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Passage Three
篇章三
The period of engagement is the time between the marriage proposal and the wedding ceremony.
訂婚期間就是從求婚到結(jié)婚典禮之間的一段時(shí)間。
Two people agree to marry when they decide to spend their lives together.
當(dāng)兩個(gè)人決定共同生活以后，他們就同意要結(jié)婚了。
The man usually gives the woman a diamond engagement ring.
男方通常會(huì)送給女方一枚鉆石訂婚戒指。
That tradition is said to have started when an Austrian man gave a diamond ring to the woman he wanted to marry.
據(jù)說(shuō)這個(gè)傳統(tǒng)始于一個(gè)奧地利男子，他把一枚鉆戒送給了他想娶的女子。
The diamond represented beauty.
鉆石代表美麗。
He placed it on the third finger of her left hand.
他把它戴在女子左手無(wú)名指上。
He chose that finger because it was thought that the blood vessel in that finger went directly to the heart.
他選擇這根手指，是因?yàn)檫@根手指的血管被認(rèn)為會(huì)直通心臟。
Today we know that this is not true, yet the tradition continues.
雖然現(xiàn)在我們知道這不是真的，但這個(gè)傳統(tǒng)仍在延續(xù)。
Americans generally are engaged for a period of about one year if they are planning a wedding ceremony and a party.
通常，如果美國(guó)人要籌劃婚禮和聚會(huì)的話，他們訂婚時(shí)間大約為期一年。
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.
在此期間，新娘的朋友可能會(huì)舉行一個(gè)派對(duì)，女性朋友和家人會(huì)來(lái)這個(gè)派對(duì)給新娘送一些禮物，以便她為人妻時(shí)所需。
These could include cooking equipment or new clothing.
這些禮物會(huì)包括廚具或新衣。
Friends of the man who is getting married may have a bachelor party for him.
準(zhǔn)新郎的朋友可能會(huì)為他舉行一個(gè)單身派對(duì)。
This usually takes place the night before the wedding.
這一般在婚禮前一天晚上舉行。
Only men are invited to the bachelor party.
只有男性會(huì)被邀請(qǐng)到單身派對(duì)上。
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.
在結(jié)婚儀式上，通常新娘和她的準(zhǔn)新郎會(huì)交換金戒指，這個(gè)戒指代表著他們情比金堅(jiān)。
The wife often wears both the wedding ring and the engagement ring on the same finger.
新娘常常把結(jié)婚戒指和訂婚戒指戴在同一手指上。
The husband wears his ring on the third finger of his left hand.
新郎把戒指戴在他的左手無(wú)名指上。
Many people say the purpose of the engagement period is to permit enough time to plan the wedding.
很多人說(shuō)訂婚期的目的是讓人有充裕的時(shí)間來(lái)籌備婚禮。
But the main purpose is to let enough time pass, so the two people are sure they want to marry each other.
但是主要目的其實(shí)是留有足夠時(shí)間讓訂婚二人確定他們是真的想以身相許。
Either person may decide to break the engagement, if this happens, the woman usually returns the ring to the man.
其中任何一方都取消婚約，一旦婚約取消，女方通常會(huì)把戒指還給男方。
They also return any wedding gifts they have received.
他們也將返還收到的任何結(jié)婚禮物。
Questions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
根據(jù)你剛才聽(tīng)到的篇章，回答23至25題。
Question 23. What was the diamond ring said to represent?
問(wèn)題23．據(jù)說(shuō)鉆戒代表什么？
Question 24. Why did the Austrian man place the diamond ring on the third finger of the left hand of his would-be wife?
問(wèn)題24. 為什么這位奧地利男子把鉆戒戴在準(zhǔn)新娘的左手無(wú)名指上？
Question 25. What is the chief advantage of having the engagement period?
問(wèn)題25. 訂婚期的主要優(yōu)點(diǎn)在于什么？
