Prohibition in the United States
美國的禁酒令
語音播放：

It might be hard to believe today, but alcohol was illegal or ‘prohibited’ in America for 13 years, from 1920 to 1933.
現今很難相信，在美國1920-1933的十三年期間，酒曾經是違法且被禁止的。

語音播放：

In the 1800s, Americans really loved to drink. In fact, American men drank 2-3 times as much as they do today. After work, most men would go out and get drunk. They would spend all of their money, and some would go home and abuse their wives. That’s why women were the strongest voice for prohibition in the beginning. Some Christians also saw alcohol as immoral and wanted it banned.
十九世紀的美國人非常喜歡喝酒。事實上，那時美國的男人喝酒的頻率是現在的2-3倍。大部分男人下班後喜歡出門買醉，不但花光所有的錢，有些甚至會回家打老婆。這就是為什麼女人是起初禁酒令最大的支持者。有些基督教徒視酒為邪惡的並支持禁酒。

語音播放：

But when alcohol was made illegal, it seemed to cause even more problems than before. Many people continued to import or make alcohol. Homemade alcohol was often low quality and many people died from it. A black market was created, so crime rose. Gang members became powerful and politicians often made deals with them. Society became very corrupt.
但是，當酒精變成違法時，反而導致了更多的問題。更多人開始持續進口或是生產酒。私釀酒的品質通常很差且會導致死亡事件。黑市因而竄起，也導致犯罪增加。不良分子的勢力擴張且常與政客掛鉤。社會也變得貪腐。

語音播放：

Surprisingly, women’s groups were some of the strongest voices against prohibition this time. During prohibition, many women in big cities had visited secret bars and they liked it. They saw prohibition as a restriction of their freedom and a cause of unnecessary crime.
令人訝異地，女性是當時禁酒令最大的反對者。在禁酒的期間，很多在大城市的女性喜歡去隱密的酒吧。她們將禁酒令視為對其自由的限制且導致不必要的犯罪。

Vocabulary 好字精選

1. abuse (v) to hurt somebody you know physically or emotionally 虐待
The boss was arrested for abusing a staff member.
老闆因為虐待員工而被逮捕。

2. immoral (adj) not good or moral 不道德的
Religious leaders often advise people not to engage in immoral behavior.  
宗教領袖常會呼籲人們不要從事不道德的行為。

3. banned (adj) not allowed 禁止的
Chewing gum is banned in Singapore. 
嚼食口香糖在新加坡是被禁止的。

4. import (v) to bring products into a country 進口
Taiwan imports a lot of wheat from the US.
台灣從美國進口很多的小麥。

5. corrupt (adj) acting dishonestly for personal gain, usually by people of authority 貪腐的
The policeman was corrupt; he often accepted money from criminals.
這名貪腐的警察常收受罪犯的錢財。

6. restriction (n) a rule that stops or limits something 限制；規定
According to city restrictions, buildings higher than six floors require a special permit.
根據城市的規定，超過六樓的建築物需要申請許可。

Phrases and Sentence Patterns 句型解析

1. black market (expression) an illegal market 黑市
That drug is illegal but it is sold on the black market.
這個禁藥是違法的，但仍在黑市裡銷售。

2. sb. + make a deal with + sb. (sentence pattern) 交易...
Matt made a deal with his mom that if he got 100 on the next test, she would give him 100 dollars.
Matt和媽媽達成協議，如果下次的考試拿到100分，則媽媽會給他100元。

Exercise 課後練習題

1. Carrie left her husband because he had been _______________ her.
Carrie因為曾被老公家暴而選擇離開。

2. Some say it is _______________ to cheat.
有些人說欺騙是不道德的。

3. Guns are _______________ in our country.
槍枝在我國是被禁止的。

4. This computer company ______________ most of its parts from China.
該電腦公司從大陸進口大部份零件。

5. The article says the president is _______________. He is friends with many gangsters and does business with them.
該文表示總統是貪腐的。因為他和很多不良分子有勾結且有交易。

6. According to the new _______________, water is not allowed to be carried onto flights.
根據新的禁令，水是不能帶上飛機。

7. Many fake brand name products are sold on the _______________.
很多仿冒品牌產品在黑市販賣。

8. The two friends _______________ each other last year that they would help each other improve their scores.
兩個朋友去年達成協議，會幫助對方改善成績。

 

解答:
1. abusing
2. immoral
3. banned
4. imports
5. corrupt
6. restriction
7. black market
8. made a deal with

Comprehension Questions 閱讀理解

1. What negative part of prohibition is NOT mentioned?
a. It caused people to drink even more.
b. It caused more crime.
c. It created an illegal market for alcohol.
d. It caused corruption.

2. What was the role of women in prohibition?
a. The always supported it.
b. They always wanted it to end.       
c. They supported it at first but wanted it to end later. 
d. They didn’t want it to start but supported it later.

解答:

1. 下列禁酒令的負面缺點何者沒被提到？
a. 使人們喝更多的酒。
b. 導致更多犯罪。
c. 酒的違法市集因而產生。
d. 導致貪腐。

2. 女人在禁酒令扮演什麼樣的角色？
a. 她們一直都是支持的角色
b. 她們一直都希望禁酒令結束。
c. 她們一開始支持但後來反對。
d. 她們不希望禁酒令開始，但後來支持禁酒令。

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