Welcome to the Voice of America's News Words.

欢迎收看美国之音：新闻词汇。

In Venezuela, the government of president Nicolas Maduro has created new policies to deal with the economic crisis.

在委内瑞拉，总统尼古拉斯·马杜罗制定了应对经济危机的新政策。

Draconian. The new policies include higher wages for workers and set prices for goods, such as meat.

严厉的。新政策包括提高工人工资和为肉类等商品设定价格。

Business owners say these draconian policies have caused them to close their businesses

企业主表示，这些严厉的政策导致他们关闭了自己的企业，

because they cannot pay their workers' wages.

因为他们付不起工人的工资。

Draconian comes from the name of an Ancient Greek Lawmaker, Draco.

Draconian一词来源于古希腊立法者德拉古的名字。

His laws gave heavy punishments for small crimes.

他的法律会对轻微犯罪给予严厉的惩罚。

Today, draconian describes something that is cruel and severe.

今天，“draconian”形容的是残忍和严厉的事情。