In Britain arrangements for inviting and entertaining guests at a wedding are usually the responsibility of the bride's family．In most cases it is mainly friends and relations of both families who are invited but when bride's father is a businessman of some kind, the  wedding reception may provide a useful occasion for establishing social connections with clients or customers and other people whose goodwill may be of advantage to him．it is, however, the bride's mother who has the job of sending out the formal printed invitation cards．

In the case of a church wedding, the vicar of each parish(教区) in which the bride and bridegroom live is normally informed about a month in advance of the ceremony so that an announcement of the coming wedding can be made in church on each of three Sundays before it takes place．Anyone who may know of an existing marriage of either partner is ordered to give information, though this means of avoiding bigamy must have been more effective in the days when people attend the religious service and the bride usually wears the traditional long white dress and veil, while her bridesmaids, who are children, wear long dresses in attractive colors．This may also happen in the case of a civil wedding in a register office but is probably less usual．

The reception which follows may be held in a restaurant, a local hall or, when there are few guests, in the bride’s own home．Refreshments are provided, a special iced wedding-cake is cut(usually to the accompaniment of speeches)and distributed to the guests, toasts are drunk and dancing may follow．At some point in the celebrations, the bride goes off to change into everyday clothes and then leaves the party with her husband to go on their honeymoon, the journey they will make together, often in romantic surrounding abroad．

It is the bride's parents who normally have to________．

A．make all the arrangements for the wedding  

B．provide hospitality for the people attending

C．decide who shall be invited                     

D．pay all expenses involved

What possible difference is suggested between a church and a civil wedding?

    A．Civil weddings are less commonly followed by a reception．

    B．It is less usual for guests to attend the civil wedding formalities．

    C．Guests at civil weddings are less formally dressed．

    D．There could be less attention paid at the latter to convention and picturesque effect．

The reception normally takes place in the bride’s home if________．

       A．this is a large one．                

       B．there is enough room to entertain the people invited．

       C．the parents cannot afford to hire a hall． 

       D．there is to be no party afterwards．

The couple leave for their honeymoon________．

    A．after the church or register office ceremony

    B．immediately after the cake has been cut and the speeches made

C．at the end of the reception               

D．as soon as the bride is ready

I have learnt a lot about Chinese life and culture while teaching in China and found them very interesting．

First, family life is quite 　36 in China from that in the USA． In the USA, many young people 　37 home after they finish their education and start working． However, in China, it is 　38 for people to live with their parents until they get married． 　39 , many of my Chinese friends told me that their 40 lived with them and helped take care of them when they were children． It seems that Americans think independence is more important 　41 the Chinese think family relationships are more important．

Bargaining is another 　42 that I have tried to learn． In the USA, prices are 　43 and you can’t ask for a lower price． However in some small Chinese stores and tourist places, you are 　44 to bargain． My Chinese friends taught me to ask for 40 percent or 50 percent 　45 the original price． If the salesperson doesn’t agree to my price, I should 　46 to leave and he might let me come back and sell me the item． It is a skill that you have to 　47 if you live in China．

Tipping hasn’t been easier to 　48 ． In the USA, many people in the service 　49 want to get 　50 money for serving customers． Tipping is not a part of Chinese culture． 　51 I tried to tip a taxi driver． He looked a little 　52 and refused to take the money．

In dinners, perhaps what surprises an American visitor most is that some of the Chinese hosts like to put food into the plates of their 　53 ． Actually, this is a 　54 of true friendship and politeness． My Chinese friend told me if I didn’t want to eat it, I should just 　55 the food in the plate．

36．A．unique　　　　　　　　 B．different　　　　　　　　 C．private　　　　　　　　　 D．harmonious

37．A．come　　　　　　　　 B．build　　　　　　　　　　　 C．leave　　　　　　　　　　 D．abandon

38．A．regular　　　　　　　 B．true　　　　　　　　　　　 C．common　　　　　　　　 D．usual

39．A．Also　　　　　　　　　 B．However　　　　　　　　 C．Therefore　　　　　　　 D．Although

40．A．parents　　　　　　　 B．relatives　　　　　　　　 C．babysitters　　　　　　 D. grandparents

41．A．while　　　　　　　　 B．since　　　　　　　　　　 C．when　　　　　　　　　　 D．as

42．A．way　　　　　　　　　 B．custom　　　　　　　　　 C．method　　　　　　　　　 D．habit

43．A．made　　　　　　　　 B．agreed　　　　　　　　　 C．charged　　　　　　　　 D．set

44．A．expected　　　　　　 B．taught　　　　　　　　　　 C．suggested　　　　　　　 D．required

45．A．up　　　　　　　　　　 B．away　　　　　　　　　　 C．off　　　　　　　　　　　　 D．on

46．A．promise　　　　　　　 B．pretend　　　　　　　　　 C．decide　　　　　　　　　 D．hope

47．A．tolerate　　　　　　　 B．understand　　　　　　 C．practise　　　　　　　　 D．consider

48．A．adjust to　　　　　　 B．turn to　　　　　　　　　 C．refer to　　　　　　　　　 D．stick to

49．A．area　　　　　　　　　 B．department　　　　　　 C．branch　　　　　　　　　 D．industry

50．A．easy　　　　　　　　　 B．extra　　　　　　　　　　　 C．pocket　　　　　　　　　 D．prize

51．A．Often　　　　　　　　 B．Once　　　　　　　　　　 C．Sometimes　　　　　　 D．Before

52．A．excited　　　　　　　 B．satisfied　　　　　　　　 C．frightened　　　　　　　 D．confused

53．A．own　　　　　　　　　 B．children　　　　　　　　 C．neighbors　　　　　　　 D．guests　

54．A．signal　　　　　　　　 B．mark　　　　　　　　　　 C．sign　　　　　　　　　　　 D．feature

55．A．leave　　　　　　　　　 B．remain　　　　　　　　　 C．put　　　　　　　　　　　　 D．taste

       Could you imagine your parents choosing your husband or wife for you? And can you imagine not setting eyes on him or her until your wedding day? This situation is common in India, the Middle East and many parts of Africa．Marriage customs around the world often differ from our own．We don’t realize that people in other places often get married in very different ways and with different motives．

       In many countries, marriage is a practical matter．A marriage provides a safe and stable home for the husband and wife．It also joins two families, which benefits the couple’s parents and makes them happy．Marriage also brings children, making sure the couple will be taken care of in old age．Because a marriage is important for the whole family, some cultures don’t let young people choose whom to marry．

       Just as there are many different reasons for marriage, there are also many different wedding rituals．Every culture has its own ways of bringing good luck to the happy couple．In a typical Western wedding, the bride seeks good luck by wearing “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue”．Something old represents the past．Something new represents success in the future．Something borrowed reminds the bride she can get help from her friends and family．And something blue reminds her to be true to her husband．

       In Poland, one wedding tradition is not only lucky, but also very practical．The wedding guests pin money to the bride’s dress while she is dancing．The money is meant to bring luck and to help the young couple build their new life．In Bermuda, the young couple plants a tree in the yard of their new home．Once they move in, they take good care of the tree and make it grow．The planting of the tree is a good metaphor（比喻） for marriage．A truly good marriage is something that grows with care．

Which of the following statements does NOT support the idea that marriage is a practical matter?

       A．The couple may have a safe home through their marriage．

       B．The parents had better help their children choose whom to marry．

       C．A marriage benefits the couple’s parents and makes them happy．

       D．A marriage brings children who will take care of the couple when they are old．

The underlined word “rituals” （Para．3） means 　　　．

       A．forms　   B．customs   C．traditions　      D．ceremonies

Although cultures differ in different countries, one thing in common when a young couple gets married is that 　　　．

       A．people wish them to take care of each other

       B．people wish them to get practical benefits from the marriage

       C．people wish them to have good luck in their new life

       D．people wish them to make money at the wedding ceremony

Which of the following statements best summarizes（总结） the subject of this passage?

       A．People across the world get married in different ways and for different reasons．

       B．Every culture has its own ways of bringing good luck to the young couple．

       C．A truly good marriage is something that grows with care．

       D．In many countries, marriage is a practical matter．

       Could you imagine your parents choosing your husband or wife for you? And can you imagine not setting eyes on him or her until your wedding day? This situation is common in India, the Middle East and many parts of Africa．Marriage customs around the world often differ from our own．We don’t realize that people in other places often get married in very different ways and with different motives．
In many countries, marriage is a practical matter．A marriage provides a safe and stable home for the husband and wife．It also joins two families, which benefits the couple’s parents and makes them happy．Marriage also brings children, making sure the couple will be taken care of in old age．Because a marriage is important for the whole family, some cultures don’t let young people choose whom to marry．
Just as there are many different reasons for marriage, there are also many different wedding rituals．Every culture has its own ways of bringing good luck to the happy couple．In a typical Western wedding, the bride seeks good luck by wearing “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue”．Something old represents the past．Something new represents success in the future．Something borrowed reminds the bride she can get help from her friends and family．And something blue reminds her to be true to her husband．
In Poland, one wedding tradition is not only lucky, but also very practical．The wedding guests pin money to the bride’s dress while she is dancing．The money is meant to bring luck and to help the young couple build their new life．In Bermuda, the young couple plants a tree in the yard of their new home．Once they move in, they take good care of the tree and make it grow．The planting of the tree is a good metaphor（比喻） for marriage．A truly good marriage is something that grows with care．
【小题1】Which of the following statements does NOT support the idea that marriage is a practical matter?

A．The couple may have a safe home through their marriage．

B．The parents had better help their children choose whom to marry．

C．A marriage benefits the couple’s parents and makes them happy．

D．A marriage brings children who will take care of the couple when they are old．

A．People across the world get married in different ways and for different reasons．

B．Every culture has its own ways of bringing good luck to the young couple．

C．A truly good marriage is something that grows with care．

D．In many countries, marriage is a practical matter．