The State of Marriage Today

　　Is there something seriously wrong with marriage today? During the past 50 years the rate of divorce in the United States has exploded: almost 50% of marriages end in divorce now， and the evidence suggests it is going to get worse. If this trend continues， it will lead to the breakup of the family， according to a spokesperson for the National Family Association. Some futurists predict that in 100 years， the average American will many at least four times， and extramarital affairs will be even more common than they are now.

　　But what are the reasons for this， and is the picture really so gloomy? The answer to the first question is really quite simple: marriage is no longer the necessity it once was. The institution of marriage has been based for years partly on economic need. Women used to be economically dependent on their husbands as they usually didnt have jobs outside the home. But with the rising number of women in well-paying jobs， this is no longer the case， so they dont feel that the5 need to stay in a failing marriage.

　　In answer to the second question， the outlook may not be as pessimistic as it seems， While the rate of divorce has risen， the rate of couples marrying has never actually fallen very much， so marriage is still quite popular. In addition to this. many couples now cohabit and dont bother to marry. These couples are effectively married， but they do not appear in either the marriage or divorce statistics. In fact， more than 50% of firs marriages survive. The statistics are deceptive because there is a higher number of divorces in second and third marriages than in first marriages.

　　So is marriage really an outdated institution? The fact that most people still get married indicates that it isnt. And it is also true that married couples have a healthier life than single people: they suffer less from stress and its consequences， such as heart problems， and married men generally consider themselves more contented than their single counterparts. Perhaps the key is to find out what makes a successful marriage and apply it to all of our relationships！

　　練習：

　　1. Which is true about the problem of marriage in the United States today?

　　A) Divorce leads to the breakup of the family.

　　B) Half of the married couples get divorced.

　　C) American people marry more than four times.

　　D) More and more people are getting divorced.

　　2. What does "this is no longer the case" in paragraph two mean?

　　A) It is not necessary to get married any more.

　　B) Women do not need a husband any longer.

　　C) Women are not economically dependant any more.

　　D) Many wives do well-paying jobs outside home now.

　　3. Why may the outlook of marriage not be as gloomy as it appears?

　　A) Many people still like to get married.

　　B) The rate of divorce has actually decreased.

　　C) Over 50% of the marriages continue to exist.

　　D) The statistics of divorce is not quite true.

　　4. How do people usually feel in their marriage life?

　　A) They are much healthier.

　　B) They feel no longer single.

　　C) They are more satisfied.

　　D) They suffer a lot less.

　　5. Which of the following about marriage is NOT mentioned in the passage?

　　A) There will be more relationships outside marriage.

　　B) Many people try to get married again after divorce.

　　C) Marriage has long been partly an economical need.

　　D) It is a fact that most people choose to get married.