Family life in the United States

21. Reading

In the United States, when a man and a woman decide to get married, they usually announce their engagement to their families and friends. Their families often send an announcement to a newspaper. Many years ago, a lot of people were engaged for several years, but nowadays engagements are short.

Marriages can be civil or performed in church. When getting married at a Registry office both parties sign the document of marriage – marriage certificate.

Usually both families participate in the wedding. The mother-in-law and the father-in-law of the bride often invite both families to the dinner the evening before the wedding. The bride’s parents usually pay for the daughter’s wedding and reception. At the reception after the wedding, the guests eat, drink, dance and talk. After the celebration, the bride and the groom often take a trip. This trip is called a honeymoon.

When children are born, the parents sometimes announce each birth in the newspaper and send cards to their friends. Many years ago, most families had a lot of children, but nowadays families are usually smaller. The average family usually consists of 3-4 persons.

Young people rarely live with their parents. Usually, upon graduation of higher school children move out of the family home. To reduce expenses young people often rent apartments or a house. Usually, two to five young people rent an apartment together and share other expenses.

When people are very unhappy with their marriage, they can get a divorce. Now the divorce rate is increasing. About 50 per cent of all marriages end at a divorce.

When people get older, they think about retirement. In the United States, many people retire from work when they are sixty-five, but some people continue to work after that age. Retired people have a lot of free time, so they can try new sports and hobbies, take courses, or travel. For some husbands and wives, retirement is a second honeymoon

a) Answer the questions:

1. What do young Americans do when they are going to marry?

2. How long are the engagements?

3. Who gives the reception before the wedding?

4. Who pays for the wedding and wedding receptions?

5. What do the bride and the groom have after the wedding?

6. Do Americans often divorce?

7. Why do people divorce?

8. Do young people live in their parents’ house?

9. When do Americans retire?

10. What do the retired people do when they retire?

b) Let’s talk.

What are the family life traditions in your culture like? Think of similarities and differences. Use the following as the patterns:

· Like most Americans, Russian (Tatar, Kazakh, …) people …

· Both in America and Russia people …

· Unlike American people, Russians (Tatars, Kazakhs, …) seldom/ never/ rarely …

Practice.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-24