There was a time when the owners of shops and businesses in Chicago had to pay large sums of money to gangsters in return for 'protection'. If the money was not paid promptly, the gangsters would quickly put a man out of business by destroying his shop. Obtaining 'protection money' is not a modern crime.
1.There was a time when the owners of shops and businesses in Chicago had to pay large sums of money to gangsters in return for 'protection'.
曾经有一个时期,芝加哥的店主和商行的老板们不得不拿出大笔的钱给歹徒以换取"保护"。
语言点:句子结构分析:when引导定语从句，修饰time,表示是在什么时候发生的事情。从句中的in return for protection充当目的状语，说明“付钱”的目的是为了得到“保护”。
2.If the money was not paid promptly, the gangsters would quickly put a man out of business by destroying his shop.
如果交款不及时,歹徒们就会很快捣毁他的商店,让他破产。
语言点1:句子结构分析:if引导条件状语从句，引出一个条件，即如果交钱不及时会导致主句所说的结果-破产;主句中的by destroying his shop作方式状语，交代“破产”的方式。
语言点2:写作短语总结:破产
put sb. out of business
lose one's business
go bankruptcy
fail to run business
one's business fails
one's business collapses
one's business lands on rocks
one's business goes to the dogs
3.Obtaining 'protection money' is not a modern crime.
榨取"保护金"并不是一种现代的罪恶行径。
语言点:protection money的意思是“保护金”。