2 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passages coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.
You know what they say, marriage is like a box of chocolates and you never know what you are gonna get. My wife and I had a “ferocious” argument the other night 1 we were watching one episode of the latest season of a reality show called See You Again. Basically, the show was about three couples 2 (embark) on an 18-day vacation to try to work out their marital issues in the hope of saving their marriages. For them, it was really a make-it-or-break-it vacation.
3 we both agreed on most men’s incompetence in expressing their true feelings in any intimate relationship, my still beloved wife and I failed miserably to see eye to eye on reasons for that. She blamed it on men’s upbringing while I thought it had more to do with the influence of outdated social norms and stereotypes on men.
Our society 4 (discourage) emotional expression in men for ages, telling them they can’t shed a tear or show any vulnerability. These outdated ideas about what it means to be a man have messed them up big time. To me, it is no wonder that in the marriage market, the most common type available 5 women is the silent but dominant type of men with the whole breadwinner and homemaker roles still 6 (stick) in their heads. So when things don’t go that way, of course, they will feel lost.
“Intimidated” by my rigorous logic, my wife purposefully shifted the focus of her argument to 7 we two should raise our son and what I could have done better if I had taken her advice seriously.
However, things started to get much 8 (personal) when both of us seemed to run out of witty arguments. Realizing this disagreement would lead us nowhere, I wasted no time apologizing to her for my ill-considered words with dignity and offered to clean the plates piling up in the sink 9 I cooked dinner that night! Faced with an offer she couldn’t refuse, my wife kindly reminded me 10 (not forget) to dry the towel when I was done. Apology accepted, hence case closed.
At the end of the day, I exhibited my vulnerability as requested and she showed her mercy as expected. We just agreed to disagree and lived happily ever after.
