经典双语笑话 第60期:这是个法律问题

 It's the Law 这是个法律问题

A slender, delicate, immaculately dressed Englishman was explaining to the visiting American about British law. 一位身材修长，举止文雅，穿着光鲜的英国人向来访的美国人解释英国法律。

"You know, homosexuality was once considered so heinous¹ in Britain that it was punishable by execution. “你知道吗?在英国，同性恋从前被认为是罪大恶极，可判处极刑，

Only 100 years ago, it was reduced to a misdemeanor, 一百年前，被减为行为失检之轻微罪刑。

and about 50 years ago, decriminalized altogether. . . 大约五十年前则完全不触犯刑法……。

Personally, I shan't be satisfied till it's mandatory²! " 不过就我个人而言，非要等到法令强制大家都得同性恋时，我才会开心。”

1.explain tosb 向...解释

例句：If he were here I could explain to him myself.

要是他在这里, 我就可以亲自向他解释了。

2.immaculately 考究的；讲究的

例句：He kept his hands and nails immaculately clean.

他的双手和指甲都非常干净。

3.punishable by execution 处以极刑；处于死刑

例句：China mulls less crimes punishable by execution.

中国斟酌减少适用死刑罪行。

4.reduced to 降低；沦为

例句：The building was reduced to a heap of rubble³.

那栋建筑物已成了一片瓦砾、废墟。

1 heinous   

adj.可憎的，十恶不赦的

参考例句：

• They admitted to the most heinous crimes.他们承认了极其恶劣的罪行。
• I do not want to meet that heinous person.我不想见那个十恶不赦的人。

2 mandatory   

adj.命令的；强制的；义务的；n.受托者

参考例句：

• It's mandatory to pay taxes.缴税是义务性的。
• There is no mandatory paid annual leave in the U.S.美国没有强制带薪年假。

3 rubble   

n.（一堆）碎石，瓦砾

参考例句：

• After the earthquake,it took months to clean up the rubble.地震后，花了数月才清理完瓦砾。
• After the war many cities were full of rubble.战后许多城市到处可见颓垣残壁。