America's latest strategy (对策)for single persons who don't want to be
single any longer has many names: speed-dating, express-date, 10-minute-dating
or simply mini-date.
The principle is the same:
Why spend an 31 evening with a stranger 32 you realize after only the first few
minutes that you can't 33 the person?
The solution: The man and woman
sit down 34 each other. A bell is sounded, and in the
next 7 to 10 minutes each one tries to find out as much as possible about the 35 person. When the bell 36 off a second time, the man stands up and
moves 37 to the next female.
At such a meeting in San Francisco 38 , some 200 men and women between the ages
of 30 and 60 had a 39 expression on their faces, in two
long 40 opposite each other. The signal was
given, and then almost everybody started 41 away.
Richard Gosse, 42
of "AMERICAN
SINGLES", says this is the fastest, most effective and at the moment
" 43 " way to search for a partner.
Minute-date has become a 44 everywhere from computer fans in
Silicon Valley to young people in San Francisco
to the suburbs of Chicago.
Gosse says the quick method to get to know each other is helpful above all for 45 singles who are not brave enough
to speak to a stranger in a bar.
His 46 : Don't talk about money, your
weight or about your former partner, but 47 about your dreams, desires and
hobbies.
Most speed-dating meetings
cost about US $25 per evening, 48 a person to get to know 15 to
20 people 49 the opposite sex. Speed-dating
is so much in demand in America
that most meetings are 50 out weeks and months in advance.
31. A. exciting B.
entire C.
interesting D.
early
32. A. if B.
before
C. until
D.
unless
33. A. know B.
comfort
C. stand D. meet
34. A. watching B.facing
C. noticing
D.separating
35. A. first
C. last
D.other
36. A. takes
B.sets
C. goes
D.falls
37. A. on Babout
C. out
D.in
38. A. long ago B.at first
C. recently
D.immediately
39. A. calm B.hopeful
C. serious
D.fearful
40. A. groups
B.teams
C. rows
D.pairs
41. A. laughing B.walking
C. running
D.talking
42. A. boss
B.chairman
C. official
D.trainer
43. A. cleverest B.cheapest
C. best
D.hottest
44. A. practice B.training
C. tradition
D.custom
45. A. active
B.attractive
C. shy
D.anxious
46. A. idea
B.tip
C. order
D.warning
47. A. still
B.rather
C. also
D.even
48. A. forcing
B.persuading
C. encouraging D.allowing
49. A. of
B.from
C. for
D.among
50. A. attended B.booked
C. reported
D.announced