint Valentine's Day

I-Read the text and put the verbs into the Past Simple. Then, complete the chart.

2, 000 years ago, the most powerful army in the world __________ (belong) to the Romans. The Romans _______ (be) so strong that they _______ (conquer) almost all of Europe, and parts of Asia and Africa. Then, they _______ (begin) to grow rich and a little bit lazy. Life in the army ______ (be) harsh, and many of the soldiers _______ (long) for the comforts of home. They ______ (not want) to fight anymore. They _______ (want) to get married and ______ (set up ) families instead. The Emperor, whose name _______ (be) Claudius the Second, ______ (be) worried that his army was growing soft; as he ________ (not be) happy, he ______ (make ) a law that no soldier ______ (be) allowed to get married.

By that time, many of the Romans ________ (be) Christians - and one of their leaders _______ (be) a Bishop called Valentine. He __________ (believe) that if a man and woman ________ (fall) in love with each other, they should get married – and so he __________ (decide) to let soldiers get married in his church, even though it _______ (be) now against the law. The soldiers’ weddings ______ (be) meant to be kept secret, but as you know, all secrets are hard to keep, and soon the word ________ (get out). Valentine _______ (be) arrested and they ________ (bring) him before the emperor who ________ (demand) that he _______ (stop) helping soldiers to marry, and instead that he _______ (pray) to the gods of Rome. When he ________ (not agree) and ________ (refuse) to submit to the emperor, this latter ___________ (sentence) him to death.

While Valentine ________ (be) in prison, the jailer’s daughter ________ (bring ) him food. She _______ (be) a young woman who unfortunately _______ (cannot) see; she _____ (be) blind. She and Valentine _______ (spend) long hours talking to each other, and they ________ (fall) in love. One day, Valentine _________ (put) his hand through the bars of his cell and ________ (touch) the lids of her closed eyes. When she ______ (open) them again, she _________ (can) see. It ______ (be) a miracle.

Valentine ’s execution ______ (be) set for February the 14th. On his last night on earth, he _______ (write) his final message to the girl. He _______ (sign) his love letter, “From your Valentine ”. This ________ (take) place in the year 270, and ever since, lovers have sent each other messages on February the 14th with the same signature.

II- Answer the questions about Saint Valentine's Day.

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