Listen&Learn: Prohibition

Posted by: Jaksyn Peacock

Learn about the period of time when alcohol was illegal in the United States.

Pre-listening vocabulary

temperance union: an organization that advocated for the prohibition of alcohol
poverty: a state of having very little money
crime: illegal activity
code: a way of communication that hides a person’s true message
gang: an organization of people that commit crimes
profit: to make money from something
smuggle: to bring something over a border illegally

Listening activity

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Gapfill exercise

Comprehension questions

[wp_quiz id=”20673″]

Discussion/essay questions

Why do you think Prohibition failed?

Transcript

Prohibition was a period of time when alcohol was banned in the United States. It came about because of the protests of temperance unions, which believed that banning alcohol would reduce poverty and crime. The American government outlawed the sale of alcohol in 1920, but this ban was not very effective. Secret bars called speakeasies began to appear throughout the country, where people could order alcohol by speaking in code. Prohibition also gave gangs an opportunity to profit from the illegal sale of alcohol. People known as rum-runners would smuggle alcohol across the Canadian border in order to sell it in the U.S. By 1933, it became clear that the ban had failed, and the government passed a new law allowing the sale of alcohol once again.

Written and recorded by Jaksyn Peacock for EnglishClub

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17 comments

English Club Indonesia says:

The prohibition failed due to the incompetence of the government and the authorities at that time. The ban should have been successful if they had the ability to counter those illegal smugglers and organizations from profiting from the prohibition.
Mél says:

It’s the human nature to break the rules.
G says:

Good
.Prakash.R says:

It is very useful to me. Thank you so much
yann says:

this is for the first time i use this platform, and i find very interesting. i do thank you for the you have added in me as far as the prohibition of alcohol is concerned.
B. Sreelekha says:

Thanku🙏
It is very useful and interesting information.
Dana says:

Nice course for EFSL
Mirta Bertín says:

Interesting articles to share with our students. Thank you very much!!
MAYBIN BWALYA says:

I have made headways in comprehensive tasks which was so challenging to me.Kudos to you all for the support you have continued to render to us.
MAURO says:

I love this kind of exercise. Thank you very much.
Angie says:

I Learn so much about this prohibition
Elena says:

Thanks for the interesting article.
The King Of Love From IRAN says:

Thank you for sharing it with us,
Christine PENNEC says:

thanks for this lesson
ramia noor says:

thanks for this informations
Julio souto says:

Thanks for the lesson
Rojan says:

Thank you very much for interesting information I did not know about it.