B2 — Upper Intermediate
Household chores are a necessary evil. Though they can sometimes be boring or unpleasant, they need to be done. Doing household chores is an important part of daily life. We clean our rooms, wash dishes, do laundry, and take out the trash. Chores keep our homes clean and comfortable.
Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the division of labour when it comes to household chores.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260813
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “to pull one’s weight“ mean? ”Anamarija also thinks women appreciate it when their husbands pull their weight.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- What does “to take a breather” mean? “Mothers have more space for their careers, or hobbies, or just simply totake a breather when dads and sons take some of the pressure off mums.” Use the expression in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- What does “fair share” mean? “Do you do your fair share of household chores?” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym.
Discussion Questions:
- In the UK, the most hated chore is cleaning the windows. What do you think will be the people’s answer to the same question in your country? Why do you think many people hate this chore?
- What are your thoughts on this: “Women in wealthy countries also spend much more time on unpaid care work than men.”?
- Which chore do you like doing the least? Why?
- What happens when one person does most of the chores?
- How can family members share the housework more fairly?