Marriage Anyway

Title: You're a Pain, But Let's Get Married Anyway Source: Reuters / Singapore Window Date: Friday, March 4, 2005 Level: Intermediate

Excerpt

SINGAPOREAN couples may not be happy with their partners but they will still marry them anyway, a global survey on relationships shows. The poll of 716 couples who planned to wed showed that 39 percent were unhappy in their relationships, the highest proportion of nine societies surveyed by a US-based marriage and family therapy organisation. The poll is the latest unflattering survey of ardour in a wealthy population that chases what is known in local parlance as the Five C's: career, condominium, club, credit cards and cars. This is an excerpt. For full article, click here.

Vocabulary

New words you will see in this article: ardor blissful cite(d) condominium confrontation evaluation issue(s) parlance poll(s) premarital proportion region reluctance survey(ed) therapy (un)flattering wed Try to guess what these words mean from reading the article. If you need help, check out Academic Vocabulary List 13. For matching exercise, see Vocabulary Matching Exercise 13. Expressions hit a record low paint a ... picture speak (one's) mind stand/stood out tie the knot

Talking Points

With your conversation partners, or classmates, you may wish to discuss the following: 1. What are some reasons people get married? (Romantic love, arrangement by parents, financial security, nothing else to do, other reasons) 2. What do you think is/are the best reason(s) for couples to "tie the knot?" 3. Would you recommend marrying for reasons other than "love?" Why or why not? 4. If a couple is not happy before marriage, do you think they will be happy together after marriage? 5. If you were a therapist, what would you suggest for people who aren't happy with their partners but want to get married anyway?