Vocabulary Exercises

Ex. 1. Match the words and word phrases on the left with synonyms or synonymous expressions (A)/antonyms or antonymic expressions (B) on the right.

A 1) to enhance a) an inhibiting force

2) split households b) to cohabit

3) to curb c) built-in

4) throwaway marriages d) to facilitate

5) to live together without e) broken homes

marital vows

6) the divorce binge f) to give up on smth; to split; to divorce

7) to call it quits g) serial monogamy; divorce + remarriage

8) a constraint h) to downgrade; to diminish

9) incorporated i) hassles

10) antagonisms j) epidemic/explosion of divorce

B 1) to issue a wedding a) a transition period; dissolution

license

2) separation b) to tie the knot

3) to curb c) in the forefront; at the heart of the issue

4) dysfunctional marriage d) to grant a divorce petition

5) to call it quits e) to be stripped of smth

6) in the background f) to enhance; to facilitate

7) to die on the vine g) a renewed commitment to one’s present marriage

8) continuity h) to take hold

9) to diminish parental i) an adaptive marriage

discipline

10) to be saddled with smth j) to reassert control over offspring

Ex. 2. A. Read the text and fill in the blanks with suitable words or word combinations in the correct form from the box below.

cooling-off period breakup condemned the divorce binge

divorce proceedings saddled with benefit visibly curb

meet the needs diminish divorcees broken homes

file for divorce dysfunctional marriage inhibiting force

continuity of marriage no-fault divorce hassles and antagonisms experiment in riddled with potholes divorce petition

occur over spell out child-support alimony exorbitant

In Great Britain, an Easier Out

By David Whitman

IT’S NOBODY’S FAULT. Back in February. 1996, when they met at St. James’s Palace to begin formal (1) … , the prince and princess of Wales were at odds, as friction (2) … a minor issue. He wanted a note taker present. She refused. Their (3) … is final, but Britons who favor a shift to a no-fault system, have (4) … from the months of (5) … .

Had the royal (6) … waited a bit longer, much of their (7) … and public maneuvering might have been (8) … . England and Wales, like much of Europe, have minimized the role of lawyers and (9) … the concept of fault in the divorce process.

In 2000, after a heated parliamentary debate, the most fundamental divorce reforms since 1969 finally became law and (10) … general terms of disrupting a (11) … . Reconciliation attempts are mandatory during a longer (12) … . And a divorce won’t be finalized until (13) … and finances are settled.

Such changes replaced the old system, (14) …, which (15) … lawyers (16) … the blame for growing wealthy on confrontation in a divorce settlement while the number of (17) … soared. Today, Britain has the highest divorce rate in Western Europe, with 1 marriage in 2 (18) … to end in dissolution.

POLICEMAN, NOT PRIEST. Opponents of (19) … – like those in America – see the reform as an (20) … for family life and the (21) … . The new act, argues the right-of-center Daily Telegraph, “launched a new (22) … neutrality in government policy… by accepting that one partner may (23) … , call it quits and get a divorce petition regardless of the wishes of the other.”

Reformers say the state’s task is to (24) … of private citizens, providing a framework for relationships, not to pass judgment on them or stop (25) … . As leading columnist Simon Jenkins puts it: “The state is a policeman, not a priest.”

2. Translate the word combinations in bold type into Russian.

Ex. 3. Use the words given in brackets to form a word that fits in the space according to the meaning.

1. In the US, from (colony) times to the present, divorce was widely (accept) but frowned upon (social). By the time of the Civil War, divorces were granted on grounds of (cruel), (abandon), (drunk), (support – neg.), or verbal abuse or insults.

2. “No-fault” divorce and (contest – neg.) cases, concepts developed in the 1980s, have further undermined the system of (spouse) support by diminishing the factor of blame and (responsible) for marriage (fail).

3. As partners enter marriage in more (skeptics)frames of mind nowadays, both have to live up to higher (expect) of marital (continue) and (commit).

4. The (define) of family is now broadening to include not only nuclear families but also unmarried heterosexual and gay (cohabit); single-parent and stepfamilies; foster and (adopt) families; (child – neg.) and (monogamy – neg.) relationships, and multiple-adult households.

5. Children have no choice in the matter of a divorce or death; a child may feel (resent), (satisfy – neg.), fear and sadness, which can result in anger. (Parent) (guide) and direction may be needed to help children distinguish between angry feelings and angry behavior.

Ex. 4. Read the text below and decide which option (A, B, or D) best fits each gap.