?
?One of the most striking findings of a recent poll in the UK is that of
the people interviewed, one in two believes that it is becoming more difficult
to meet someone to start a family with. ? ?Why are many finding it
increasingly difficult to start and sustain intimate relationships? Does modern
life really make it harder to fall in love? Or are we making it harder for
ourselves? ? ?It is certainly the case today that contemporary
couples benefit in different ways from relationships. Women no longer rely upon
partners for economic security or status. A man doesn’t expect his spouse to be
in sole charge of running his household and raising his children. ?
?But perhaps the knowledge that we can live perfectly well without a
partnership means that it takes much more to persuade people to abandon their
independence. ? ?In theory, finding a partner should be much
simpler these days. Only a few generations ago, your choice of soul mate(心上人)was
constrained(限制) by geography, social convention and family tradition. Although
it was never explicit, many marriages were essentially arranged. ?
?Now those barriers have been broken down. You can approach a builder or a
brain surgeon in any bar in any city on any given evening. When the world is
your oyster(牡蛎), you surely have a better chance of finding a pearl. ?
?But it seems that the old conventions have been replaced by an even
tighter constraint: the tyranny of choice. ? ?The expectations of
partners are inflated (提高) to an unmanageable degree : good looks, impressive
salary, kind to grandmother, and right socks. There is no room for error in the
first impression. ? ?We think that a relationship can be perfect.
If it isn’t, it is disposable. We work to protect ourselves against future
heartache and don’t put in the hard emotional labor needed to build a strong
relationship. Of course, this is complicated by realities. The cost of housing
and child-rearing creates pressure to have a stable income and career before a
life partnership.
The word "sustain" ( paragraph 2) could be best replaced by ______.
?
?One of the most striking findings of a recent poll in the UK is that of
the people interviewed, one in two believes that it is becoming more difficult
to meet someone to start a family with. ? ?Why are many finding it
increasingly difficult to start and sustain intimate relationships? Does modern
life really make it harder to fall in love? Or are we making it harder for
ourselves? ? ?It is certainly the case today that contemporary
couples benefit in different ways from relationships. Women no longer rely upon
partners for economic security or status. A man doesn’t expect his spouse to be
in sole charge of running his household and raising his children. ?
?But perhaps the knowledge that we can live perfectly well without a
partnership means that it takes much more to persuade people to abandon their
independence. ? ?In theory, finding a partner should be much
simpler these days. Only a few generations ago, your choice of soul mate(心上人)was
constrained(限制) by geography, social convention and family tradition. Although
it was never explicit, many marriages were essentially arranged. ?
?Now those barriers have been broken down. You can approach a builder or a
brain surgeon in any bar in any city on any given evening. When the world is
your oyster(牡蛎), you surely have a better chance of finding a pearl. ?
?But it seems that the old conventions have been replaced by an even
tighter constraint: the tyranny of choice. ? ?The expectations of
partners are inflated (提高) to an unmanageable degree : good looks, impressive
salary, kind to grandmother, and right socks. There is no room for error in the
first impression. ? ?We think that a relationship can be perfect.
If it isn’t, it is disposable. We work to protect ourselves against future
heartache and don’t put in the hard emotional labor needed to build a strong
relationship. Of course, this is complicated by realities. The cost of housing
and child-rearing creates pressure to have a stable income and career before a
life partnership.
The word "sustain" ( paragraph 2) could be best replaced by ______.
A."reduce" B."shake" C."maintain" D."weaken"