英语听力：探索发现 2014-05-04 Sex for Sale -21

  Although lucrative¹, the world's oldest profession has often been outlawed². Currently prostitution is legal in 77 countries around the world. And although it's criminalized in 49 American states, in a few small counties in the state of Nevada, the sale of sex is perfectly³ legal. But just how did this happen? Americans owe it all to the audacious brothel owner who wouldn't take no for an answer. 

Joe Conforte. In 1950s, a wave of immigrants came to the US, hoping to start over after the devastation⁴ of World War Two and take part in the American dream. And while many people sought  stable jobs in the booming industry or mills, Joe Conforte's American dream was centered around the world's oldest profession.

  Joe is an Italian immigrant to the United States. He grew up very poor, but he had his mind of a memory of seeing the kingdom brothels on earth in Sicily. Having white suits and pinky rings and having a lot of money , Joe is one of that.

Conforte heads west, landing in Nevada, but he bypasses Les Vegas, hoping to open a brothel in the outskirts⁵ of a small thinner city with far less competition.

  Reno. Since fifties, Reno is a cult⁶ country. You can probably throw a rock and you'd hit the outskirt of the town if you are in the center of the town.  very very small.

Prostitution continued in Reno since the days of the gold rush. 

  Authorities were willing to look the other way as long as brothel owners conducted business on a small scale.

1 lucrative   

adj.赚钱的，可获利的

参考例句：

• He decided to turn his hobby into a lucrative sideline.他决定把自己的爱好变成赚钱的副业。
• It was not a lucrative profession.那是一个没有多少油水的职业。

2 outlawed   

宣布…为不合法（outlaw的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Most states have outlawed the use of marijuana. 大多数州都宣布使用大麻为非法行为。
• I hope the sale of tobacco will be outlawed someday. 我希望有朝一日烟草制品会禁止销售。

3 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

4 devastation   

n.毁坏；荒废；极度震惊或悲伤

参考例句：

• The bomb caused widespread devastation. 炸弹造成大面积破坏。
• There was devastation on every side. 到处都是破坏的创伤。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

6 cult   

n.异教，邪教；时尚，狂热的崇拜

参考例句：

• Her books aren't bestsellers,but they have a certain cult following.她的书算不上畅销书，但有一定的崇拜者。
• The cult of sun worship is probably the most primitive one.太阳崇拜仪式或许是最为原始的一种。