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A fair maiden is guarded by a dragon. A handsome prince must slay the dragon to save her. Then, magically, they fall in love and live happily ever after.
译文：美少女由一条龙守护。英俊的王子必须杀死龙来救她。然后，他们竟奇迹般地坠入爱河，从此幸福地生活在一起。
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Traditional stories tend to emphasize the fantastic, magical side of love. Fate plays matchmaker. Strangers see each other from across a room and instantly know that they are destined to be together. It isn't difficult to imagine two strangers coming together and falling in love despite their differences. It suggests that love is challenging, uncertain, and incomprehensible.
译文：传说中的故事往往强调爱情美妙且神奇的一面。命运扮演媒人。陌生男女隔着房间看到彼此，瞬间就知道他们注定要在一起。不难想象两个陌生人不顾分歧走到一起并坠入爱河。这意味着爱是具有挑战性的、不确定的和难以理解的。
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But with more people using online dating services, a very different kind of love has emerged: one that is scientific, convenient, and self-directed. It minimizes risk and provides a choice, like on a menu. There is anonymity and the avoidance of immediate rejection. Meeting terms are negotiated online.
译文：但随着越来越多的人使用在线约会服务，出现了一种截然不同的爱情，即一种科学、便捷、自我导向的爱情。它可以最大限度地降低风险并提供一个像是在菜单上的选择。可以匿名且避免立即被拒，会面条款在网上协商。
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Online dating also allows the setting of preconditions. Computer algorithms exclude undesirable traits such as the wrong hair color, race, or age. But they also exclude randomness. They reduce the chances of meeting someone different, or someone who could challenge one's romantic ideals. Instead, they find the partner we think we want and exclude everyone else. As a result, we could be missing the opportunity of a lifetime, to meet someone we would never have expected to fall in love with.
译文：网上约会也允许设置前提条件。计算机算法排除了不合需要的特征，如不合适的发色、种族或年龄。但它们也排除了随机性。他们减少了遇到不同的人的机会，或者那些可以挑战一个人的浪漫理想的人。相反，他们找到了我们认为自己想要的伴侣，却把其他人排除在外。因此，我们可能会错过一生难得的机会，去遇见一个我们从未想过会爱上的人。
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Perhaps this new way represents a more efficient form of romance. Traditional ideas of love may be enchanting - but are they useful? Loneliness and boredom are less exciting than chance encounters, but they represent the more realistic side of love. All too often people have suffered through bad dates and humiliations. If they could just choose what they wanted, wouldn't it save time and reduce suffering?
译文：也许这种新的方式代表了一种更有效率的恋情。传统的爱情观念也许很迷人，但它们有用吗？孤独和无聊不及偶遇那么令人兴奋，但它们代表了爱情更现实的一面。人们经常经历糟糕的约会和羞辱，如果他们可以选择他们想要的，不是可以节省时间和减少痛苦吗
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However, by choosing partners based on our preconceived ideas, we may be indulging in our illusions. Instead of letting ourselves grow with someone, love becomes more about looking for ourselves in the other. What if we don't know ourselves as well as we think? Perhaps love isn't about knowing what we want. Perhaps it's about being open to unimagined possibilities.
译文：然而，根据我们先入为主的想法选择伴侣，我们可能沉溺于我们的幻想中。爱不是让我们和某人一起成长，而是更多地在对方身上寻找自己。如果我们不像自己想的那样了解自己呢？也许爱不是知道我们想要什么，也许它是对无法想象的可能性的开放。
Exercises:
1. The author thinks that online dating may have some hidden dangers.
2. — What are problems associated with doing thing that traditional way?
— In many cases, it leaves people bored and lonely.
3. If something destined to happen, it is part of a universal plan beyond our control.
4. To be enchanting means to have a mysterious, charming quality.
5. To be anonymous means to be unidentified.
6. An idea or opinion is preconceived if it is arrived at in advance and without evidence to support it.
Please tap the first correct sentence to appear:
1. — What kind of love has merged with online dating services?
— But with more people using online dating services, a very different kind of love has emerged: one that is scientific, convenient, and self-directed.
2. — What represent the realistic side of love?
— Loneliness and boredom are less exciting than chance encounters, but they represent the more realistic side of love.
3. — How do traditional stories characterized love?
— Traditional stories tend to emphasize the fantastic, magical side of love.
4. — What opportunity are we missing when we use online dating?
— As a result, we could be missing the opportunity of a lifetime, to meet someone we would never have expected to fall in love with.
Fill in the blanks:
1. However, by choosing partners based on our preconceived ideas, we may be indulging in our illusions. Instead of letting ourselves grow with someone, love becomes more about looking for ourselves in the other.
2. Traditional stories tend to emphasize the fantastic, magical side of love. Fate plays matchmaker. Strangers see each other from across a room and instantly know that they are destined to be together. It isn't difficult to imagine two strangers coming together and falling in love despite their differences. It suggests that love is challenging, uncertain, and incomprehensible.
Put the sentences below in order:
(1) But with more people using online dating services, a very different kind of love has emerged: one that is scientific, convenient, and self-directed.
(2) It isn't difficult to imagine two strangers coming together and falling in love despite their differences.
(3) It minimizes risk and provides a choice, like on a menu.
(4) It suggests that love is challenging, uncertain, and incomprehensible.
Correct Order: (2) (4) (1) (3)
Repeat & Read Sentences:
1. Perhaps love isn't about knowing what we want.
2. Traditional ideas of love may be enchanting - but are they useful?
3. Online dating also allows the setting of preconditions.
4. It isn't difficult to imagine two strangers coming together and falling in love despite their differences.
5. Instead of letting ourselves grow with someone, love becomes more about looking for ourselves in the other.
6. Loneliness and boredom represent the realistic side of traditional love.