Marriage

Quick Class SurveyQuestion 1

What do you think is the best age to get married?

A. Between 20 and 25 years old.

B. Between 25 and 30 years old.

C. Over 30 years old.

D. Other.

Question 2

Why do you think women don’t want to marry

early?

A. Because they want to focus on their careers.

B. Because they want to enjoy their freedom.

C. Because they don’t want to have children, so

marriage isn’t important.

D. Other.

Question 3Why do you think men don’t want to marry early?

A. Because they want to focus on their careers.

B. Because they don’t feel financially secure.

C. Because they want to enjoy their freedom.

D. Other.

Question 4What do you think about the trend to marry later?

A. It’s better because couples are more mature.

B. It’s better because couples have more money.

C. It’s a problem because fewer children are being born.

D. Other.

Question 5What is the main disadvantage of the decrease in

the marriage rate?

A. Traditional family life is disappearing.

B. The population is ageing.

C. Young people are not learning how to be independent.

D. Other.

Which side are you on Unit 3

Passage 1

Q1: Is marriage more or less popular now?

Q2: What do lovers prefer to do instead of

getting married?

Q3: What is the impact of cohabitation on

society?

Passage 2

Q4: Why do women delay marriage?

Q5: What are the problems of delaying

marriage?

Complete Questions 1 and 2 for

Understanding the main ideas.

Reading: Understanding the main ideas

1. Passage 1 = c

2.a. T

b. F Young people are witnessing so many divorces that they don’t want to get married themselves.

c. T

Passage 2 = a

d. T

e. F Paul Yip believes that people delaying

marriage and delaying having children

is one of the main causes of the

problems of an ageing population and

falling birth rate in Hong Kong.

f. F Women risk decreased fertility, increased chances of miscarriage and leaving less time to have children.

Listening

Listen to Nick and Tessa discussing marriage.

Write short answers to the questions on your

handout.

1. What do Nick’s parents want Nick’s sister

to do?

2. What does Tessa want to do before she

gets married?

3. Why does Tessa think women don’t need

to have children while they are young?

4. What kind of lifestyle does Nick enjoy

now?

5. What does Tessa think about Nick’s

lifestyle?

Listening Tapescript

N: My parents keep asking my sister when

she’s going to get married. She’s only 28

but they think she should have a husband

and children by now.

T: They sound quite traditional. 28 isn’t very

old at all. I don’t want to get married until

I’m in my 30s. I want to have a successful

career first.

N: But isn’t that leaving it rather late? What if you want to have children?T: Women have children in their 30s and even 40s these days. Many people think that the birth rate is falling. But in fact, that’s only true in some countries. In the USA it’s increasing.N: I suppose that it can be better to get married when you’re older. You are more mature and can make a better choice of husband

or wife.

T: Exactly! Our parents talk about marrying and having children while we are young.

But the truth of the matter is that young

couples are much more likely to divorce.

N: I’m scared of the responsibility of getting

married. I like spending my money on

what I like and having a good time.

T: Well, you’re actually helping the economy by spending all of your money. So you

shouldn’t feel guilty about it!

Listening

1. What do Nick’s parents want Nick’s sister to do?

Ans:To get married and have children

2. What does Tessa want to do before she gets married?

Ans: To have a successful career.

3. Why does Tessa think women don’t need to have children while they are young?

Ans: Because women are having children in their thirties and even forties these days.

4. What kind of lifestyle does Nick enjoy now?

Ans:He spends his money on what he likes and has a good time.

5. What does Tessa think about Nick’s lifestyle?

Ans: She thinks he is helping the economy and shouldn’t feel guilty about it.

Brainstorming ideas

Pros and cons of getting married earlier

Pros: marrying earlier

1. One may wait too long and not find the perfect partner if he/she delays marriage.

2. Marrying earlier and having children will help increase the population/raise birth rate.

3. It’s better to have children when you are younger.

to narrow the generation gap.

4. Married couples can enjoy their romantic

2-person world.

Pros of marrying earlier

5. Older women have more fertility problems than younger women.

6. Older women have a higher chance of miscarriage than younger women.

7. Younger women have more time to have children and take care of the family.

Cons: marrying later

1. Many women do not want to juggle career and family yet.

2. Women do not want to give up their career and independence to marry and have children.

3. It’s better to have a successful career before you get married as you will then have more flexibility when you have children.

4. Most married women do most of the housework and childcare so marrying and having children creates even more work for the women.

Cons of marrying earlier

5. You can make a better choice of partner if you marry later as you are more mature.

6. Older couples are less likely to separate than older couples.

7. Older couples can enjoy a good lifestyle while they are single and help the economy.

Pros of seeking a divorce

1. Everyone should have the opportunity to find happiness.

2. People learn about marriage from divorce.3. Young people may have successful second

marriages, so everyone should have a second chance.

4. It is better to couples to separate than stay together in an unhappy marriage.

5. Children are coping better with divorce now that it is more common.

Cons of seeking a divorce

1. Children with divorced parents are more aggressive.

2. Children with divorced parents have more

learning difficulties.

3. Children with divorced parents can suffer from depression, low self-esteem and poor social

relationships.

4. Increasing divorce rates have led to a breakdown of family values.