Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.

From the earliest time, marriage has been an important part of man’s legal and religious system. In addition to the laws governing marriage that each nation establishes, marriage customs that have grown up widely from country to country? Let us look at just one country, the United States, to see some of the customs and the reasons for their existence. Why, for example, do people throw rice at weddings? Why does the bride always wear “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue”?

            People in the U.S, once they meet certain legal age and medical requirements, are free to choose their own mates. Once a couple has decided to get married, the man customarily gives the girl a diamond ring. The use of a ring comes from the ancient custom of using a ring to seal an important agreement. On the wedding day it is supposed to be bad luck for the bride and groom to see each other before the wedding. Another old superstition that many people believe will bring good luck to marriage is for the bride to wear “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue”. When a couple marries, the groom gives his bride a wedding ring. The roundness of the ring symbolizes eternity and announces that the couple is united for life.

            The wedding ring is worn on the third finger of the left hand. People used to believe that a vein from that finger run directly to the heart. Near the end of the ceremony the bride throws her bouquet of flowers to the unwed bridesmaids. The luckily girl who catches it is supposed to be the next in the group to be married. As the married leave for their honey moon all the guests throw rice on them. This was a symbol of fertility among early people. Many of these customs are much the same in the rest of the English speaking world.

I. Comprehension: (08pts)

A. 1. Give a suitable title to the text (01pt)

………………………………………………………..

Multiple choices: (0,5 x3) = 1,5pts

B. Choose a, b, or c to answer or complete each sentence

2. When the couple is thrown rice, ……………………………………………………………

a) they will become rich         b) they will be very popular   c) they will have many children

3. “Wearing something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue” will make the couple:………………………………………………………………………………

A) healthy       b) prosperous  c) lucky

4. The wedding ring will………………………………………………………………………

A) Strengthen the ties linking the couple      b) be a simple evidence          c) be a mere present

C. Say if the flowing statements are true or false, justify by quoting from the text (03pts) 

5. In the U.S people can marry whoever they like whenever they want.

………………………………………………………………………………………………..

6. The girl who catches the bouquet of flowers will be unfortunate.

………………………………………………………………………………………………..

7. On the wedding day the bride and the groom must not see each other before the wedding.

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

D. Matching: (0,5x5) = 2,5pt

Find in the text words close in meaning with the following definitions

II. Linguistic competence: (07pts)

E. Complete with words from the text. (0,25x4) = 1pt

Marriage is a legally recognized relationship between two people who intend to live together as sexual and domestic partners. The two people who are about to be married are called ……………….and…………… During the wedding day, they are not allowed to see because this is supposed to be……………luck.

During the celebration, the man gives the girl a diamond……………that symbolize eternity.

F. Ask or answer the following questions. (0,5x10) = 05pts

A: Hello Aicha!.................................. (you/be) married?

B: …………, I am.

A: …………………………………………..?

B: I got married last year, during the holidays.

A: …………….are you married to?

B: I am married to my cousin.

A: …………………………. (he/do) for living?

B: He is a very famous journalist in a radio.

A: So…………………… (be) that radio?

B: That radio is in Dakar: It’s Sud fm.

A: ……………………… (you/love) him too much?

B: No,……………….. but it was my parents’ decision.

A: And you have decided to obey them,……………………….?

B: ………, I have.

A: Keep on you will never regret it in your life.

G. Put the verbs between brackets into the right form or tense. (0,25x4) = 1pt

Today’s girls (copy) ……………………………… the white man that’s why most of them (wear) ……………………. dresses during their weddings. Before, our parents wore boubous, wrappers and necklaces.

This phenomenon is not in town only but it reaches the countryside, thus if the elders (not/sensitize) …………………….. them, they (be) ………………… lost.

Essay: (05pts) write about 150 words

Topic 1: Nowadays, many girls are celebrating their weddings like white people and neglect their traditions and customs. Do you share their visions?

Topic 2: Talk about a wedding ceremony you have once attended.