新编四级听力练习 第346期

Passage Three
The period of engagement is the time between the marriage proposal and the wedding ceremony. Two people agree to marry when they decided to spend their lives together. The man usually gives the woman a diamond engagement ring. That tradition is said to have started when an Austrian man gave a diamond ring to the woman he wanted to marry. [33]The diamond represented beauty. He placed it on the third finger of her left hand. He chose that finger [34]because it was thought that the blood vessel in that finger went directly to the heart. Today we know that this is not true. Yet the tradition continues.
Americans generally are engaged for a period of about one year if they are planning a wedding ceremony and a party. During this time, friends of the bride may hold a party at which women friends and family members give the bride gifts that she will need as a wife. These could include cooking equipment or new clothing. Friends of the man who is getting married may have a bachelor party for him. This usually takes place the night before the wedding. Only men are invited to the bachelor party.
During the marriage ceremony, the bride and her would-be husband usually exchange gold rings that represent the idea that their union will continue forever. The wife often wears both the wedding ring and the engagement ring on the same finger. The husband wears his ring on the third finger of his left hand. Many people say the purpose of the engagement period is to permit enough time to plan the wedding. [35]But the main purpose is to let enough time pass so the two people are sure that they want to marry each other. Either person may decide to break the engagement. If this happens, the woman usually returns the ring to the man. They also return any wedding gifts they have received.

Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.
33. What was the diamond ring said to represent?
正确答案：A
解析：题目询问据说钻戒代表什么。关键在于听到“钻石代表美丽”，即A。
34. Why did the Austrian man place the diamond ring on the third finger of the left hand of his would-be wife?
正确答案：C
解析：题目询问那个奥地利人为什么把钻戒戴在准妻子的左手中指上。关键是听到“人们认为左手中指里的血管直接与心脏相通”，即C。
35. What is the chief advantage of having the engagement period?
正确答案：B
解析：题目询问订婚期的主要好处是什么。关键是听到“主要目的是使双方有充足的时间来确定他们愿意与对方结婚。”即B。