【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】[解析] 33-35
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 manusually gives the woman a diamond engagement ring. That tradition is said to have started when anAustrian 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 wasthought that the blood vessel in that finger went directly to the heart. Today we know that this is nottrue. 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 womenfriends and family members give the bride gifts that she will need as a wife. These could includecooking equipment or new clothing. Friends of the man who is getting married may have a bachelorparty for him. This usually takes place the night before the wedding. Only men are invited to thebachelor 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 thewedding ring and the engagement ring on the same finger. The husband wears his ring on the thirdfinger of his left hand. Many people say the purpose of the engagement period is to permit enoughtime to plan the wedding. [35]But the main purpose is to let enough time pass so the two people aresure that they want to marry each other. Either person may decide to break the engagement. If thishappens, the woman usually returns the ring to the man. They also return any wedding gifts theyhave received.

33. What was the diamond ring said to represent?

[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。