一年一度的春季大扫除是英国家庭长期以来的一项传统。然而，近年来，延续这个传统的家庭数量似乎在下降。本文讨论春季大扫除的益处。

词汇：cleaning 清洁

You may well have heard of the term ‘spring cleaning’: the act of giving your house a deep clean in the spring months. Even though, for many of us, that ritual of a once-a-year blitz of dirt and grime is dying out, some of us still practise it. However, there could be a good reason the tradition isn’t as popular as it was.

The spring months are associated with new life and warmth – a stark contrast to the cold, gloomy winter that preceded. For protection against the freezing weather outside, people would seal their doors and windows as best they could to keep the heat in. In a time when many houses had fireplaces, open fires would churn out smoke and soot, coating rooms with layers of muck and gunk.

It therefore made sense for people to start cleaning in the spring, when the weather was warmer and windows opened, to freshen up their houses, swabbing the floors and cleaning the walls. However, open fires are no longer commonplace in modern British homes, with people preferring central heating to filthy smoke. And it’s not just the way of heating our homes that has changed. In the past, cleaning was designated to specific times and days, as simple chores like washing clothes took a long time. The rise of gadgets such as the washing machine means that tasks are quicker and more efficient.   

However, psychologists such as Dr Jonathan Fader, argue that the mental health benefits of clearing the house of mess means that a spring clean is hugely positive. The perception of your house being cluttered can cause the stress hormone cortisol to rise.

So, while the tradition is still there, and it’s nice to have a big purge of dirt once in a while, it is no longer as necessary – or limited to just the spring. That said, the psychological benefits of having a tidy home means that a once-a-year purge of unnecessary items, rather than dirt, can make you feel much better.

词汇表

deep clean 深度清洁
blitz 突击、集中力量的清洁
dirt 灰尘
grime 污垢
soot 煤灰
muck 脏东西
gunk 脏的黏性物质
freshen up 使…洁净，使…变得焕然一新
swab （用拖把或湿布）擦洗
filthy 肮脏的
chore 家庭杂务，日常琐事
washing machine 洗衣机
clearing 清洁，整理
mess 脏乱的东西
cluttered 堆得乱七八糟的，杂乱的
purge 清理
tidy 整洁的

测验与练习

1.  阅读课文并回答问题。

1. Is the act of ‘spring cleaning’ as popular as it once was?

2. In the past, why did it make sense for people to start cleaning in the spring?

3. How do most British people heat their homes in modern times?

4. True or False? There are no benefits to spring cleaning.

5. What are the reasons we no longer need to have a once-a-year big clean?

2.  选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. This kitchen is a disgrace! It really needs a good _______.

blitz                           gunk                          cluttered                   mess

2. These clothes are _______. What have you been doing?

purge                        filthy                           gunk                        chores

3. Let’s _______ the house with a good spring clean.

swabbing                  chores                        grime                       freshen up

4. Smoke from open fires would coat the rooms in _______.

purge                        soot                            freshen up               gloomy

5. You can feel a layer of _______ if you run your finger along the counter.

cluttered                    chores                        gloomy                    grime

答案

1.  阅读课文并回答问题。  

1. Is the act of ‘spring cleaning’ as popular as it once was?
No. While some people still do it, the tradition is dying out somewhat.

2. In the past, why did it make sense for people to start cleaning in the spring?
Because the weather was warmer after the winter, and the windows opened to allow more air into the house.

3. How do most British people heat their homes in modern times?
These days, central heating is more common than fireplaces to heat the house.

4. True or False? There are no benefits to spring cleaning.
False. A cluttered house can cause stress. Therefore, a once-a-year decluttering can be very beneficial.

5. What are the reasons we no longer need to have a once-a-year big clean?
Due to the rise of gadgets such as the washing machine and the decline of the fireplace, cleaning can be done more quickly and frequently.

2.  选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. This kitchen is a disgrace! It really needs a good blitz.

2. These clothes are filthy. What have you been doing?

3. Let’s freshen up the house with a good spring clean.

4. Smoke from open fires would coat the rooms in soot.

5. You can feel a layer of grime if you run your finger along the counter.