5.6 Real-time reading The cost of marriage A


Activating ideas 1. The average cost of weddings in many countries, including the USA, has risen steeply in the last 20 years. Why? Think of some possible reasons.


2. What has happened to wedding costs in your country in the same period? Why?


B Preparing to read


1. Look at the headline, photos and highlighted topic sentences in the text opposite. What will the main point of the article be?


2. Read the topic sentences again. What information do you expect to find in each paragraph? Write the paragraph number next to each topic.


a. the attempts of governments to deal with the problem b. mass weddings c. the cost of weddings in different countries d. hiring wedding clothes e. the introduction to the article f. quotes from young people about the cost of weddings g. marrying a foreign bride – reasons for this and perhaps problems


C


Understanding the text 1. Read the text. Check your answers to Exercise B. 2. Find three facts and three opinions in the text. 3. This article is not complete. Choose the best conclusion below.


a.


A wedding can be an expensive business, but with help from the government, and economies from the bride and groom, it is possible to make it affordable. All cultures have a form of marriage, and it seems unlikely that cost will deter people from going ahead.


D b.


Weddings are becoming more and more expensive. As a result, more and more people are deciding not to get married at all. All cultures have a form of marriage, but the increasing cost may eventually kill off the custom completely in some countries.


Vocabulary box


Developing critical thinking 1. What are the main problems with weddings, according to the article? 2. What are some of the solutions in the text? 3. Can you think of any additional solutions?


E


Understanding vocabulary in context Find ten words or expressions in the text which are connected with money.


affair (n) [= event] bride price debt (n) dowry (n) illegal (adj) loan (n) mass (adj) traditional (adj) wardrobe (n)


148 Theme 5: Reading Average wedding budget (1990–2012)


35,000.00 30,000.00 25,000.00 20,000.00 15,000.00 10,000.00 5,000.00 0.00


Year weddingplanner.com


1


1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012


Budget ($)


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