II. Choose the word or phrase among A, B, C or D that best fits the blank space in the following passage. VIETNAMESE WEDDING CUSTOMS The wedding consists (5)---------several (6) _____ including asking permission to receive the bride, the procession to the groom's house, the ancestor ceremony, and the banquet party. In the morning, the groom's mother and a few close relatives would walk to the bride's house with a present of betel to ask permission to receive the (7) ____ at her house. The date and time of the ceremony is usually determined by a Buddhist monk or fortune teller. In the procession to receive the bride, the groom and his family often carry decorated lacquer boxes covered in red cloth to represent his (8) ____ and which include various (9) ____ for the bride's family. There are either 6 or 8 boxes, but never 7 because it is bad (10) ____. After paying their (11) ____ to their ancestors, the bride and groom will serve tea to their parents who will then give them advice regarding (12) ____ and family. During the candle ceremony, the bride and groom's families union is celebrated and the mother-in-law of the bride will open the boxes filled with jewelry and dress her new daughter-in-law in the jewelry. Finally,the groom officially asks for permission to take his new bride (13) ____ and they make their way back to his house. During the (14) ____, there is usually a 10-course meal and the bride and groom make their (15) ____ to each table to express their gratitude and also get money as presents. 5 A in B of C at D for 6. A. asks B. ceremonies C. requests D. tells 7. A. bride B. regulations C. laws D. notes 8. A. condition B. culture C. relation D. wealth 9. A. beans B. boxes C. presents D. wars 10. A. bad B. fond C. luck D. interest 11. A. respects B. allows C. stops D. refuses 12 A. existence B. dead C. marriage D. divorce 13. A. flat B. home C. house D. apartment 14. A. acquaintance B. contribution C. difficulty D. reception 15. A. troubles B. problems C. ovals D. rounds III. Choose the word or phrase among A, B, C or D that best fits the blank space in the following passage. JAPANESE WEDDING CUSTOMS The Japanese (16) ____ of “san-san-kudo”, the three-by-three exchange is rich with (17) ____. It is performed by the bride and groom and both sets of cups. The first 3 represent three couples, the bride and (18) ____, and their parents. The second 3 represent three human weaknesses: hatred, passion, and ignorance. “Ku” or 9 is a lucky number in Japanese cultural, and “do” means escape from the three weaknesses. Another highlight of this ceremony is a rosary with 21 beads that represent the couple, their families and the Buddha all joined on one string to symbolize the (19) ____ of the families. Part of the ceremony involves honoring the parents with (20) ____ of flowers, a toast, or a letter expressing their (21) ____ and gratitude. The crane is a symbol of longevity and prosperity and so 1,001 gold origami cranes are folded to bring (22) ____, good fortune, longevity, and peace to the marriage. The bride traditionally wears two outfits: the shiro, which is a white kimono worn for the (23) ____ and the uchikake kimono which is a patterned brocade worn at the reception. Plenty of courses are served during the reception, but never in a multiple of four because the number four sounds like the word for (24) ____ . Additionally, the different foods served all have special meanings, for example lobster might be several because red is a (25) ____ color or clams served with both shells symbolize the couple's union. 16. A. bride B. ritual C. law D. difference 17. A. meaning B. regulation C. multiple D. note 18. A. condition B. culture C. relation D. groom 19. A. location B. shell C. union D. gratitude 20. A. wraps B. proves C. offers D. improves 21. A. love B. make C. hate D. life 22. A. nervous B. sad C. luck D. bad 23.A. inclusion B. ceremony C. approach D. creation 24. A. life B. depth C. wedding D. death 25. A. trouble B. problem C. confliction D. lucky