useful paid job or career. It is important for women to be able to achieve the economic, social, and psychic rewards of the workplace that have long been reserved for men. It is important for society that everyone be well educated and that they make an important work contribution over the course of their lives. (Para. 2)
Later marriage, together with smaller families, earlier retirement, and a longer life in a society of affluence, provides both men and women in modern societies an historically unprecedented degree of freedom to pursue personal endeavors. Yet what David
Gutmann has called the “parental imperative” is also a necessary and important part of life, and during the parental years expressive freedom for adults must be curtailed in the interest of social values, especially the welfare of children. (Para. 12) 96
新视角研究生英语 读说写 2 B. Study and recite the following sayings or quotations.
Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you
are, you need one. Jane Howard
Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. Leo Tolstoy
A great marriage is not when the ’perfect couple’ comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences. Dave Meurer
By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you’ll be happy. If you get a bad one, you’ll become a philosopher. Socrates
V. Vocabulary
A. Complete the sentences with words given below, making sure that each word is used in the right form.
norm avail setback reinforce parenting longevity offset subsidy downside reproduce constraint compensate
1. The fate of the giant panda is a worldwide concern. It is hoped that sophisticated _________ technology can help prevent it from extinction.
2. A rising number of school age children are seeking medical help for varied psychological problems resulting mainly from improper _________ — such as excessive care and intervention, indifference or physical punishment.
3. Due to selling pressure from speculators as well as public investors, today technology stocks suffered another sharp _________ on the Bombay Stock Exchange.
4. A firm which dismisses an employee on the grounds of redundancy is obliged to _________ him for loss of employment.
5. According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, China will soon establish in the countryside, as it has already done in urban areas, the system to give minimum living _________ to the poorest people.
6. Rugao is recognized for the _________ of its residents. Experts from home and abroad are trying to figure out what makes people live longer in that region with rapid economic growth.
7. Many Chinese cities will raise taxi fares by 25 percent to _________ an increase in fuel 97
Unit Five Seven Tenets for Establishing New Marital Norms
costs.
8. Many multinationals have set up business headquarters in Shanghai, hoping to _________ themselves of the city’s comprehensive advantages in geography, investment environment and human resources.
9. Beijing Municipal Education Committee set new regulations on behavioral _________ of primary and middle school students, introducing modern ethics and doing away with outdated content such as “fight criminals courageously.”
10. Corruption and unreliable electricity supply are listed as major __________ on the business operation and growth of firms in South Asia, said a World Bank survey report.
B. Choose the word or phrase that is closest in meaning to the boldfaced part of the sentence.
1. Delegates from 27 news agencies declared commitment to holding steadfastly to the ethics and basic principles of the journalistic profession. A. tenets B. origins C. talents D. values
2. Because of the SARS crisis, there was a temporary decrease in the number of Chinese tourists abroad.
A. sacrifice B. scarcity C. deduction D. diminution
3. The President’s visit to Cuba was expected to add new push to bilateral cooperation of the two countries in economic, political and other fields. A. impact B. impulse C. advance D. advantage
4. Financial constraints and the selfish values of the younger generation probably constitute major factors for the steady decline in Canada’s fertility rate. A. alternatively B. eventually C. presumably D. virtually
5. Fuelled by wider opening of the automobile industry to the outside world, and rising wealth of local people, China’s car market will boom in the coming years. A. affluence B. allowance C. priority D. property
6. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) called for forging a common understanding among its member countries and making more effective efforts in combating transnational crime in the region.
A. endeavors B. fulfillments C. investments D. proposals
7. Pakistan must control high population growth rate and relieve the heavy pressure exerted by large population on the economic development. A. conform B. curtail C. suspend D. manipulate
8. China’s rapid economic development has been helpful in promoting global economic growth and brought important opportunities for development in Latin American countries.
A. dominant B. auxiliary C. functional D. instrumental
9. The financial minister has already altered several of the proposals in the economic plan to consider demands of special interest groups. A. adapt B. adjust C. accommodate D. acknowledge
10. Chinese Finance Minister said that China will eliminate all agricultural taxes, putting an end to a levy that has burdened China’s farmers for 2,600 years. A. exhaust B. expire C. scrap D. erase
98
新视角研究生英语 读说写 2 VI. Cloze
Choose an appropriate word from the following list to fill in each of the following blanks. Each word can be used only ONCE. Change the word form where necessary.
a to yet in act of as
creator true more their asset support loss wealth generate than those bonus benefit
When thinking of the many benefits of marriage, the economic aspects are often overlooked. 1 the economic benefits of marriage are substantial, both for individuals and for society 2 a whole. Marriage is a wealth generating institution. Married couples create more economic 3 on average than do otherwise similar singles or cohabiting couples. A 1992 study 4 retirement data concluded that “individuals who are not continuously married have significantly lower 5 than those who remain married throughout their lives.” Compared to those continuously married, 6 who never married and those who divorced and didn’t remarry have a reduction 7 wealth of about 75%. One might think that the explanation for why marriage 8 economic
assets is because those people who are more likely to be wealth 9 are also more likely to marry and stay married. And this is certainly 10 , but only in part. The institution of marriage itself provides a wealth-generation 11 . It does this through providing economies of scale (two can live more cheaply 12 one). As implicitly a long-term personal contract, it encourages economic specialization. Working as 13 couple,
individuals can develop those skills in which they excel, leaving others to 14 partner. Also, married couples save and invest more for the future. They can 15 as a
small insurance pool against life uncertainties such as illness and job 16 . Probably because of marital social norms that encourage healthy, productive behavior, men tend 17 become more economically productive after marriage; they earn between 10 and 40 percent 18 than do single men with similar education and job histories. All of these 19 are independent of the fact that married couples receive more work-related and government-provided 20 , and also more help and support from their extended families (two sets of in-laws) and friends.
VII. Oral Practice
A. Speaking tasks and activities
1. Discuss the following questions in groups.
In America, the number of cohabiting unmarried couples increased more than
tenfold between 1960 and 2005. Unmarried cohabitation — the status of couples who
are sexual partners, not married to each other, and sharing a household — is particularly common among the young. It is estimated that about a quarter of unmarried women aged 25 to 39 are currently living with a partner and an additional quarter have lived with a partner at some time in the past. Over half of all first marriages are now preceded by living together, compared to virtually none 50 years ago. For many, cohabitation is a prelude to marriage, for others, simply a substitute to living alone, and for a small but
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Unit Five Seven Tenets for Establishing New Marital Norms
growing number, it is considered an alternative to marriage.
In your opinion, is marriage a prerequisite to living with a partner? Do you agree with Popenoe that cohabitation makes more sense for young adults than living alone or living with one’s parents before their late marriage? Do you agree with Wilson, author of the further reading passage, that marriage has many advantages over cohabitation and is still necessary in modern society? 2. Questionnaire survey and presentation
Each group should conduct a questionnaire survey among your classmates and
friends about their opinions on love, marriage and family. First, choose a particular issue (e.g. true love, nonmarital cohabitation, children, ideal wife or husband, gender equality, etc.) from the topic areas of love, marriage and family into which you are going to research. Then, prepare 5 to 10 questions in relation to that issue to make up a questionnaire. (The following are some sample questions for your reference.) Next, each member of the group should interview 3 classmates in class and as many friends as possible after class using the questionnaire. Remember to note down their opinions in the corresponding slots. When finished, try to analyze the data the whole group has collected and draw a conclusion. Finally, make a presentation reporting your findings to the class.
Agree Don’t know Disagree
Male Female Male Female Male Female
Having a good marriage and family life is extremely important to me.
I will marry (or I am already married).
It is very likely I will stay married to the same person for life.
Most people will have fuller and happier lives if they choose legal marriage rather than staying single or just living with someone.
It’s okay for an adult woman to have a child on her own if she has not found the right man to marry.
It is usually a good idea for a couple to live together before getting married in order to find out whether they really get along.
Having a child is an experience every woman should have.
The main purpose of mar r iage is having children.
When there are children in the family, parents should stay together even if they don’t get along. 3. Role play
David and Sara are an unmarried couple. Like many young people, they are facing 100
新视角研究生英语 读说写 2 various dilemmas about love, marriage and family. Work in groups and create a dialogue between them discussing some controversial matter concerning their relationship and their future life. It is desirable that the problem they are discussing is related to the research question of your questionnaire survey. You can include other roles than the couple in your play if necessary, such as their parents, colleagues, etc. Perform your play in front of the class.
B. How to present
1. The Language: Simplicity and Clarity
If you want your audience to understand your ideas, you need to keep your message simple and clear. 1) Be simple
? Speak clearly and simply in language that is easy for your audience to understand. ? When selecting between two synonyms, choose the simpler one. ? Translate jargon into commonly understood terms. 2) Be concise
Use fewer rather than more words to express your thoughts. 3) Choose concrete words
Try to avoid abstract language that is open to interpretation unless that is your intent. Instead, choose concrete nouns and verbs to express yourself. Abstract Less Abstract Concrete summer hot weather sweltering heat congestion traffic jam gridlock 4) Use the active voice
Use active voice instead of passive voice. For example, use “Researchers
recommend?” instead of “It is recommended that?” Active voice is much easier to understand and is more powerful.
5) Repeat key words, phrases and sentences
Repeating key words, phrases, or even sentences can create rhythm and firmly establish important messages in listeners’ mind. One well-known example is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech, delivered in 1963, in which he repeated “I have a dream” many times. 2. Let’s practice
1) In the article, the writer explains seven tenets for establishing new marital norms. Choose three of them which make the best sense to you, and develop a presentation. Your three main points and their support should be based on the information provided in the article.
2) The writer argues that “young adults should be encouraged to marry later in life than is common now.” Use this as a thesis statement. What are the writer’s arguments (or main points) and his support? Develop a persuasive presentation based on the information provided in the article.
3) The writer states, “Once children are born, wives should be encouraged to leave the labor market and become substantially full-time mothers for a period of at least a year to eighteen months per child.” Suppose you do not agree with the statement. 101
Unit Five Seven Tenets for Establishing New Marital Norms