Listen to the audio clip and fill in the blanks (CD-1) The period of engagement is the time between the marriage [01] ________ and the wedding ceremony. Two people agree to marry when they decided to spend their lives together. The man usually gives the woman a diamond [02] ________ ring. That tradition is said to have started when an Austrian man gave a diamond ring to the woman he wanted to marry. The diamond [03] ________ beauty. He placed it on the third finger of her left hand. (CD-2) He chose that finger because it was thought that the blood vessel in that finger went directly to the heart. Today we know that this is not true, yet the [04] ________ continues. Americans generally are engaged for a period of about one year, if they are planning a wedding ceremony and a party. During this time, friends of the bride may hold a party at which women friends and family members give the bride [05] ________ that she will need as a wife. These could include cooking [06] ________ or new clothing. (CD-3) Friends of the man who is getting married may have a bachelor party for him. This usually takes place the night before the [07] ________. Only men are invited to the bachelor party. During the marriage ceremony, the bride and her would-be husband usually [08] __________________________________________________ that their union will continue forever. The wife often wears both the wedding ring and the engagement ring on the same finger. (CD-4) The husband wears his ring on the third finger of his left hand. Many people say the purpose of the engagement period is to [09] ___________________________________. But the main purpose is to let enough time pass so the two people are sure that they want to marry each other. [10] __________________________________, if this happens, the woman usually returns the ring to the man. They also return any wedding gifts they have received.