Answer:
The answer is d. Owners of speakeasies operated illegally during Prohibition to provide a place to consume alcohol that was banned at the time.
Step-by-step explanation:
a. Owners provided entertainment for customers. Live bands and performers entertained customers. This helped create an enjoyable atmosphere.
b. They were often hidden on private property. Speakeasies were often hidden basements, hidden rooms behind bookshelves, and other secret locations on private property to avoid detection by authorities.
c. Owners paid politicians and law enforcement to stay open. Since speakeasies operated illegally, owners often had to bribe officials to allow them to continue operating.
d. They were located in open and public areas of cities. This is incorrect. Speakeasies needed to be hidden and secretive to avoid detection, so they were not located in open, public areas.
In summary, option d - "They were located in open and public areas of cities" - does not describe a characteristic of speakeasies. The other options - entertainment, hidden locations, and bribing officials - do accurately describe speakeasies.