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 41 young couples, are the result of 41 attraction and affection 43 than practical considerations.
In the United States, parents do not arrange marriages for their children. Teenagers begin 44 in high school and usually find mates through their own academic and social 45 .
Though young people feel 46 to choose their friends from 47 groups, most choose a mate of similar background.
This is 48 in part to parental guidance. Parents cannot select spouses for their children, but they can usually 49 choices by 50 disapproval of someone they consider unsuitable. 51 , marriages between members of different groups (interclass, interfaith, and interracial marriages) are increasing, probably because of the greater 52 of today"s youth and the fact that they are restricted by 53 prejudices than their parents. Many young people leave their home towns to attend college, 54 in the armed forces, 55 pursue a career in a bigger city.
Once away from home and family, they are more 56 to date and marry outside their own social group.
In mobile American society, interclass marriages are neither 57 nor shocking. Interfaith marriages are 58 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 59 a family, Marriages between people of different national 60 (but the same race and religion) have been commonplace here since colonial times.