第一期：2005年6月真题 文章 (4/5)-英语听力

[00:03.00]Passage Three
第三篇 [00:04.72]The period of engagement is the time
订婚期包括 [00:06.87]between the marriage proposal and the wedding ceremony.
提亲和婚礼这段时间 [00:11.29]Two people agree to marry
两个人就会结婚 [00:14.00]when they decide to spend their lives together.
当他们决定与彼此共度余生时 [00:17.51]The man usually gives the woman a diamond engagement ring.
男方通常会在订婚的时候给女方一个订婚戒指 [00:22.81]That tradition is said to have started
这个传统据说始于一位奥地利的小伙子想娶一个姑娘的时候 [00:25.93]when an Austrian man gave a diamond ring to the woman he wanted to marry.
给了她一个钻石戒指 [00:31.94]The diamond represented beauty.
钻石代表了美丽 [00:35.25]He placed it on the third finger of her left hand.
他把戒指戴在了女孩左手的第三个手指上 [00:39.36]He chose that finger because it was thought
他之所以选择了那个手指 [00:42.00]that the blood vessel in that finger went directly to the heart.
是因为据说那个手指上的血管是直接通往心脏的 [00:47.31]Today we know that this is not true,
我们现在知道并不是这么回事 [00:50.62]yet the tradition continues.
然而这个传统延续了下来 [00:53.77]Americans generally are engaged for a period of about one year
美国人通常要花费差不多一年的时间 [00:58.00]if they are planning a wedding ceremony and a party.
如果他们筹划婚礼或婚礼派对 [01:00.95]During this time,
在这段时间 [01:02.78]friends of the bride may hold a party at which women friends
新娘的朋友和家庭成员们会举办一个派对 [01:06.29]and family members give the bride gifts that she will need as a wife.
并且会把新娘今后做妻子需要的东西作为礼物送给她 [01:11.10]These could include cooking equipment or new clothing.
比如炊具或新衣物 [01:17.18]Friends of the man who is getting married may have a bachelor party for him.
新郎的朋友们会为他开个单身派对 [01:21.73]This usually takes place the night before the wedding.
这个派对通常会在婚礼的前一个晚上 [01:25.59]Only men are invited to the bachelor party.
只有男士才能参加这个单身派对 [01:29.61]During the marriage ceremony,
在婚礼仪式上 [01:31.60]the bride and her would-be husband usually exchange gold rings
新娘和她的未来的丈夫通常互换金戒指 [01:37.56]that represent the idea that their union will continue forever.
戒指代表他们会永远忠贞，永远在一起 [01:42.01]The wife often wears both the wedding ring
妻子通常把两个戒指 [01:44.93]and the engagement ring on the same finger.
订婚戒指和结婚戒指戴在同一个手指上 [01:47.85]The husband wears his ring on the third finger of his left hand.
丈夫把戒指戴在左手第三个手指上 [01:52.20]Many people say the purpose of the engagement period
很多人认为，订婚期 [01:55.94]is to permit enough time to plan the wedding.
是为了给筹办婚礼预留充足的时间 [01:58.94]But the main purpose is to let enough time pass,
但是，最主要目的是 [02:02.66]so the two people are sure they want to marry each other
让两个人在这段时间能确定真的愿意结婚 [02:06.35]Either person may decide to break the engagement,
双方都可以提出解除婚约 [02:10.37]if this happens,
如果这样的话， [02:12.06]the woman usually returns the ring to the man.
女方通常把戒指还给男方 [02:15.79]They also return any wedding gifts they have received.
他们还要将所有收到的礼物退还