报刊阅读,第四版9

— 费用不高可以承受的托儿服务，对同性恋 家庭的平等补助，以及更加宽松的产后休假 政策都会影响伴侣的自我感受和彼此感受。 （leave policy—It refers to a policy stating the rules for taking a leave.）
Photos and Diagrams
一般人的看法是夫妇之间的冲突会慢慢腐蚀两人之 间的关系……（conventional wisdom—a widely held belief on which most people act）
2. ...although they may have
lost faith in a partner, they have not lost faith in the promise of the institution. (Line 2, Para. 10)
美英报刊阅读教程
端木义万
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Page 1
Lesson 9
No One Way to Keep Love in Bloom, Experts Say
By Shankar Vedantam
No One Way to Keep Love in Bloom, Experts Say
Key to Questions
Photos & Diagrams Additional Notes Background Information
Key Pictures Notes
Contents
Background
Structure
Structure Analysis
BackgrLeabharlann und Information The History of Marriage
Background Information
The act of matrimony has always carried important social and economic responsibility--not only for the wedded couple, but also for the entire community. As such, spouse selection was often a task left up to an elder, such as a parent. Typically, this would have been the father or, in some cultures, a designated matchmaker of the village. In fact, in many parts of the world, arranged marriages have always been deemed as necessary in order for social values to survive.
The history of marriage is as long and varied as the history of human beings. For that matter, it can be said that the history of marriage is a reflection on the evolution of human civilization. While the practice of forging a union through marriage dates to ancient cultures, there is little evidence that the custom ever originated from a romantic viewpoint. In fact, the history of marriage is very much a commentary on the political, social, and economic status at various points in time.
Background Information
In the modern world, people marry for different reasons. The most prominent reason is, of course, for love. However, some marry to obtain citizenship. Others marry to achieve financial security, or to elevate social status. No matter what the reason is, one fact about forming such a legal bond has remained unchanged throughout the history of marriage, it is a social institution created for the purpose of procreation. As a by-product of this function, rarely has producing children out of wedlock been endorsed by most societies since the history of marriage began.
“据我们研究，那些婚姻非常美满的夫妻的关系中 除了孩子还有其它可以给他们提供快乐的东西。”， 她补充道。
4. Inexpensive and affordable child
care, equitable benefits for gay and lesbian families, and more generous leave policies after the birth of a child can influence how lovers feel about themselves -- and each other. (Line 3, Para. 22)
Background Information
Throughout the history of marriage, though, there have been significant shifts in perspective about what constituted marital bliss. In ancient Greece and Rome, for example, marriage was perceived as a means to strengthen political ties, at least among the aristocracy. In the general population, being without a mate resulted in the loss of its economic benefits. In fact, women were sometimes forced to marry a male relative in the absence of a favorable suitor, while unmarried men were often excluded from civic activities on the basis of being single and childless. In the western world, there's little doubt that the history of marriage has been shaped by ancient Roman, Greek, and Hebrew influence.
...虽然他们可能会对自己的伴侣失去信心，但并未 对婚姻的美好失去信心 。（ Here, the institution refers to marriage.）
3. "Very successful couples we studied had something besides children that was enjoyable to their relationship," she added. (Line 1, Para. 20)
Background Information
By the medieval period, marriage customs began to shift with the rise of Christianity and were largely dictated by religious doctrine. Later, marriage evolved into a more secular form of spiritual commitment with the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. However, just as with fashion, certain concepts that have helped to document the history of marriage have either experienced renewal or complete reinvention. For instance, during the 1950s and early 1960s in the U.S., delaying marriage or refusing to "tie the knot" at all was considered abnormal, even subversive.
Background Information
Background Information
With the dawn of the sexual revolution of the early 1970s, marriage was no longer considered obligatory and unions were viewed more as voluntary partnerships than matters of convenience. Today, the history of marriage is still being written since there is an increasing movement toward recognizing a legal union between couples of the same sex.