Pet weddings rise in popularity in China

admin 2024年7月17日

Beginner

Culture & Travel, Culture & Travel - Beginner

Pre-reading questions:

I will read each question. Then, please answer them.

講師がそれぞれの質問を読むので答えましょう。

Do you have a pet?
What kind of pet is most common in your country?

Vocabulary:

I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.

単語、意味、例文を読みます。講師に続いて音読しましょう。

population /pop-yuh-LEY-shuhn/

[noun] – all the people living in a particular country, area, or place
The population of the small town increased significantly after the new factory opened, providing jobs for many residents.

delicious /dih-LISH-uhs/

[adjective] – having a very pleasant taste or smell
The cake she baked for the party was absolutely delicious, with rich chocolate flavor and creamy frosting.

hire /hahyuhr/

[verb] – to employ or engage the services of someone for payment
The company decided to hire a new marketing manager to boost their online presence.

custom /KUHS-tuhm/

[adjective] – (of a product, feature, etc.) specially designed for a particular person or purpose
The company offers custom software solutions tailored to meet the specific needs of each client.

look like /look lahyk/

[phrasal verb] – to resemble or appear similar to something or someone else in terms of appearance or characteristics
The new sculpture in the park looks like a giant bird soaring through the sky.

Article reading:

Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.

記事を音読しましょう。講師はあなたの発音とイントネーションを確認します。

In China, pet weddings are becoming popular. This trend shows changes in society, with fewer people getting married and the population getting older. Bree and Bond, two golden retrievers, had a big wedding. Their wedding had a beautiful outdoor location, fancy clothes, and a delicious cake. Pet weddings show how important pets are to Chinese families. In 2023, spending on pets in China increased by 3.2% to 279.3 billion yuan ($38.41 billion). This shows how much pet owners care about their furry friends. Young people, especially, love their pets and spend money to keep them happy and healthy. Rye Ling, Bree’s owner, explained why pet weddings are important. Ling and Gigi Chen, Ling’s partner, spent a lot of time planning the big day. They hired a professional photographer, made special booklets, and ordered a custom cake for 800 yuan that looked like Bree and Bond. According to Acuity Knowledge Partners, there were more than 116 million cats and dogs in Chinese cities in 2023, and many pet owners are under 40. This shows how pets are becoming important friends in modern Chinese life. Pet weddings now show how much people love their pets and want to celebrate them.

True or False:

Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.

文章を読んで、記事に基づいて正誤を答えましょう。

Pet weddings are becoming popular in China, reflecting societal changes with fewer people getting married and an aging population.
Bree and Bond, two golden retrievers, had a large wedding with an outdoor venue, fancy attire, and a delicious cake.
Rye Ling, owner of Bree, planned the wedding alone.
The custom cake ordered for Bree and Bond’s wedding cost 800 yuan and resembled a Chinese dragon.
There were fewer than 50 million cats and dogs in Chinese cities in 2023, indicating a decline in pet ownership.

Fill in the blanks:

Choose the correct word from the table then fill in the blanks.

適切な言葉を選んで空欄を埋めましょう。

population

delicious

hire

custom

looks like

The painting __________ a scene straight out of a fairy tale with its vivid colors and fantastical creatures.
The interior designer created __________ furniture pieces that perfectly complemented the client’s home decor.
As we walked through the farmers’ market, the __________ aroma of fresh bread and pastries filled the air.
Scientists are concerned about the declining __________ of endangered species in the rainforest due to habitat destruction.
We need to __________ a plumber to fix the leaky pipes in the kitchen.