单选题 Oversize cupids in pink, furry outfits hand out heart-shaped balloons with "I Do" written on them (in English) at a wedding-themed trade fair in Beijing. Vendors offer romantic photo-shoots of couples under water, personalised wedding cigarettes, and biscuits with names. An emphasis on love is a new addition to Chinese weddings—and shines a pink-filtered spotlight on social change.
For centuries, marriage in China was about ensuring heirs for the groom"s family. Both the groom"s and the bride"s family exchanged money or goods. The more money changed hands, the more opulent the wedding.
In 1949, frugality was imposed. Dowries consisted of necessities like bed linen or a bicycle. But since the 1980s the extravagance of weddings has matched the country"s rise. Celebrations moved out of homes into hotels. Brides swapped traditional red dresses for white ones.
A large industry has emerged to serve the 13 million couples who many each year. Wedding planners are increasingly common, particularly in cities. A decade ago Cosmo Bride, an American owned lifestyle magazine, launched a Chinese-language edition in China. An average wedding cost $12,000 in 2011—the equivalent of more than two years" income for the average urban household. An increase in the average marriage age by 2.5 years since 1990 has given parents (who still usually pay for weddings, despite the earning power of their children) more time to save up.
The change in wedding also reflects a fundamental shift in society. For the first time in the history of Chinese family life, the child—rather than ancestors or parents—is regarded as the centre of the family, says Yan Yunxiang of the University of California, Los Angeles. Most newly-weds now are single children, born since the one-child policy was introduced more than 30 years ago. Parents have more to spend if they only have to afford one wedding.
William Jankowiak of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, who has documented relationships in China for 30 years, says love plays a larger part in young people"s lives—both in choice of partner and in their relationships with parents. The result is evident in weddings, which now focus on the couple. Both sets of parents are represented, but their position is peripheral. Weddings often feature a day of wedding photos, shot before the event, with the couple in a range of outfits against romantic backgrounds, but with no family members.
单选题 The wedding-themed trade fair in Beijing is used to ______.
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[解析] 细节题
wedding-themed trade fair
根据题干关键词定位到第一段。第一段末句提到“把重点放在爱情上是中式婚礼上的一个新现象,闪耀的粉红聚光灯下聚焦的是社会的变革”,D项中的change of wedding focus and Chinese society是对末句中An emphasis on love is a new addition和social change的概括,故D项为正确答案。A项“表明在中式婚礼上,丘比特和气球很受欢迎”属于过度推断;B项迷惑性较大,“介绍了婚礼销售商们为新人们提供的服务”只是该段的表面含义,不符合题干要求;C项“比较了两种不同的婚礼重点:形式和爱情”是对末句的曲解,form一词属于无中生有。
单选题 The word "opulent" (Para. 2) most probably means ______.
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[解析] 含义题
"opulent"(Para. 2)
根据题干关键词定位到第二段。该段第二、三句句意为“新郎和新娘的家人需彼此交换彩礼或定情物,转手的彩礼钱越多,婚礼越______”,第三段接着讲到frugality“节约”,转折词But引导的句子中,extravagance of weddings是提示线索,与the more opulent the wedding意思一致,故A项“奢华的”为正确答案。B项“幸运的”,C项“传统的”,D项“快乐的”均不是该单词的正确释义,故排除。
单选题 According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true about weddings?
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[解析] 细节题
NOT true, weddings
本题可使用排除法。根据A项中的since the 1980s定位到第三段,A项中的more extravagant weddings与原文the extravagance of weddings和matched...rise表意一致。根据B项中的wedding planning industry定位到第四段,B项中的appeared in cities是文中emerged和in cities的复现。根据C项中的2.5 years定位到第四段末句,原文讲“1990年起,平均结婚年龄增加2.5年”,故C项“承担婚礼费用的父母有两年半的时间做准备”不符合文意。为正确答案。根据D项中的one-child定位到第五段,D项是对Parents have more to spend...for one wedding的同义表述。因此正确答案是C项。
单选题 The last sentence "Weddings often...no family members" implies that couples ______.
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[解析] 推断题
last sentence, implies
根据题干关键词定位到文章末句。该句句意为“婚礼现场当天通常饰以此前拍摄的婚纱照。在浪漫的背景下,夫妻穿上一系列服装拍摄婚纱照,但没有家庭成员参与其中”,它是对前面内容的具体说明,前面两句表明“……现在的婚礼专注于夫妻二人,双方父母都出席,但他们只是陪衬”,所以新婚夫妇是婚礼的中心,A项为正确答案。B项“(夫妻)不欢迎家庭成员到场”,C项“(夫妻)很少向双方父母表达他们的爱”,D项“(夫妻)在拍婚纱照的时候没有家庭成员的陪伴”都属于过度推断。
单选题 Which of the following can best summarize the main idea of this text?
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[解析] 主旨题
summarize, the main idea
本题考查文章主旨。本文第一段最后引出话题“把重点放在爱情上是中式婚礼上的一个新现象,闪耀的粉红聚光灯下聚焦的是社会的变革”,第二、三段中的For centuries, In 1949, since the 1980s等引出了婚礼随着时间进行的变化。第四段指出了婚礼策划产业的兴起和发展。第五段的中心句是首句“婚礼的变化也反映出社会的根本性转变”,第六段主要阐释了“爱在年轻人的生活中日渐重要”。全文围绕着婚姻和社会的变化展开,故B项“社会的变化如何改变中式婚礼”为正确答案。A项“婚礼策划在城市更受欢迎”,C项“和伴侣的关系好过和父母的关系”,D项“大多数新婚夫妻必须遵循的婚礼流程是什么”,均不是文章的主旨,故排除。