Read the Paragraph Below and Answer the Questions That Follow

question 29

Multiple Choice

Read the paragraph below and answer the questions that follow.
(1) The average age of first marriage has been rising; in America, it is now 28.4 for men and 26.5 for women. (2) Why are people waiting longer to get married? (3) Americans are postponing marriage for a number of reasons. (4) One cause of this phenomenon is young people's desire to concentrate on their careers before taking on the additional responsibilities of a spouse and children. (5) Many people also want to enjoy the freedom and independence of the single life as long as possible. (6) Another reason for postponing marriage is the lack of pressure to marry. (7) Society now finds it acceptable for people in their twenties to be involved in intimate, long-term relationships without tying the knot. (8) Therefore, friends and family members are less likely to urge young people to formally commit to one another. (9) Yet another cause for the rising age of first marriage is the fear of divorce combined with high expectations for a marital relationship. (10) People want to wait to marry until they're sure they've found their perfect soul mate.
How many causes does the writer include to develop the topic sentence?

• A) two
• B) three
• C) four

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Definitions:

Various Emotions

A wide range of affective states that humans experience, such as happiness, sadness, anger, and fear.

Relation

A connection or association between things or concepts.

Affect Intensity

The measure of how strongly individuals experience their emotions, with some people feeling emotions deeply and vividly while others experience them more mildly.

Emotional Highs

Intense feelings of happiness, elation, or euphoria, often of short duration and sometimes followed by corresponding lows.