常春藤生活英语【136】The Machine for the Dirtiest Job 洗衣机——清洁溜溜的好帮手

The Machine for the Dirtiest Job 洗衣机——清洁溜溜的好帮手

In early times, clothes were carried far away from home and then beaten against river rocks until they were clean. Even after people began doing their wash at home, removing the dirt from clothes was still hard work. Each piece of clothing had to be hit or scrubbed all by hand until there was no more dirt. Before modern washing machines, the laundry was the hardest housework of all because it took a lot of effort. Dirty clothes were worn longer so that people could save their strength.

Early washing machines helped, but not much. These machines were mostly turned by hand. Some let gravity do the work, which was to drop the clothes after raising them. Others used gears to turn rough boards that rubbed the clothes clean. Even with these simple machines, the laundry for one house could take an entire day of boring work.

Before the invention of the electric washing machine, laundry was a major chore. However, this work had to be done. Since traditionally women did the housework, laundry was one of the main things that kept them stuck at home. Who would ever think that cleaning shirts was so much trouble?

Building Your Vocabulary  

1. scrub　vt. 刷洗，擦洗
Monica scrubbed the old wok clean.
莫妮卡把那个旧的炒菜锅刷得清洁溜溜。
2. strength　n. 力气，力量
I don't have the strength to run another lap.
我已经没有力气再跑一圈了。
3. rough　a.（表面）不平的，粗糙的
The road to the mountain top is rough.
到山顶的路崎岖难行。
4. invention　n. 发明；发明物
The iPod is an amazing invention.
iPod是一项绝妙的发明。
5. electric　a. 电动的，用电的
Nick owns several electric guitars.
尼克有好几把电吉他。
6. major　a. 主要的；较大的
I have a major concern about your plan.
我对于你的计划有一大疑虑。 

Phrases for Learning  

1. remove A from B　　将 A 从 B 移走
Alice removed some chairs from the room.
艾丽丝从房内搬走了一些椅子。
2. take/require effort　　耗费时间与精力
It requires lots of effort to write a book.
写书相当地费时耗力。 

Extra Words  

1. dirt　n. 灰尘，脏污
2. laundry　n. 洗好或待洗的衣物
3. housework　 n. 家务事
4. gravity　n. 地心引力
5. gear　n. 齿轮

Tips In Use  

...the hardest housework of all...
（……所有家事里最困难的一项……）
句中凡有"of all..."词组出现时，一定要使用最高级。
This encyclopedia is the thickest book of all on the shelf.
（这本百科全书是书架上所有书当中最厚的。）
Of all types of movies, I like science fiction the best.
（在所有电影类型里，我最喜欢科幻片。） 
 
中文翻译  

在早期，衣服都得拿到离家很远的地方，然后在溪流的石头上敲打直到干净为止。甚至到了人们开始在家里洗衣服后，要去除衣服上的污渍仍是一件困难的工作。每件衣服都必须亲手敲打或用力搓洗到没有任何脏污才行。在现代洗衣机发明前，洗衣服是所有家事里最困难的一项，因为它相当地费时耗力。脏衣服都要穿得久一点，这样人们才可以省点力气。

早期的洗衣机能帮的忙不多。这些机器多是用手来摇转。有些洗衣机则是靠地心引力产生作用，也就是把衣物举起来后再往下丢落。其它洗衣机则用齿轮来转动凹凸不平的洗衣板，好把衣服搓洗到干净为止。就算有了这种简易的洗衣机，洗衣服仍是需要耗费一整天时间的无聊工作。

在电动洗衣机发明前，洗衣服可是一大杂务。然而这项工作又必须要做。由于传统上妇女要负责做家事，因此洗衣服是把她们困在家中的主因之一。有谁曾想过洗衬衫是一件那么麻烦的事呢？ 

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