UNIT 2. RELATIONSHIPPART I. PHONETICS

Exercise 11. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions. It has long been seen as a less romantic way of meeting Mr Right. But finding love over the Internet is a good way of meeting a marriage partner, research has showed. It found that one in five of those who have used dating sites to find their perfect partner have gone on tomarry someone they met over the web. The study, by consumer group Which?, also revealed that more than half of the 1,504 people questioned had been on a date with someone they met in cyberspace. Sixty-two per cent agreed that it was easier to meet someone on a dating site than in other ways, such as in a pub or club, or through friends. Atthe same time, the under-35s were more likely to know someone who had been on a date or had a long-term relationship with someone they met through online dating. The survey also found that Match.com and Dating Direct were the most popular dating websites. Jess Ross, editor of which.co.uk, said: “Online dating is revolutionising the way people meeteach other. Switching the computer on could be the first step to success.” According to industry surveys, more than 22 million people visited dating websites in 2007, and more than two million Britons are signed up to singles sites. Previous research has shown that couples who get to know each other via emails are more likely to see each other again aftertheir first date. Two years ago, a study by Bath University revealed that those who met on dating websites were 94 per cent more likely to see each other after their first meeting than other couples. The researchers studied relationships formed on online dating websiteMatch.com over a six-month period. They found that consummate love - described as a balance of passion, intimacy and commitment - was evident at around 12 months into a relationship. Of the 147 couples who took part in the study, 61 per cent said their relationships had high levels of these components. The researchers also found that men were more likely to find true love on the Internet than women. Some 67 per cent of men but just 57 per cent of women said they had experienced consummate love with an online partner.Companionate love - a relationship with high levels of intimacy and commitment, but lower levels of passion - was the next most frequently experienced form of love, exhibited by 16 per cent of the study group. Dr Jeff Gavin, who led the team, said: “To date, there has been no systematic study of love in the context-of relationships formed via online dating sites. But with the popularity of online dating, it is imperative we understand the factors that influence satisfaction in relationships formed in this way.” Charlotte Harper, of Match.com, said: “We were thrilled to find so many of our former members have found love. It supports our belief that the Internet does in fact encourage old-fashioned courtship.”123. According to the passage, online dating is seen as ____.A. a modern romantic way of dating B. an economical way of dating C. the fastest way to find a soul mate D. a great change in the way people meet 124. The words “cyberspace” in paragraph 2 probably means ____.A. dating agency B. group dating C. online network D. school club 125. According to the passage, the number of people taking part in a study by Bath University was____.A. more than 1500 B. more than 750 C. about 150 D. about 300 126. The words “systematic" in paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to ____.A. efficient B. fixed C. flexible D. insecure 127. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?A. Consummate love has higher levels of passion than companionate love.B. Less than 20 million people visited dating websites in 2007. C. Many members of match.com have found love.D. Men are more likely to find their ideal partner online than women. 128. The word “imperative” in paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to ____.A. crucial B. minor C. optional D. useless 129. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?A. Many couples got married within 12 months since their first meeting. B. Men were more likely to visit dating websites than women. C. The number of single people in Britons reduced owing to online dating. D. Many people had a long-term relationship through online dating.130. Which of the following would serve as the best title for the passage?A. Internet does in fact encourage old-fashioned courtship. B. Online dating - a good way of meeting people. C. Online dating is showed to help you find your perfect partner.D. The revolution of online dating is alarming. Part VI. WRITING