问答题 7.  Listen to the following passage. Altogether the passage will be read to you four times. During the first reading, which will be done at normal speed, listen and try to understand the meaning. For the second and third readings, the passage, except the first sentence, will be read sentence by sentence, or phrase by phrase, with intervals of 15 seconds. The last reading will be done at normal speed again and during this time you should check your work. You will then be given ONE minute to check through your work once more.
    The first sentence of the passage is already provided.
   
Marriage in the West

    Usually, the marriage begins with the engagement.
【正确答案】
【答案解析】[听力原文]
Marriage in the West

   Usually, the marriage begins with the engagement. A young man asks the father of his sweetheart/ for permission to marry her. /If the father agrees, the man later proposes to her. /In the wedding, the couple may invite hundreds of people/or just a few close friends. /Nervously, the young couple repeat their vows. /They give each other a gold ring to symbolize their marriage commitment. /Finally the minister announces the big moment: /"I now pronounce you man and wife. /You may kiss the bride!"/
[参考译文]
   
西方的婚礼

   结婚前通常要先订婚。年轻男子首先会去请求心爱的人的父亲答应将女儿嫁给他。如果父亲同意了，该名男子随后就向爱人求婚。他们也许会邀请数百人或是少数几个亲密的朋友来参加他们的婚礼。这对年轻人会紧张地跟着牧师念出对彼此的誓言，接着双方交换金戒指，以象征他们的婚姻承诺。最后，牧师宣布这个重要的时刻：“我现在宣布你们结为夫妻，新郎可以亲吻新娘!”