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 (1)_______ or courtship (求爱时期). During that period, the (2)_______ marriage partners are supposed to learn enough about each other to decide whether or not they will be able to (3)_______ a successful marriage. Today in America, it is common for people to live together as a way of (4)______for marriage. The idea of an arranged marriage seems very (5)_______ indeed.But (6)_______ all marriages arranged in one way or another? In the United States marriages are (7)_______ formally arranged, but quite a lot of informal arranging goes on before two people become husband and wife. People who (8)_________ 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, (9)__________________________________________.Families also exert (施加) 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 about 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 (10)______________________________ where they will live, what type of furniture they will purchase, and what their life-style will be like.