The horse and carriage is a thing of the past, but love and marriage are still with us and

still closely interrelated. Most American marriages, particularly first marriages 【21】______ young couples, are the result of 【22】______ attraction and affection 【23】______ than practical considerations.

In the United States parents do not arrange marriages for their children. Teenagers begin 【24】______ in high school and usually find mates through their own academic and social 【25】______ . Though young people feel 【26】______ to choose their friends from 【27】______ groups, most choose a mate of similar background, This is 【28】______ in part to parental guidance. Parents cannot select spouses for their children, but they can usually 【29】______ choices by 【30】______ disapproval of someone they consider unsuitable.

【31】______ , marriages between members of different groups (interclass, interfaith, and inter racial marriages) are increasing, probably because of the greater 【32】______ of today's youth and the face that they are restricted by 【33】______ prejudices than their parents. Many young people leave their home towns to attend college, 【34】______ in the armed forces, 【35】______ pursue a career in a bigger city. Once away from home and family, they are more 【36】______ to date and marry outside their own social group. In mobile American society, interclass marriages are neither 【37】______ nor shocking. Interfaith marriages are 【38】______ the rise particularly between Protestants and Catholics. On the other hand, interracial marriage is still very uncommon. It can be difficult for interracial couples to find a place to live, maintain friendships, and 【39】______ a family. Marriage between people of different national 【40】______ (but the same race and religion) have been commonplace here since colonial times.

【21】

A．involving

B．linking

C．connecting

D．correlating