In some society it is the custom for parents to arrange the marriages of their children. T

he father and mother of the bride will meet with the father and mother of the groom, and if both families are pleased with each other, an agreement will be made. Often the brides and grooms will not be asked for their opinion in this matter, and sometimes they do not even meet each other until the day of the wedding. In some countries, men advertise for mail-order brides in the heal paper.

Most Americans find the idea of arranged marriages difficult to understand or accept. They believe that two people should marry for love, after a period of dating or courtship. During that period, the prospective marriage partners are supposed to learn enough about each other to decide whether or not they will be able to build a successful marriage. Today in America, it is common for people to live together as a way of preparing for marriage. The idea of an arranged marriage seems very old fashioned indeed.

But aren't all marriages arranged in one way or another？ In the United States marriages are seldom formally arranged, but quite a lot of informal arranging goes on before two people become husband and wife. People who get married are introduced to each other by friends. These friends have already decided that the two people are right for each other and arrange for them to meet. In the United States this kind of arrangement is very common. Because friends have such great influence, their approval of a dating or mating partner is very important.

Families also exert open and subtle pressures on their children to influence their choices of marriage partners. Parents often arrange dates for their own children. One parent often tells a friend a bout her beautiful daughter or handsome son. Also, parents can meet the perfect marriage prospect for their son or daughter through business relationships. Since parents often assist their children financially, they feel that they have the right to help the bride and groom select where they will live, what type of furniture they will purchase, and what their life-style. will be like.

To a larger extent, social class determines the choice of a marriage partner in the United States. Marriages are usually arranged between people of similar religious, ethnic, and financial back grounds. Despite what we see in the movies, the son of a bank president rarely marries or even meets a miner's daughter. Americans may not accept or understand arranged marriages, but marriages in the United States are arranged nevertheless.

Which of the following can be chosen as the best title of this passage？

A．Americans' Marriage

B．Arranged Marriage

C．Marriage for Love

D．Perfect Marriage