Searching for love is no longer just a favorite subject for songs. It has also become a huge industry.
Experts say that the industry has grown because traditional social ties in the United States have 21 . Many young people leave behind a close community of friends and family to find work in bigger cities. People work longer hours, so they have less time to meet new people. So they depend 22 on technology.
This helps explain the 23 of online dating. Some estimates say 120,000 marriages a year result from 24 made on the Internet.
The dating industry has also been expanding in new and interesting ways. Many companies around the country offer 25 services for finding the perfect mate. These companies are answering a large demand by single people. They are willing to 26 their time and money to find love with 27 planned methods, instead of leaving love to chance.
For example, in Virginia, the company True Life Partners provides a 28 but detailed dating service. The company"s owner, Stephanie Rockey, says her customers are busy professionals who do not have time to search for their life partner. Customers hire Miz Rockey"s team of 29 experts to help them find people they will like based on detailed information they provide about themselves.
The company says it is a team of professional personal 30 who help couples meet. But this level of attention comes at a high price. Men pay thousands of dollars for the service. But women get to take part at no cost.
A. carefully B. inquire C. personalized D. invest
E. notified F. recruiters G. matches H. increasingly
I. desperate J. costly K. restraint L. popularity
M. weakened N. shortly O. trained