Reading

1. Look at the photo and the tile of the text. Answer the
questions.
1. How old do you think the people are?
2. How do you think they feel?
3. Do you think that this is an arranged marriage or a love
marriage? Why?
2. Read the text. Which person I more positive about arranged
marriages?
3. Read the text again and answer the questions.
1. Who organizes the wedding in an arranged marriage?
2. Why do families arrange marriages?
3. Why hasnt Imran told his parents about the girl that he met?
4. What did Imran think of the girl who visited him?
5. Why isnt Imran interested in getting married at the moment?
6. Why has Saminas opinion changed?
7. What is Saminas opinion about relationships in general?
4. YOUR OPINIONS Answer the questions
1. What do you think about arranged marriages?
2. Whats the best age for marriage?
3. What wedding traditions are there in your country?
4. Are there any wedding traditions which you like or dislike?
5. Whats the secret of a happy relationship?

Reading
Text
Learning to love
How would you feel if your parents choose your partner?
In some cultures, parents choose a future husband or wife for their children
and then organize a wedding. The reasons for these arranged marriages are
complicated, but theyre usually connected with status, traditions and
money. This affects some young people in Britain, but they dont all agree
with the traditions.

I want to wait until the time is right.

Theres a girl I like. Ive known her since August, when we met on holiday.
Im not thinking of telling my parents yet because its nothing serious, but I
think that there are problems on the horizon. My parents come from a
country where families choose a partner for their sons and daughters. They
introduced me to a girl from a good family recently. I hadnt met her
before, so she came to our house with her mother and father. It was a very
formal occasion because they all think that this girl will be my future wife,
but we didnt have anything in common. Im sixteen and I dont want to get
married to anyone at the moment. I want to wait until the time is right.
Imran, aged 16
All relationships are a lottery.
I used to think that love marriages were better than arranged marriages,
but Ive changed my mind recently. Ive met people who are happy in
arranged marriages. Maybe they werent in love when they married, but
with time theyve learnt to love and respect their partners. On the other
hand, a lot of people who are in love marriages split up. Theyve been with
their partners for years, but they still have arguments and then it all ends in
tears. I think all relationships are a lottery. It doesnt matter what type of
marriage it is some couples can live together, other couples cant.
Samina, aged 17

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