英語新聞一點通：史上規模最大的掃黑行動 @ 【精英翻譯】的部落格

Biggest Mafia Crackdown in History

FBI* officers have arrested 127 people across the north-east US in one day. They are all believed to be members of the mafia, the well-known crime organisation. It is the largest ever crackdown on organised crime in a single day. The FBI say leaders of the five biggest mafia families in New York have all been arrested. They are involved in gambling, extortion and other illegal activities.

Many people believe the mafia is a problem of the past. It is true that the mafia has been weakened since the 1990s. A large number of gangsters have left “the mob” and testified against other gang members. Many mafia figures have been sent to prison for a long time. But the FBI’s director has warned that the secret crime organisation is still a danger to the American economy. He says these arrests are not the end of organised crime in New York. They are one more step in an on-going struggle.

*Federal Bureau of Investigation

史上規模最大的掃黑行動

美國聯邦調查局在短短一日內於美國東北部逮捕了127名嫌犯。這些嫌犯皆為知名犯罪組織黑手黨的成員，此行動為歷年來單日規模最大的掃黑行動。美國聯邦調查局表示紐約五大犯罪家族的領導人長期參與賭博、詐欺勒索等非法活動，皆已陸續在紐約遭到逮捕。

多數人認為黑手黨所引發的社會問題已成為歷史，黑手黨的勢力的確在90年代後逐漸衰微，許多幫派份子也紛紛脫離「犯罪集團」，並對其他同黨作出不利的證明。雖然許多黑手黨的主嫌已入獄很長一段時間，美國聯邦調查局局長仍發出警告：秘密犯罪組織對於美國經濟仍具有威脅性，近期的逮捕行動並未終結紐約的組織犯罪，而只是持續打擊犯罪的一小步。

字彙

arrest 逮捕
crackdown 鎮壓；痛擊
gambling 賭博
extortion 詐欺勒索
gangster 盜匪；流氓
testify 作證
prison 監獄

解讀

Writers try to avoid using names or words repeatedly because it is dull to read. By using alternative words, they can also give the reader more information. Instead of just being the mafia, it is also called organised crime, the mob and the secret crime organisation.

作者通常會避免重複使用相同的名稱或詞彙，否則讀者閱讀文章時易感到枯燥無味。透過詞彙變換，作者可提供給讀者更多的資訊。文中「黑手黨」一詞，也可稱為「組織犯罪」、「犯罪集團」或「秘密犯罪組織」。

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