美国文化口语-法律

CORINNE: Wow! It's 8:45. If we want to buy some beer, we should go now.
ALEX: Why? The party doesn't start until 10:30.
CORINNE: Yes. But the liquor¹ stores stop selling alcohol² at 9:00.
ALEX: Really? All the liquor stores?
CORINNE: Yes. It's a state law.
ALEX: You mean you can't buy beer after 9:00?
CORINNE: That's right.
ALEX: How strange! Why is there a law like that?
CORINNE: I don't like it either.But I guess a lot of Americans want to regulate³ drinking.They don't think it's good if people buy alcohol late at night.
ALEX: But the bars⁴ are still open after 9:00. So people could just go to the bars.
CORINNE: Of course. They can drink in the bars.But they can't buy beer at the bars and carry it outside.
ALEX: Is that true?
CORINNE: It's true. It's against the law.And the bars must close at 1:30 am. If they stay open later, they could get fined.
ALEX: That's silly. That's too early.
CORINNE: I agree. Sometimes I think the government here treats people like children.
ALEX: I'm really surprised. I thought America was "the land of the free".But you aren't even free to buy beer when you want.
CORINNE: There was a time in American history when alcohol was even illegal⁵.
ALEX: I know. I read about it.
CORINNE: So I think the laws today reflect⁶ that old attitude⁷.Many people think alcohol is bad. And they think the government should control it.
ALEX: Wait a minute. You said you can't buy beer at a liquor store after 9:00.
CORINNE: That's right.
ALEX: But what about Seven-Elevens.I saw a Seven-Eleven near your apartment, and they sell beer there.And they are open 24 hours.
CORINNE: At 9:00, they have to put a lock on the beer cooler.So even at a Seven-Eleven, you have to buy beer before 9:00.
ALEX: What a strange law!
CORINNE: I agree. Sometimes I think there are too many laws here.
ALEX: So let's hurry and buy the beer. Before it's too late.
CORINNE: Alright, let's go.
可琳恩：哇！八点四十五分了，如果我们要买啤酒的话，现在该走了。
亚历斯：为什么？派对十点半才开始。
可琳恩：是的，可是酒店九点过后就不卖酒了。
亚历斯：真的吗？所有的酒店吗？
可琳恩：是的，这是州政府的法律。
亚历斯：你是指九点以后不能买酒？
可琳恩：没错。
亚历斯：好奇怪！为什么有那样的法律？
可琳恩：我也不喜欢。我猜是很多美国人想管制喝酒。他们认为太晚买酒是不好的。
亚历斯：但是酒吧九点以后还是开的啊，所以只要去酒吧就好了。
可琳恩：当然他们可以在酒吧喝酒。但是不能在酒吧买酒外带。
亚历斯：真的吗？
可琳恩：是真的，这是违反法律的。而且酒吧必须在一点半关门，如果超出营业时间，就会被罚款。
亚历斯：好蠢喔，那样太早了。
可琳恩：我同意。有时我认为这儿的政府把人民当作小孩。
亚历斯：我真的很惊讶，我以为美国是块自由之地，但是你们连买啤酒都不自由。
可琳恩：在美国历史上酒甚至一度是非法的。
亚历斯：我知道，我读过。
可琳恩：所以我认为现今的法律反映出旧有的态度。很多人认为酒是不好的，而且政府应该管制。
亚历斯：等等，你说九点以后在酒店买不到酒。
可琳恩：没错。
亚历斯：那么 7-11店呢？我看过你家附近有一家7-11店，那儿有卖啤酒。而且是24小时的。
可琳恩：一到九点，他们必须把啤酒的冰箱锁起来。所以即便是在7-11店，你也必须在九点以前买啤酒。
亚历斯：好奇怪的法律！
可琳恩：我同意。有时我觉得这儿的规章太多。
亚历斯：那么我们快去买啤酒吧，免得太晚。
可琳恩：好，走吧。

1 liquor   

n.酒，烈性酒

参考例句：

• He keeps away from liquor and tobacco.他不喝酒，不抽烟。
• The liquor is not strong enough.这酒不够劲儿。

2 alcohol   

n.酒精，乙醇；含酒精的饮料

参考例句：

• The law forbids shops to sell alcohol to minors.法律禁止商店向未成年者出售含酒精的饮料。
• The alcohol is industrial.这些酒精是供工业用的。

3 regulate   

vt.管理，控制，调节，调校，调整

参考例句：

• This system can regulate the temperature of the room.这种系统能调节室内温度。
• They regulate the flow of water by the sluice gate.他们用水闸门控制水的流量。

4 bars   

n.马上的齿龈；酒吧间( bar的名词复数 )；售酒的（饮食）柜台；条；（门、窗等的）闩vi.

参考例句：

• The hotel is ideally placed for restaurants, bars and clubs. 这家宾馆地处的位置适宜经营餐厅、酒吧和俱乐部。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The prisoner had filed through the steel bars and escaped. 那囚犯锉断钢条逃跑了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 illegal   

adj.不合法的，非法的，犯法的

参考例句：

• I don't want to get mixed up with any illegal organization.我不想与任何非法组织有牵连。
• It's illegal for people under 17 to drive a car in Britain.在英国，不满17岁的人驾驶车辆是违法的。

6 reflect   

vt.反射，反映；招致，归咎；思考，想到；vi.反射，映出；思考，考虑；指责，怀疑

参考例句：

• I often reflect on my schooldays.我经常回忆起我上学的日子。
• Does this letter reflect how you really think?这封信反映你的真实想法吗？

7 attitude   

n.态度，看法；姿态，姿势

参考例句：

• What's his attitude toward this business?他对这事是什么态度？
• His attitude was shocking to her.他的态度令她感到震惊。