英语四级听力-短对话 323

 Passage Three

33.

A. Beauty.

B. Loyalty¹.

C. Luck.

D. Durability².

34.

A. He wanted to follow the tradition of his country.

B. He believed that it symbolized³ an everlasting⁴ marriage.

C. It was thought a blood vessel⁵ in that finger led directly to the heart.

D. It was supposed that the diamond on that finger would bring good luck.

35.

A. The two people can learn about each other's likes ad dislikes.

B. The two people can have time to decide if they are good match.

C. The two people can have time to shop for their new home.

D. The two people can earn enough money for their wedding.

Passage Three

The period of engagement⁶ is the time between the marriage proposal⁷ and the wedding ceremony. Two people agree to marry when they decided⁸ to spend their lives together. The man usually gives the woman a diamond engagement ring. That tradition is said to have started when an Austrian 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 was thought that the blood vessel in that finger went directly to the heart. Today we know that this is not true. 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 women friends and family members give the bride gifts that she will need as a wife. These could include cooking equipment or new clothing. Friends of the man who is getting married may have a bachelor party for him. This usually takes place the night before the wedding. Only men are invited to the bachelor 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 the wedding ring and the engagement ring on the same finger. The husband wears his ring on the third finger of his left hand. Many people say the purpose of the engagement period is to permit enough time to plan the wedding. [35]But the main purpose is to let enough time pass so the two people are sure that they want to marry each other. Either person may decide to break the engagement. If this happens, the woman usually returns the ring to the man. They also return any wedding gifts they have received.

Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.

33. What was the diamond ring said to represent?

正确答案：A

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。

34. Why did the Austrian man place the diamond ring on the third finger of the left hand of his would-be wife?

正确答案：C

解析：题目询问那个奥地利人为什么把钻戒戴在准妻子的左手中指上。关键是听到“人们认为左手中指里的血管直接与心脏相通”，即C。

35. What is the chief advantage of having the engagement period?

正确答案：B

解析：题目询问订婚期的主要好处是什么。关键是听到“主要目的是使双方有充足的时间来确定他们愿意与对方结婚。”即B。

1 loyalty   

n.忠诚，忠心

参考例句：

• She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
• His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。

2 durability   

n.经久性，耐用性

参考例句：

• Nylons have the virtue of durability.尼龙丝袜有耐穿的优点。

3 symbolized   

v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• For Tigress, Joy symbolized the best a woman could expect from life. 在她看，小福子就足代表女人所应有的享受。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
• A car symbolized distinction and achievement, and he was proud. 汽车象征着荣誉和成功，所以他很自豪。 来自辞典例句

4 everlasting   

adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的

参考例句：

• These tyres are advertised as being everlasting.广告上说轮胎持久耐用。
• He believes in everlasting life after death.他相信死后有不朽的生命。

5 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

6 engagement   

n.订婚，婚约，约定，约会

参考例句：

• I can't see you on Monday because I have a previous engagement.星期一我不能见你，因为我有约在先。
• It was my mother's very own engagement ring.这正是我母亲自己的订婚戒指。

7 proposal   

n.提议，建议；求婚

参考例句：

• I feel that we ought to accept his proposal.我觉得我们应该接受他的建议。
• They could not gain over anyone to support their proposal.他们无法争取到支持他们建议的人。

8 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。