Read the article and complete it with the words from the box.

Crazy laws

It seems that the Greek philosopher, Aristotle, was right when he said, ‘Even when laws have been written down, they ought not always to remain unaltered.’ Laws in some parts of the world haven’t changed for centuries, and some of them were strange right from the start!

Did you know, for example, that London taxes (officially called Hackney carriages) are still legally required to carry hay and oats for their horses to eat? And in England, it is (1) _____ to stand within 100 yards (91 meters) of the Queen, without wearing socks? It is also illegal for a Member of Parliament to enter the Houses of Parliament, where these crazy laws are made and discussed, wearing a full suit of armor.

If you live in Scotland, however, it’s important to know that if someone knocks at the door of your house, and needs to use your toilet, you are legally required to let him in. But if you are Scottish you should stay away from the city of York, in the north of England. There, it is perfectly legal to shoot a Scotsman with a bow and arrow, unless it is a Sunday!

But strange laws don’t just exist in the UK. In France, you cannot call your pig Napoleon, and in Italy, a man can be (2) ______ for wearing a skirt. That’s not all. In Alaska, USA, while it’s legal to shoot bears, waking a sleeping bear to take its photo is prohibited. Still in Alaska, it is considered as (3) _____ to push a live moose out of an airplane.

Lots of the craziest laws seem to involve animals. In Hollywood, it is illegal to take more than 2,0000 sheep down Hollywood Boulevard at any one time. And in Florida, if an elephant is left tied to a parking meter, the parking fine must be paid, just as it would for a vehicle.

Lastly, children are (4) _____ from going to school with their breath smelling of wild onions in West Virginia. And in Arkansas, teachers who have a certain haircut (a bob) will not be given a pay-rise. In Florida, a woman can be fined for falling asleep under the hair-dryer and unmarried women must not parachute on a Sunday. If they do, they might be arrested, receive a (5) ____ or be put in jail.[25]

Answer the questions about the article:

1. What is Hackney Carriage?

2. In what situation would you have to let a stranger into your house in Scotland?

3. What can happen to men who wear skirts in Italy?

4. Is it all right to take photos of sleeping bears in Alaska?

5. What might happen if you leave an elephant tied to a parking meter in Florida?

6. If you want to earn more money as a teacher in Arkansas, what should you be careful not to do?