（江西重点中学盟校2010届高三第二次联考A篇）

The wedding took place in a Birmingham hotel. The bride and her father arrived in a new black American sport car. Her father looked nervous and uncomfortable in front of the cameras. The bride wore a silk wedding dress. She smiled nervously at the waiting photographers and went to a room on the first floor where she met her future husband for the very first time.

Carla Germaine and Greg Cordell were the winners of a radio station’s competition. The aim of the competition was to find two strangers prepared to marry without having met each other. Miss Germaine 23 is a model. Mr. Cordell 27 is a TV salesman. They were among the two hundred people who entered a peculiar “experiment” organized by BMRB radio in Birmingham England Greg and Carla were among eight finalists who were interviewed live on a radio. They took a lie detector（测谎仪） test and the station also spoke to their friends and family about their personalities. The competition judges include an astrologer（占星家） who declared that they were suited.

The couple celebrated their wedding with a wedding breakfast and a party for 100 guests in the evening but not everyone shared their joy. Miss Germaine’s mother looked anxious throughout the wedding and Mr. Cordell’s parents are reported to be less than delighted.

Organizations including the marriage guidance Service Relate have criticized the marriage. As one person put it “We have enough problems getting young people to take marriage seriously without this. Marriage should always be about love.”

The couple are now on a Caribbean honeymoon followed by journalists. Their other prizes include a year’s free use of a wonderful apartment in the center of Birmingham and a car. But will it last?

56. How did the couple’s parents react to the wedding?

  A. The bride’s mother shared their joy.

  B. The bride’s father felt uncomfortable about the wedding.

  C. The bridegroom’s parents were quite delighted.

  D. The bridegroom’s parents were not that joyful.

57. Some experts believe that _____.

       A. marriage without the couple’s meeting each other first ends up in divorce   

       B. young people nowadays are too careless about marriage     

       C. taking a lie detector test can not solve all the marriage problems    

       D. most young people take marriage seriously except this couple

58. One of the prize for the couple is _____.

       A. to spend their honeymoon wherever they like   

       B. to use an apartment free for some time    

       C. to have a wedding dress free                   

       D. to own an American sports car

59. Which of the following is the best title of the passage?

   A. Two strangers and a wedding          B. A wedding based on love   

       C. A short-lived marriage                  D. A well-matched couple