新概念英语第三册MP3教程附字幕 lesson14

查字典英语网 2012年12月26日

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      Lesson 14

      Anoblegangster

      贵族歹徒

      Listentothetapethenanswerthequestionbelow.

      听录音,然后回答以下问题。

      HowdidHaywoodmakeintimesofpeace?

      TherewasatinewhentheownersofshopsandbusinessesinChicagothattopaylargesumsofmoneytogangstersinreturnfor 'protection.' Ifthemoneywasnotpaidpromptly, thegangsterswouldquicklyputamanoutofbusinessbydestroyinghisshop. Obtaining 'protectionmoney' isnotamoderncrime. Aslongagoasthefourteenthcentury, anEnglishman, SirJohnHawkwood, madetheremarkablediscoverythatpeoplewouldratherpaylargesumsofmoneythanhavetheirlifeworkdestroyedbygangsters.

      Sixhundredyearsago, SirJohanHawkwoodarrivedinItalywithabandofsoldiersandsettlednearFlorence. HesoonmadeanameforhimselfandcametobeknowntotheItaliansasGiovanniAcuto. WhenevertheItaliancity-stateswereatwarwitheachother, Hawkwoodusedtohirehissoldierstoprinceswhowerewillingtopaythehighpricehedemanded. Intimesofpeace, whenbusinesswasbad, Hawkwoodandhismenwouldmarchintoacity-stateand, afterburningdownafewfarms, wouldoffertogoawayprotectionmoneywaspaidtothem. Hawkwoodmadelargesumsofmoneyinthisway. Inspiteofthis, theItaliansregardedhimasasortofhero. Whenhediedattheageofeighty, theFlorentinesgavehimastatefuneralandhadapicturedwithasdedicatedtothememoryof 'themostvaliantsoldierandmostnotableleader, SignorGiovanniHaukodue.'

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