From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
这里是VOA慢速英语健康生活报道。
Marriage. Is it a romantic situation with some practical parts? Or it is a practical situation with some romantic parts?
婚姻。这是拥有实践部分的浪漫场景？还是拥有浪漫部分的实际情况？
Couples and cultures differ. But experts on marriage warn that, in general, romantic love – you know, that excited feeling you have at the beginning of a relationship – lasts only for about a year. As the relationship continues, partners need to make sure they can still live together happily. In other words, they need to be compatible.
But how do you know if youare compatible withsomeone? Like in a job interview, you need to ask questions.
不过，怎么能知道是否适合对方？就像参加求职面试一样，你要问几个问题。
Several websites suggest questions you should ask your future bride or groom. We have collected here some of the ones that appear most often.
多家网站对你应该向未来的新娘或新郎提出的问题给出了建议。我们收集了一些最常出现的问题。
What kind of debt do you have?
你有哪种债务？
A 2018 poll by the Pew Research Center found that money is one of the top five things couples fight about. Beforetying the knot– another way of saying "getting married" – you should talk to your partner about any money each of you owes – such as student loans, house or car payments.
One reason to talk about debt is because married couples may want to make a costly purchase together, such as a house. Debt could limit your ability to do so.
谈论债务的其中一个原因是，已婚夫妻可能想一起购买昂贵的东西，比如房子。而债务会限制你们的购买能力。
And do not forget about credit card debt. This probably tells more about a person's relationship with money than any other kind of debt. That leads us to our next question.
不要忘了信用卡欠款。与其他债务相比，这可能更能说明一个人与钱的关系。这就引出了下一个问题。
What are your spending habits?
你有哪些消费习惯？
Some people are good at saving money. They take comfort in having extra in the bank. Others are good at spending money. Shopping, for them, can bring comfort.
If you and your partner spend money differently it could lead to conflict. Now is a good time to talk about savings, budgets and how you will handle your finances together.
Cleaning up around the house may not seem like a big deal. However, the same poll noted earlier found that 62 percent of all Americans said sharing household duties is important to a successful marriage. How will you and your partner divide them?
When talking about cleaning the house, there is another related question.
就打扫房屋来说，还有一个相关问题。
How do you feel about clutter?
你怎么看杂乱？
For some people, living in a house with things everywhere can be very stressful. Other people have a hard timethrowinganythingaway. It is important to know how you and your partner will deal with the everyday stuff of life.
How much time do you spend on social media or other technology?
你在社交媒体或其他技术性设备上花费的时间是多少？
Some people can spend hours on Facebook or playing video games. Other people hate using their time in such a way. Maybe they like to go hiking or play an instrument for hours instead.
So, at the heart of this question is this simpler but all-important one: "How do you like to spend your time?" Couples who share the same interests — whatever they may be — are more likely to succeed at being married.
Okay, whether or not to have children is a big question.
是否要孩子是重要的问题。
In marriage, many areas are negotiable. Couples can find a compromise. However, the question of whether or not to have children is not one of these areas. For many people the issue of children can be a deal-breaker.
Have you ever been arrested? If you have ... for what?
你曾经被逮捕过吗？如果有，是因为何事？
This may sound obvious. But you may be surprised by what you learn. Before you marry someone, it is a good idea to find out if your partner has a criminal record.
But keep in mind that not having an arrest record may simply mean that they have never been caught. So, while you are on the topic, you could also ask about a history of gambling, overusing alcohol or drugs or, perhaps, violence.
You can't spend every minute together. Or can you? Best to ask.
你们不可能每时每刻都在一起。或者，你们可以吗？最好问问。
Some people are most happy when they are around others. In fact, some people hate to be alone. But other people may need large amounts of time by themselves.
It is important to share where you fall on this line. Some people may take it personally if their partner does not want to be with them all the time. And the people who need to be alone may feel trapped by being with someone day in and day out, even if it is someone they love.
These are just some of the questions you may want to ask before getting married. These topics may be uncomfortable. But a couple hours of feeling uncomfortable is better than a lifetime of conflict.
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