Vocabulary:

Liked the sound of him – liked what he heard about Ranjit

A good catch – a good person to marry for reasons of social status

A great surge – a sudden, powerful feeling

Spark – emotional flash

Fancy – find attractive

Pressure – strong persuasion

Lasting – going to continue for a very long time.

Exercise1. Read the story again. Write T (true), F (false) or (Don’t know) in the boxes next to these statements.

a. Sarita and Ranjit had known each other as children.

b. Sarita’s mother liked Ranjit a lot.

c. The first time Sarita and Ranjit met, their families were present.

d. They found each other physically attracted when they met.

e. Sarita and Ranjit agreed to get married after knowing each other for just two weeks.

f. They fell in love with each other about two years after their marriage.

Exercise2. Read the article carefully and answer the questions.

a. How do you think what their future life will be like?

b. Is the phenomenon “arranged marriage” modern in our life?

c. What rights are breached by two sides?

d. Could you agree to marry like that?

Conversation practice: Suggestions

a) How to ask for a suggestion:

shall we

What would you like to do tonight?

do you want to

b) How to make a suggestion:

What (how) about

Do you feel like going to the pictures?

Shall we

Let’s

Why don’t we spend the weekend in Brighton (?)

Why not

Would you like to

c) How to accept a suggestion:

good idea.

that’s a marvelous idea.

Yes that would be nice.

that seems all right.

d) How to half-accept a suggestion:

we could

Yes, that’s a good idea, I suppose, but (there aren’t any good films on at the moment)

It’s not a bad idea,

e) How to reject a suggestion:

No, I’m afraid I can’t

I’m sorry I can’t

I don’t really feel like (going to the pictures)

Well, I’d rather not, if you don’t mind.

f) How to make a counter-suggestion:

__________________________________________________________________

Well, I’d rather go to the pictures (pub) If you don’t

I’d prefer to mind

Conversation I

Sally: Do you feel like doing anything tomorrow evening, Peter?

Peter: Yes, all right. What do you suggest?

Sally: How about going to see “Star Wars”? It’s on locally and they say it’s very good.

Peter: Well, we could, I suppose, but I don’t really like science fiction films all that much. Of course, if you’d like to see it…

Sally: No, no… I don’t mind. It was just a suggestion, that’s all.

Peter: We could always go to Dave’s party, I suppose.

Sally: Dave?

Peter: Yes, Dave Wilkins. You know- that chap who works for the B.B.C. He’s having a house-warming party. Everyone’s invited.

Sally: No, I don’t think so somehow! You know what Dave’s parties are like. I still haven’t recovered from the last one we went to.

Peter: Well, it was only an idea.

Sally: No, I’d prefer to go somewhere else, if you don’t mind. Just two of us.

Peter: Would you like to go out for a meal, then? We could go to that super restaurant in Chelsea. Brian told me the food was really great.

Sally: Yes, that would be nice. Let’s do that. And why don’t we call in on Bob and Sue on the way home? We’ve been promising to go and see them for ages/

Peter: Yes, good idea.