Question

The first written valentine is usually attributed to the imprisoned Charles, Duke of Orleans. In 1415, Charles fought his lonely confinement by writing romantic verses for his wife. By the sixteenth century written valentines were so common that St. Francis de Sales, fearing for the souls of his English flock, sermonized against them.
Manufactured cards, decorated with Cupids and hearts, appeared near the end of the eighteenth-century. A purchased valentine became the most popular way to declare love during the early decades of the nineteenth century. Miniature works of art, the cards were usually hand painted and were often lavishly decorated with laces, silk or satin, flowers (made from the feathers of tropical birds), glass filigrees, gold leaf or even perfumed sachets!
St. Valentine's Day in the new millennium...
St. Valentine's Day greeting cards are still very popular (only more Christmas cards are sent), but red roses and chocolate candies now often accompany the card. And the card itself has changed quite a bit... recent developments include cards that play romantic music; let you record a romantic message; even "scratch-and-sniff' cards! New technologies offer even more ways for lovers to say, "be mine!" Take advantage of these new technologies... videotape a lovely Valentine wish! Send a love letter via email! Send an animated e-Card! It's fun... and easy to do!
(www.me2u.com/love/Lore/Valentine/valentine.tmpl)

Here's a suggestion for a Valentine card, written by a girl whose lover seems indifferent to her:

Paul, my darling:

It’s time since I last saw you, but you’ve always been on my mind since then. I have thought and dreamt of you! I have also sent you lots of e-mails. You haven’t answered them so far! Why do you have to be so cruel? I’ve been down, alone and lost. And I’ve been tired of waiting for a message from you! Please, make me happy on this Valentine’s Day!
Yours, Kelly.



Vocabulary
lonely-solitary
flock - a group of people, congregation
lavishly - generously, extravagantly
gold leaf - an extremely thin sheet of gold for decoration
a bit-a little
scratch (v) - use the nails to scrape
sniff (v) - inhale, smell
down - sad, unhappy

1- Segundo o texto, quando e como surgiu o primeiro cartão de São Valentim?
2- Por que São Francisco de Sales fez sermões contra os cartões de São Valentim?
3. Que modificações surgiram nos cartões de São Valentim no final do século XVIII?
4. Os cartões apresentaram mais modificações um século depois?
5. Em que as novas tecnologias influenciaram o envio de mensagens de amor?
6. O texto cita os séculos XVI, XVII e XIX. Qual o ano correspondente a metade destes séculos?
7. Na frase "...during the early decades of the nineteenth century...", o que significa a palavra early?
8. A palavra sachet, de origem francesa, é usada em inglês e em português. O que é um sachê?
9. No texto, St. Valentine's Day in the new millennium, a palavra even aparece duas vezes:
"...even 'scratch-and-sniff cards!" e "new technologies offer even more ways...". Quais os significados respectivos de even?
10. O segundo texto fala em cartões scratch-and-sniff. O que vem a ser isso?

Answer 1

1. O primeiro cartão de São Valentim foi escrito pelo Duque de de Orleans chamado Charles, enquanto ele estava preso, para sua esposa. 
2. Ele temia pelas almas dos integrantes de sua igreja.
3. Cartões manufaturados apareceram com cupidos e corações.
4. Os cartões eram pintados a mão e decorados com rendas, seda, flores, filigranas de vidro, folhas de ouro ou até sachês perfumados.
5. Agora os cartões tocam música e até deixam você gravar uma mensagem. 
6. 1650
7. No início.
8. Sachê é um pequeno saco.
9. no primeiro: até e no segundo ainda. 
10. São cartões nos quais é possível sentir o cheiro de algo se você esfregar o pulso nele, por exemplo.