新视野大学英语视听说教程 2 Unit 3-12

Dating
Before marriage, younger Americans date each other, that is, they often go out together. Casual¹ dating usually begins in the early teens, and in the late teens a pattern of steady dating develops. There is a great possibility that one goes to a dance with one person, to a football game with another, and to a picnic with a third. Sometimes two couples go out together. This is known as “double dating.” Group dating is also popular among young people. Large groups of boys and girls may go around together. Young people may go out together for a long time, which is, in effect, a public statement of their intention to marry. Men and women go out together a great deal, especially those in cities. This is “adult dating.” They ski together, dine² together, either at restaurants or in each other’s homes. The American dating system is a rather casual one. Often young Americans who hardly know each other go out on dates. It is also acceptable³ for them to arrange a “blind date”, that is, a date between two young people who have not met before.

Dating                      Description

Causal dating                            Early teens

Steady dating                            Late teens

Many partners                           e.g. a dance, a game, a picnic

Double dating                           Two couples

Group dating                            Large groups

Go out for a long period                   Intention to marry

Adult dating                            Men and women.e.g.ski, work, dine together

Casual dating system                     Those who hardly know each other

Blind dating                            Those who have never met before

 

1 casual   

adj.漠不关心，冷漠的；随便的，非正式的；偶然的，碰巧的

参考例句：

• He earns a living by casual labour.他靠做临时工为生。
• The guests wore casual clothes.客人们穿着便服。

2 dine   

vi.吃饭，进餐；vt.宴请

参考例句：

• I wish I could afford to dine off fresh meat every day.我要是能天天吃到新鲜的肉就好了。
• Let's dine out tonight，I'm too tired to cook.我太累了，不想做饭，今晚咱们到外面吃吧。

3 acceptable   

adj.可接受的，合意的，受欢迎的

参考例句：

• The terms of the contract are acceptable to us.我们认为这个合同的条件可以接受。
• Air pollution in the city had reached four times the acceptable levels.这座城市的空气污染程度曾高达可接受标准的四倍。