研究生英语阅读教程(基础级2版)课文04及其翻译..doc

The Transformation of Marriage婚姻的变迁 By Stephen Bertman trans-: across; form: (1)n. fill in a form; (2)vt. [1] To be sure, ours is not the first time in modern history when efforts have been made to redefine traditional marriage. The communal group marriages of the 1960s and the individualistic open marriages of the 1970s each challenged the notion (concept) of a nonnegotiable contract between one woman and one man. The frequency of cohabitation, whether as a prelude to or as a substitute (n./ vt.) for a ceremony with legal force, has further undermined (weakened) the concept of wedlock (marriage) as a discrete (separate) and distinctive (different) state [marital status: (1)single; (2)married; (3)separate; (4) divorced]. All of these challenges, however, were or are predicated upon a relationship that is heterosexual, fashioned upon (imitate/ copy) the Adam-and-Eve template. The most recent and radical challenge to traditional marriage, however, rejects this religious template. Same-Sex Marriage: Action and Reaction (Response) [2] Inspired (Encouraged) by the activism (women’s liberation movement/ civil right movement) in the 1960s that secured political and economic rights for blacks and women, American gays and lesbians mobilized to end (stop) what they viewed as the discriminatory practice of granting (giving) marriage licenses only to heterosexual couples. As law professor William N. Eskridge Jr. (junior-senior; junior high school) has stated (said) in his book, The Case for Same-Sex Marriage (Free Press, 1996): Marriage is the most important right the state (the government of the US) has to offer, in part (partially) because being married entails dozens of associated rights, benefits, and obligations (responsibility) under state and federal law. These pertain to such matters as parenthood, property ownership, guardianship, and inheritance. [be obliged to do sth./ sth. pertain to sb.] [3] Outside the United States, however, efforts to legitimize same-sex