1 What is an "arranged marriage"? In which countries or cultures is common? Doyou know any°ne * has .-Head ajbou^ ie Real-life EH Sarita and Ranjit Sharma talk about their arranged marriage How was the marriage arranged? Sarita: I was studying in America at the time. A friend of my family told us there was this man living in Britain who was looking for a suitable girl. My dad liked the sound of him. We made some enquiries - his education, what he did, that kind of thing. The news was very encouraging. Ranjit was a good catch. Ranjit: The first I knew about Sarita was the day before she arrived here! My father organised the whole thing. I was happy to meet Sarita but I knew I could always say no if I didn't think we'd be right together. What were your first impressions- of each other? Sarita: Good. Although there wasn't a great surge of attraction, I remember thinking, "He seems nice." The atmosphere that day was quite intense because our families were watching us, so Ranjit suggested we go out for a drink on our own. Ranjit: I liked Sarita. I found her attractive, but there wasn't that spark you get if you see someone you fancy at a party. It was more mental attraction. How did you decide on each other? Sarita: We met up three more times over the two weeks before I returned to America - by then I'd decided that Ranjit was right for me. Ranjit: There was pressure from my family after the very first meeting. I'd seen three girls before Sarita, but she was the first I was interested in. So I said yes after those first three meetings. Do you love each other now? Sarita: Yes we do. I couldn't pinpoint an exact time when love began, but it was about two years into the relationship. Ranjit: Love came into our relationship after a while. I didn't wake up one morning and think, "I love this woman." The love we now have is warm, deep and lasting. New Woman 2 Read the story again. Write T (true), F (false) or ? (don't know) in the boxes next to these statements. Sarita and Ranjit had known each other as children. Sarita's mother liked Ranjit a lot. The first time Sarita and Ranjit met, their families were present. They were very physically attracted to each other when they met. Sarita and Ranjit agreed to get married after knowing each other for just two weeks. They fell in love with each other about two years after their marriage. a b c d e □ □ □ □ □ □ liked the sound of him liked what he heard about Ranjit a good catch a good person to marry for reasons of social status a great surge a sudden, powerful feeling spark emotional flash fancy find attractive pressure strong persuasion lasting going to continue for a very long time I Look at this example of direct speech. "There is this man living in Britain who is looking for a suitable girl." J Now look at this example of reported speech from the article. ...A friend told us there was this man living in Brhahi wno was looking for a suitable girl. 3 The table below shows how verb tenses usually change after a reporting verb in the past. Complete the examples Direct Reported present simple "He seems nice." "I don't want to get married yet." present continuous "My parents are putting pressure on me." present perfect "I've met the perfect man." past simple 'There wasn't that spark." can/will "I can't marry him yet. Til have to think about it. past simple She thought he_nice. He said he_want to get married yet. past continuous He said his parents_ past perfect She said_ past perfect (or no change) He said there_ could/would She felt that she_ He told his father that he_ 4 Sarita's father is talking to his daughter. Look at his statements. Think of three more, and then change them all into reported speech. Start like this: Sarita's father told her_. a "I have found a suitable young man for you." b "You will definitely Like Ranjit." c "He lives in England." i "He has a very good job." » "He is good Looking and quite rich." "You can meet him Later this month." I "I have arranged a meeting already." Now turn to page 105 for more practice! Tal]$ SLho-CLt it 5 RoLeplay the conversation between Sarita and Ranjit when they go out for a drink on their own, the first time they meet. 6 Write a short dialogue between Ranjit and his father after Ranjit's first meeting with Sarita. His father is putting pressure on him to agree to the marriage. Then act the dialogue to the class. 7 Why do you think Sarita and Ranjit's parents Like the system of arranged marriages? 8 Imagine your parents are arranging a marriage for you. What questions would you like them to ask about your future husband/wife? 9 Now that you have read the article, what is your opinion of arranged marriages? Tune in 1 You are going to hear two friends, Jim and Nadia, discussing their parents' divorce. Before you Listen, try to guess the reason that Nadia is pleased her parents separated. 2 Now listen to their conversation and answer these questions, a Who did Jim have a fight with and why? b Why is Nadia pleased her parents separated? 3 Listen to the tape again and make notes about these questions. Jim Nadia a Who do they live with? b When did their parents split up? c What do they think of their parents' new partners? d How do they feel about their mothers? e Whaf s their attitude to their parents' divorce? wisfas fa teuidsee mctfaren far own 4 Use your notes from Question 2 and other information you remember from Jim and Nadia's conversation to describe each famiLy situation. Then take turns to say a sentence each. Key Languag On the tape, you heard many words connected with family relationships. Here are some of them: • falL in love • argue • break up • separate • get divorced 5 Use the words above to make sentences about Jim and Nadia's parents. 6 Fill the gaps in the sentences with words/phrases from the box below. Jim doesn't get on well with his_ • half-sisters • first marriage • remarried • single parent • step-father • step-mother a b c d e Nadia has two little_. Nadia's father has_but her mother hasn't. Nadia's_has three children from her_. Nadia thinks it was hard for her mother being a 7 Look at these resuLts from a recent newspaper survey of children's attitudes to divorce. Do a survey of attitudes in your class. Compare your results with the results of the newspaper survey. Children with parents together Children with parents divorced/separated Agree Disagree Agree Disagree Marriage should be forever 76% 9% 71% 18% Children's parents shouLd stay together even if 30% 56% 19% 69% they are unhappy It is better for children to Live with both parents 77% 10% 59% 22% rather than one It shouLd be made more difficult to get divorced 43% 36% 30% 47% 8 In Britain, people can get married at 16 if their parents agree. They can marry at 18 without their parents' agreement. What age can people marry in your country? Is it right or wrong to get married young? In your opinion, what is the ideal age to get married? 9 Before their wedding, actress Brooke Shields and tennis star Andre Agassi made a contract. They agreed how they wiLL share their £50 million, how much time they will spend in their four houses and how many tennis tournaments Brooke will attend (ten a year). Do you think it is a good idea to discuss practical details with your future wife/husband before you get married? Why/why not? Make a list of points that you would include in a marriage contract. 1 Wri^e about 10 Read this letter to the problem page of a magazine. Write an answer, giving advice. their parents. Please tell me what to do. Start your answer like this: "There are two obvious things you can do: stay with your husband, or leave him. If you stay with him... "