THIS IS AMERICA - Dating

THIS IS AMERICA -February 4, 2002: Dating

By Jerilyn Watson
VOICE ONE:

The United¹ States has millions of unmarried² adults. Many would like go out socially and have fun with someone
they like. I’m Sarah Long.
VOICE TWO:
And I’m Steve Ember. The story of how people meet and date is our report today on the VOA Special English

program, THIS IS AMERICA.
((MUSIC BRIDGE)
)
VOICE ONE:
Thursday, February Fourteenth, is Valentine’s Day. On that day, many people buy cards or flowers for those

who are important in their lives. Valentine’s Day gives lovers³ a chance to express their feelings.

 

However, millions of people in the United States are alone. They are not married or
involved in a close relationship. Some of these people wish they could find someone to
date. They wish they could celebrate Valentine’s Day with a special person.

VOICE TWO:

There are a number of ways to find someone to date. Some people meet at work. Others
meet by chance in a public place. Still others visit places where other single people go. Or
they can use businesses that help organize dates. Many men and women find dates through
services they find on their personal computers.

The purpose of dating is to have fun. Sometimes people who date develop a close relationship. Some people
decide to live together, yet remain unmarried. Others decide to get married.

In the past, young people in America usually lived with their parents until they got married. Today, some still do.
Yet most young people live a more independent life. They have a job. They travel. They rent or own their own
apartment or house. They wait longer to get married. While waiting, they date.

VOICE ONE:

Often a friend will plan a meeting between two unmarried people who do not know each other. This is called a
“blind date.
”
The people involved are not blind. They just have never seen each other.

However, most unmarried people have to find their own dates. Many go to public eating, drinking or dancing
places. Every city in America has them. Some places are popular with young people. Others are for older people.

Many Americans, however, want to go where they are sure they can meet people with similar interests. For
example, they may go to a bookstore. Some bookstores in America now serve coffee and food. Many offer
special programs and social activities for single people. Other singles join health clubs to exercise and to meet
people. Or, they may join groups for people who like to take long walks or watch birds.

VOICE TWO:

Some public eating and drinking places help plan dates for single people. At several such places in New York
City, people can write answers to a series⁴ of questions. Then other people read the answers. If someone likes the
answers, an employee⁵ sets up a date. This service costs a small amount of money.


A restaurant called Drip⁶ started using this system when it opened in Nineteen-Ninety-Six. Since then, the Drip
café has helped many people find someone to date. It was the first restaurant and date-organizing place in a group
called DateCafes. Today more DateCafes have opened in New York and in Boston, Massachusetts.

((MUSIC BRIDGE))

VOICE ONE:

Some companies help single people meet other people. For example, Great Expectations has been organizing
dates for about twenty-five years. It started in San Francisco, California⁷. The company sends millions of letters a
year to people throughout⁸ the country. The letters explain how the system works⁹.

A company called Brief Encounters¹⁰ serves single people in Washington¹¹, D -C, and Baltimore, Maryland. Its
meetings provide quick introductions¹² for ten to twelve young and aged¹⁴" target="_blank">middle-aged¹³ people. At these events, people
meet members of the opposite sex for only a few minutes. A man and a woman sit at a table across from each
other. They talk for six minutes until a bell rings. Then everyone meets a new person.

People write their reactions on paper. They note whom they like. Then they give these notes to a Brief
Encounters employee. Within twenty-four hours people seeking dates receive the names and telephone numbers
of those who also liked them.

VOICE TWO:

The group SpeedDating also provides fast introductions. It is one of a number of dating services organized by
religious¹⁵ organizations. Jewish¹⁶ men and women aged twenty-five to thirty -five meet for fewer than ten minutes.
Then they meet and talk to other people. An international Jewish education center started these groups. They
began in Los Angeles, California. The service now has spread to many American cities and to other countries.

Some people seeking dates do not like making hurried choices. But others praise this method. A young woman in
Chicago, Illinois says it prevents spending long hours with someone who is not very interesting.

((MUSIC BRIDGE))

VOICE ONE:

Many American newspapers and magazines publish messages from people seeking someone to date. The
messages are called “personal want ads”
or simply “personals.
”
This is the usual kind of message in a
personal ad: “Nice looking woman, forty years old, thin, athletic¹⁷, successful, great cook, desires long -term
relationship.
”

Men who want to meet this woman write to the newspaper or magazine. They describe themselves and their
interests. The woman reads the letters. Then she decides if she wants to meet any of the men.

VOICE TWO:

There also are telephone dating services in many cities. A person calls a telephone dating service and leaves a
message on a recording¹⁸ machine. For example, a man describes himself and the kind of woman he hopes to meet.
He describes what kind of relationship he would like.

Other people call and listen to the messages. If they hear one they like, they leave their own message. If two
people enjoy these telephone messages, they can make plans to meet. Some telephone services let people speak
directly¹⁹ to others they might want to date.

((MUSIC BRIDGE))

VOICE ONE:

Millions of Americans seek someone to date through services they find through their personal computers. People
start by communicating with strangers. Sometimes the strangers become friends. They might decide to meet.
Then they might decide to date. They may even decide to get married.


A business called Match-dot-Com is a leader in organizing dates through the World Wide Web²⁰. It has more than
two-and-one-half-million members.

Members can get lists of people their age who live nearby. Some people identify themselves, while others do not.
Many send pictures electronically²². The goal is for people to get to know each other through electronic²¹ mail. Then,
they can decide to meet and date. Match-dot-com says its listings have led to more than one-thousand-fourhundred
weddings. Many other members have formed close relationships.

However, many people believe there is the possibility of danger in any situation when strangers meet. Some
women say they do not want to meet a man through a computer dating service. They are afraid that a man may
not be the kind of person he claims to be.

VOICE TWO:

Some people praise businesses that help organize dates. Others say they wish they could meet people by chance.
No one method of finding²³ someone to date works for everyone. When single people finally get together, what do
they do on a date?

People of all ages like to do many of the same things. They go to restaurants or night clubs. They go to movies,
museums and concerts. They watch sporting events. Sometimes, they decide to spend the rest of their lives
together.

VOICE ONE:

A clothing designer²⁴ in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was married a few weeks ago. Her new husband is an engineer.
They found each other through their personal computers. They tried this service because neither had much chance
to meet someone at work.

For several years after they finished their university studies, both felt alone. Now these newly²⁵ married people say
that this year, they are truly celebrating Valentine’s Day.

VOICE TWO:

This program was written by Jerilyn Watson. It was produced by George Grow. Our studio²⁶ engineer was Stefan
Anderko. I’m Steve Ember.

VOICE ONE:

And I’m Sarah Long. Join us again next week for another report about life in the United States on the VOA
Special English program, THIS IS AMERICA.

((“AT LAST”
INSTEAD OF CLOSING THEME))

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1 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

2 unmarried   

adj.未婚的，单身的

参考例句：

• Though he is forty,he is still unmarried.尽管他已经40岁了，但还是独身。
• I was still unmarried then.当时我还没有结婚。

3 lovers   

爱好者( lover的名词复数 )； 情人； 情夫； 情侣

参考例句：

• They were off-screen lovers. 他们是真实生活中的情侣。
• Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet 罗密欧和朱丽叶这一对莎士比亚笔下命运多舛的恋人

4 series   

n.连续；系列

参考例句：

• The students have put forward a series of questions.学生们提出了一系列问题。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

5 employee   

n.职员，员工，受雇人员

参考例句：

• Each employee received a like bonus.每个雇员都得到了相同数目的奖金。
• They brought around a new employee this morning.他们今天早晨请来了一位新雇员。

6 drip   

n.滴，点滴；水滴；乏味的人；v.滴下，漏水

参考例句：

• I hate this sort of drip.我讨厌这种无聊的闲话。
• A drip of water fell from the tap.从龙头滴下一滴水。

7 California   

n.加利福尼亚(美国)

参考例句：

• He was elected governor of the state of California.他当选为加州州长。
• We were driving on a California freeway.我们正沿着加利福尼亚的一条快车道驾车行驶。

8 throughout   

adv.到处，自始至终；prep.遍及，贯穿

参考例句：

• These magazines are sold at bookstores throughout the country.这些杂志在全国各地书店均有发售。
• Guilin is known throughout the world for its scenery.桂林以山水著称于世。

9 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

10 encounters   

遭遇战( encounter的名词复数 )； [天文学]（向着某一天体的）接近； 突然遇到

参考例句：

• Encounters of like charges act to diminish the coagulation rate. 同性带电粒子间的碰撞作用减少凝聚率。
• At each stage of development the trematode encounters formidable hazards. 吸虫在发育的每一个阶段，都可能遭遇到极大的风险。

11 Washington   

n.华盛顿特区(是美国首都)

参考例句：

• His birthplace is Washington,but he lives in San Francisco.他出生于华盛顿，但住在旧金山。
• They, together with my father,have gone to Washington.他们和我父亲一起去华盛顿了。

12 introductions   

n.介绍( introduction的名词复数 )；引言；引进；新采用的东西

参考例句：

• With a smile, he makes introductions all round. 他微笑着将在场的人一一作了介绍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This book has a superfluity of introductions and summaries. 此本书中有多余的介绍和摘要。 来自辞典例句

13 middle-aged   

adj.中年的

参考例句：

• I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
• The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。

14 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

15 religious   

adj.宗教性的，虔诚的，宗教上的；n.修道士，出家人

参考例句：

• She is very religious person who goes to church every Sunday.她十分虔诚，每个星期天都上教堂。
• It is hard for me to reject religious beliefs.要我抛弃自己的宗教信仰是困难的。

16 Jewish   

adj.犹太人的，犹太民族的

参考例句：

• The coin bears a Jewish symbol.硬币上有犹太标记。
• They were two Jewish kids;I was friendly with both of them.他们是两个犹太小孩；我同他们都很要好。

17 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。

18 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

19 directly   

adv.直接地，径直地；马上，立即

参考例句：

• I will telephone you directly I hear the news.我一听到消息，马上打电话给你。
• She answered me very directly and openly.她非常坦率地、开门见山地答复了我。

20 web   

n.网，蛛丝，蹼，织物，圈套，卷筒纸；vi.生蹼，形成网；vt.织蜘蛛网于，使落入圈套

参考例句：

• The spider weaves a web.蜘蛛织网。
• You mean the World Wide Web?你是说国际互联网？

21 electronic   

adj.电子的；n.[-s]电子学，电子设备

参考例句：

• It is an electronic device with many uses.这是一部具有多种用途的电子仪器。
• Father needs a new electronic shaver.爸爸需要一个新的电子剃须刀。

22 electronically   

adv.电子地

参考例句：

• The information is electronically transmitted to schools and colleges… 信息通过电子方式传送到各所学校和学院。 来自辞典例句
• All transactions, from banking to shopping, will be performed electronically. 所有的活动，从跑银行到买东西，都可通过电脑来完成。 来自辞典例句

23 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。

24 designer   

n.设计者，制图者

参考例句：

• Carolyne is a fashion designer.卡罗琳是一名时装设计师。
• He was a set designer.他是一个布景设计者。

25 newly   

adv.新近，最近；重新，再度；以新的方式

参考例句：

• Have you reviewed for this newly published novel?你给这本新出版的小说写书评了吗？
• It is a newly planted tree and it has not established yet.这是一颗新栽的树，还没有扎下根来。

26 studio   

n.摄影棚（场）；演播室；画室；工作室

参考例句：

• They are building a modern studio.他们正在修建一座现代化的摄影室。
• He had to spend long hours in the recording studio.他不得不花很长的时间在录音室里。