早安英文 第98期:美国真自由吗?看看美国那些奇葩法律!

 「英文学习笔记」

vary 变化

cumbersome¹ adj. 笨重的

sponsor n. 赞助者

chamber² n. 房间

repeal³ vt. 废除

wrap up 包裹，圆满完成

I’ve heard that there are a lot of crazy laws in America. For example, I read on a website that in Oklahoma, taking a bite of someone else’s hamburger is illegal! Can you give us some examples of some crazy laws like that?

我听说在美国有许多疯狂的法律。比如，我曾经在某个网站上看到，在俄克拉荷马州，咬一口别人的汉堡居然是非法的！还有其他类似的吗？

there are plenty! For example In the state of Georgia, you can’t keep ice cream in your back pocket on Sundays.

当然！在乔治亚州，在礼拜天，你不能把冰激淋放到你后面的口袋里去。

And in the great state of and my home Alabama. According to Code Section 13A-12-5, persons shall not engage in bear wrestling. I find it hard to follow this law in particular.

在我的家乡，阿拉巴马州。根据法律13A-12-5，人们不允许同熊摔跤。我发现这法律特别难遵循。

Don’t you think these laws are stupid? Do American’s really like these kinds of laws.

你会认为这些法律听起来有点傻傻的吗？还是美国人会比较喜欢像这样的法律。

You have to realize that a lot of these laws were made more than 100 years ago and repealing⁴ a law if more of a pain in the ass⁵ than passing one. So, today, they’re ignored and aren't really enforced. Except the one about the bear wresting⁶, that one was made in 2006 and they actually enforce it.

你必须意识到这些法律都有超过100年的历史了，废除它们比新建一个要麻烦得多。所以，今天的人们选择忽略这些法律。除了那个关于和熊摔跤的，那是2006新增的，因此人们必须遵守。

1 cumbersome   

adj.笨重的，不便携带的

参考例句：

• Although the machine looks cumbersome,it is actually easy to use.尽管这台机器看上去很笨重，操作起来却很容易。
• The furniture is too cumbersome to move.家具太笨，搬起来很不方便。

2 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

3 repeal   

n.废止，撤消；v.废止，撤消

参考例句：

• He plans to repeal a number of current policies.他计划废除一些当前的政策。
• He has made out a strong case for the repeal of the law.他提出强有力的理由，赞成废除该法令。

4 repealing   

撤销，废除( repeal的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• In addition, repealing the alternative minimum tax would also help. 此外，废除替代性最低税也会有所帮助。
• Repealing the investment tax credit. 取消投资税款扣除。

5 ass   

n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人

参考例句：

• He is not an ass as they make him.他不象大家猜想的那样笨。
• An ass endures his burden but not more than his burden.驴能负重但不能超过它能力所负担的。

6 wresting   

动词wrest的现在进行式

参考例句：

• The amphitheater was a sealed off round structure. Swordplay, wresting, gladiatoral and other contests were held there. 该竞技场为四周封闭式结构，可以举行斗剑、格斗、斗兽及其他竞赛项目。
• This paper introduces mechanism and control system of instrument for wresting training. 本文详细介绍了摔跤训练器的机械机构与控制方法。