B
The Tuareg bride, Assalama, who has spent most of her time tending her family’s goats and sheep, sits silently as female relatives and helpers make sure that every hair is perfect for the wedding. The Tuareg are nomads, and it was only by chance that she was reunited with her 25-year-old cousin Mohamed a month earlier. Back from working in Libya, Mohamed spotted Assalama as she drew water from a well. “I knew from that moment that I wanted to marry her”, he says. He asked for her hand and she gave him a piece of jewelry to demonstrate her acceptance. Their families approved, and wedding plans began.
Following Tuareg traditions, the marriage ceremony is performed at a nearby mosque (清真寺) in the presence of only the couple’s parents. Assalama and Mohamed are absent. A few days later, the celebration approaches. For a week, some 500 guests enjoy camel races, sing, and eat rice, dates, and roasted meat in tents under the Saharan stars.
Mohamed wears an indigo tagelmust, a cloth that wraps his head and face. For the Tuareg, the tagelmust not only keeps out the desert sand and sun, it keeps evil creatures called jinns away, as does henna, a reddish-brown coloring used on Mohamed’s feet. It is also a symbol of purity, reserved for a man’s first marriage.
At the celebration, a tent called an ehan is prepared for Assalama and Mohamed. Women take down and put up the tent each day, making it larger each time to symbolize the progress of the celebration and of the couple’s relationship. Assalama stays inside the tent during the whole celebration, only showing her face or speaking to Mohamed, her best friend, her mother, and one special helper. During the celebration, neither Assalama nor Mohamed is ever left alone for fear they might be harmed by jealous jinns.
As the celebration ends, the couple prepares to spend the first year of their marriage with Assalama’s family. Mohamed must work hard to win his in-laws’ approval. Once he does that, he will take his bride back to his camp and start his nomad’s caravan moving again.
24. What is the passage mainly about?
A. The romantic love story of the two Tuareg cousins.
B. The marriage difficulties of a young Tuareg couple.
C. The description of the marriage of a Tuareg couple.
D. The changing wedding customs of the Tuareg people.
25. During their actual marriage ceremony, Assalama and Mohamed _________.
A. were forbidden to show up
B. visited the nearest mosque
C. showed respect to their parents
D. wore traditional Tuareg clothing
26. Henna is used on Mohamed’s feet because _________.
A. he is marrying his cousin
B. he is thought to be very pure
C. he is not wearing a Tagemust
D. he has not been married before
27. What does the underlined word “that” refer to?
A. Starting his caravan moving again.
B. Finishing the wedding celebration.
C. Working hard for Assalama’s family.
D. Obtaining permission from his in-laws.
