Supplementary reading

21. Marriage is «the state of being married; the act of marrying or the ceremony entered into by a man and a woman so as to live together as husband and wife» [Webstwer's Dictionary, 1993:224]. Read the text and find out what the Americans think of marriage.

Marriage

Marriage in the United States is a matter of individual responsibility and decision. Usually Americans base their marriages on romantic love, rather than on social class, education, money, or religion. On the other hand, marriages between blacks and whites are rare. They probably account for fewer than l per cent of all marriages each year.

Marriage is preceded by dating. Casual dating usually begins in the early teens, and by the late teens a pattern of steady dating develops. Steady dating is often followed by marriage. Dating in America looks generally very casual to outsiders. For example, it is perfectly respectable for a young man to call up a young woman, introduce himself by telephone, and arrange a date. Usually they have a friend in common.

It is equally acceptable for a friend to arrange a «blind date», that is a date between two young people who have not met before. After their marriage the young couple is free to decide where to live. Most newlyweds set up their own household immediately. Most marriage people practice some kind of birth control. They plan the number of children they are going to have and when their children will be born. Birth-control information and family planning are easily available.

22. Read the text again and answer the questions.

1. What is marriage in the United States?

2. How do Americans usually base their marriages?

3. Are marriages between blacks and whites rare?

4. Is marriage preceded by dating?

5. Does casual dating usually begin in the early teens?

6. It is equally acceptable for a friend to arrange a «blind date», isn’t it?

7. Is the young couple free to decide where to live after their marriage?

8. What do most marriage people practice?

23. Which of the following phrases do you think is the best description of an «average British household» in the text «Married life»?

1. Unmarried lone mother, with two children;

2. Couple, living together, without children;

3. Elderly couple, married, whose children have left home;

4. Divorced man, living alone;

5. Married couple, with child(ren).

Read and translate the text about married life in England and find out if you are right with the description of an «average British household”.

Married Life

The most common type of household in England, Scotland and Wales today is two people, either married or living together, without children. Twenty-seven per cent of household consist of people who live on their own.

Most people living alone are widows, but there has been a big increase in the number of men who live alone. This is because a large number of couples get divorced. Men often live on their own after getting divorced, whereas women often live with the child.

Nowadays, nine per cent of families are lone parents with children. Women are usually the head of this type of household. Just over 17 per cent of families with children are headed by single mothers, with about one per cent headed by a lone father.

Today, if two people are living together, they are not necessarily married. Eighteen per cent of unmarried people aged between 16 and 59 years old are living with someone. People still get married, often after living together, but there is an increasing chance that the marriage ends in divorce.

24. Read the text and check the meaning of the italicized words and word combinations.