PDF《housework.》

re joined by writer Paul Burt and fashion editor Claire Carlson. Oliver: 我们首先采访了 Paul, 在他家里是谁对房间的干净整洁更在意、更挑剔呢?是 他还是他的妻子? Insert My wife - pathologically tidy. Just it'

s terribly important to her, I'

m not saying it shouldn'

t be, but it is. She always wants me to take my shoes off, and do things like that C and was always cleaning up. When we first got together, I said to her C look, either we get a cleaner, or I'

ll pay you ?5 an hour and I'

ll go out with someone else. Helen: So, in Paul'

s house, his wife does more housework than him. And he says that'

s because his wife is pathologically tidy, that means his wife is extremely obsessed with tidiness, it'

s almost like an illness. Oliver: That sounds scary. 病态的 pathological. Paul 的妻子对清洁房间简直着 了迷. Helen: Keeping the house clean and tidy is very important to her, and one of the things she makes Paul do is take his shoes off. Oliver: 进门就脱鞋,这好像是中国人或者日本人才有的习惯吧. Is it not the case in the UK? Helen: No, when you visit people'

s home in the UK, you don'

t have to take your shoes off. I'

ve never been asked to do that. Oliver: I see, 这就是文化差异. Helen: But Paul does recognise the importance of his wife'

s efforts in keeping the house clean and tidy. Oliver: 让我们再听听看,当Paul 的妻子不在旁边的时候,他又说了些什么. Insert I have to say, when I'

m in the house on my own, it is astonishing how much mess I get myself into within about twenty-three minutes. So she'

s not right, she'

s not wrong, it'

s just different sorts of people. Helen: So, Paul is not tidy like his wife. In fact, he admits that he can be incredibly messy. Oliver: Messy 就是 untidy 的另一个表达方式,在口语中更常用.Paul 说他转眼之 间就可以把房间搞乱. Helen: He also used the word '

astonishing'

to indicate the surprising speed, with which he can make a mess in the house. Oliver: 让人吃惊、难以置信的 astonishing. Helen: Paul confesses that he and his wife are very different when it comes to housework. Oliver: Let'

s hear Paul again. Insert My wife - pathologically tidy. Just it'

s terribly important to her, I'

m not saying it shouldn'

t be, but it is. She always wants me to take my shoes off, and do things like that C and was always cleaning up. When we first got together, I said to her C look, either we get a cleaner, or I'

ll pay you ?5 an hour and I'

ll go out with someone else. I have to say, when I'

m in the house on my own, it is astonishing how much mess I get myself into within about twenty-three minutes. So she'

s not right, she'

s not wrong, it'

s just different sorts of people. Helen: Hello, you'

re listening to BBC Learning English. Today we'

re discussing the politics of housework. Is it true that women do more than men? Oliver: 我们今天的话题是家务活,在家里,究竟谁干的活儿更多. Helen: Well, if you'

re single, then you'

ll have to deal with the task by yourself. Oliver: That'

s probably a blessing. 不会为了谁在为做这个谁做那个这样鸡毛蒜皮 的小事儿争执. Helen: But if you'

re single and very tidy, like Claire, finding an equally tidy other half might not be that easy. Insert I don'

t think I'

m quite as extreme as Paul'