雅思基础口语2 Marriage and Family

雅思基础口语2 Marriage and Family

这一话题，考官主要询问考生的家庭的一般状况，如家庭人口、人员组成、从事的职业等。有时候考官会问一些涉及家庭的教主观的问题，如对家庭结构的变化的看法；有的则涉及一些有关婚姻的问题，但是比较少。

单词学习：

Be engaged; engagement 订婚

Free marriage 自由婚姻 Arranged marriage 包办婚姻 Marriage registration 结婚登记Marriage certificate 结婚证书

Wedding ceremony 婚礼Wedding dress 婚纱Wedding feast 婚宴、喜酒Wedding ring 婚戒

Wedding gift 贺礼Lady of honour 女伴Dowry ['da?(?)r?] 嫁妆 Honeymoon 蜜月 Spouse [spa?z] 配偶 Remarriage 再婚

Cohabitation [k??,h?b?'te???n]/living together 同居 Bride 新娘Bridegroom 新郎 fiancee未婚妻fiancé 未婚夫 Bridesmaid 伴娘Best man 伴郎 Marital status 婚姻状况

Married 已婚 To be divorced; to be a divorcee 离婚Divorce rate 离婚率 To be separated; to live in separation 分居

Grandparents 祖父母 grandfather grandmother Stepfather 继父 stepmother 继母 Foster father 养父 foster mother 养母 Adopted daughter/son 养子/女

Sister in law 嫂子，姑姑 Brother in law 大伯小数姐夫妹夫 Extended family 大家庭 Nuclear family 小家庭 DINK family 丁克家庭 Immediate family 直系亲属 Retired 退休的

Close-knit 亲密关系的 Overpopulation 人口过剩 Family tree 家谱

To bridge/narrow/eliminate the generation gap 消除代沟 To be a bread winner of the family 养家糊口的人 To make ends meet 收支平衡

To live on pension/social welfare 靠养老金、社会福利生活 Birth control/one-child policy 计划生育政策

Q1. Can you tell me sth about your marriage/marital ['m?r?t(?)l] status? 思路：结婚时间+家乡举办的婚礼+很大的reception邀请了很多人

I have been married for about …years. We got married in my hometown, where we have large reception for our relatives and friends.

Q2. Can you tell me what happens at a wedding? 思路1：点睛句varies from+ 接新娘+吃饭

思路2：5W: 时间（早上）+地点（新娘家）+人物+做什么（接人+吃饭）+意义 Well, it varies from place to place and from time to time. But usually a wedding begins early in the morning. The bridegroom, together with some of his relatives and friends, has to pick up the bride and her family from her home with beautifully decorated cars. Then the families and friends will usually have a banquet together. It is widely believed as the most meaningful moment in one’s life.

Q3. How has people’s attitude towards wedding ceremonies changed in China? 思路1：以前一切从简为了省钱+现在生活水平提高了花费多了

I think people have really changed their attitude towards wedding ceremonies. As time goes on, people have paid so much attention to how the wedding can be presented. But 30 years ago, even 10 years ago, people would like to have a simple wedding so that they could save the money for future family expenditure. Nowadays, wedding can be extremely fanciful and extravagant. They would hire luxury cars, invite as many guests as possible, and get the most expensive reception dinner. Well, it’s certainly understandable that with the improvement of people’s living standards, they can afford all these.

Q4. Could you tell me sth about your family? Do you live in big or small family? Yes. I have a small happy/harmonious [hɑ?'m??n??s] family. My wife works as a nurse in the local hospital and I have two pretty daughters, one 15, one 10, go to school every day.

Yes, I’m the only child of the family and I’m still single, so I live together with my parents who have just retired.

Q5. In what situation will one change his family name? 思路1：迷信+罪犯 思路2: 明星+伟人

Well, a person may change his name for his belief in superstition. When he is in trouble, he may consult some fortune tellers to find a way out of the trouble. In this case he is likely to change his name for the sake of good fortune. Another possible reason that I can think of is that a criminal may which to change his name for illegal reasons.

Q7. Do you prefer a big family or a small one? Why? 思路1：小家庭：计划生育+生活压力 思路2：大家庭：喜欢孩子+关心和责任

I prefer to have a small family, the so-called nuclear family. For one thing, it’s the state policy that one couple should only have one child, no more. For another, the working pressure makes it difficult to bring up more children.

I prefer to have a big family. Firstly, I like children a lot. I believe my child is the continuation of my life, as well as the crystal of our love. Moreover, with more children, I feel that I treat my family more seriously knowing that I have someone to care for, or a sacred responsibility to take.

Q8. How has family structure changed in the recent decades in China? 思路：大变小的原因：计划生育+工作变动

Well, family structure in China has changed a lot, generally from big to small. You see, we used to have extended family with a few generations living together. But as time goes on and people need to move with jobs, combined with the influences of one-child policy, small families are more common in today’s society.

Q9. Do you think couples should share the housework or should the wife take the main responsibility?

Since couples should be equal in the family, they should also share the housework. But it is understandable that when one is particularly busy, the other may do more.

Q10. Who makes most of the decisions in your family, your mother or your father? Why?

My mother makes most of the decisions about trivial matters. But when it comes to important decisions, both of them will discuss and exchange ideas and make decisions together.

Q11. Are there many rules for children in China?

There’re some but not so many. For example, children should respect the seniors and have good manners. But I suppose children all over the world do this. Q12. Who is the person that has influenced you most in your family?

Definitely my father/mother. He/She was very strict with me but always so helpful. Whenever I had any problem in my study, he/she would help me.

He/She is so hardworking and understanding. Although we lived a simple life, we lived in happiness and harmony due to his/her diligence, independence and optimism. I learn from him/her to be optimistic and independent.