在线英语听力室

自考英语综合二上册课文 lesson 15

时间:2011-03-10 03:36:16

搜索关注在线英语听力室公众号:tingroom,领取免费英语资料大礼包。

(单词翻译)

  [00:00.00]Lesson Fifteen Text
[00:04.88]Bribery2 — An Inevitable3 Evil?  David Cotton
[00:12.75]Students taking business courses
[00:17.48]are sometimes a little surprised to find that lectures on business ethics4
[00:25.84]have been included in their syllabuses5 of study.
[00:31.11]They often do not realize that,later in their careers,
[00:37.28]they may be tempted6 to bend their principles to get what they want;
[00:44.04]perhaps also they are not fully7 aware that bribery in various forms
[00:51.98]is on the increase in many countries,
[00:56.56]and in some,this type of corruption8 has been a way of life for centuries.
[01:05.31]In dealing9 with the topic of business ethics,
[01:10.06]some lecturers ask students how they would act in the following situation:
[01:18.11]suppose you were head of a major soft-drinks company
[01:24.35]and you want to break into a certain overseas market
[01:29.99]where the growth potential for your company is likely to be very great indeed.
[01:38.77]During negotiations10 with government officials of this country,
[01:45.01]the Minister of Trade makes it clear to you
[01:50.47]that if you offer him a substantial bribe1,
[01:55.51]you will find it much easier to get an import licence for your goods,
[02:02.46]and you are also likely to avoid "bureaucratic11 delays",as he puts it.
[02:10.51]Now, the question is:do you pay up or stand by your principles?
[02:18.37]It is easy to talk about having high moral standards
[02:24.14]but in practice,what would one really do in such a situation?
[02:32.29]Some time ago the British car manufacturer,
[02:37.47]British Leyland,was accused of operating a "slush fund",
[02:44.91]and of other questionable12 practices such as paying agents and purchasers
[02:53.09]with padded commission,offering additional discounts
[02:59.93]and making payments to numbered bank accounts in Switzerland.
[03:06.31]The company rejected these allegations and they were later withdrawn13.
[03:12.84]Nevertheless,at this time,there were people in the motor industry in Britain
[03:20.78]who were prepared to say in private:
[03:25.32]"Look,we're in a wheeling-dealing business.
[03:31.80]Every year we're selling more than a £ 1,000 million worth of cars abroad.
[03:41.83]If we spend a few million greasing the palms of some of the buyers,who's hurt?
[03:49.77]If we didn't do it,someone else would. "
[03:55.02]It is difficult to resist the impression
[03:59.88]that bribery and other questionable payments are on the increase.
[04:07.35]Indeed,they seem to have become a  fact of commercial life.
[04:13.81]To take just one example,
[04:17.36]the Chrysler Corporation,third largest of the U.S.motor manufacturers,
[04:25.90]disclosed that it made questionable payments
[04:32.27]of more than $2.5 million between 1971 and 1976.
[04:45.13]By making this revelation,it joined more than 300 U.S.companies
[04:55.00]that had admitted to the U.S.Securities and Exchange Commission
[05:03.46]that they had made dubious14 payments of one kindor another
[05:10.41]— bribes15,facilitating payments,extra discounts,etc.
[05:18.59]in recent years.
[05:21.75]For discussion purposes,
[05:25.41]we can divide these payments into three broad categories
[05:33.35]The first category consists of substantial payments
[05:40.01]made for political purposes or to secure major contracts.
[05:47.09]For example, the U. S. conglomerate16 ITT
[05:54.46](International Telephoneand Telegraph Corporation)
[05:59.81]offered a large sum of money in support of a U.S. presidential candidate
[06:07.96]at a time when it was under investigation17
[06:12.82]for possible violations18 of the U. S.anti-trust law.
[06:19.48]This same company, it was revealed ,
[06:23.74]was ready to finance efforts to overthrow19 the Marxist government of Chilewhose
[06:32.28]President was Salvadore Allende.
[06:37.32]In this category,we may also include large payments made to ruling families
[06:45.58]or their close advisers20 in order to secure arms sales
[06:52.42]or major petrochemical and construction contracts.
[06:58.77]In a court case involving an arms deal with Iran,

  [07:04.54]a witness claimed that $1 million
[07:10.00]had been paid by a British company to a "go-between"
[07:16.45]who helped clinch21 a deal for supply of tanks to that country.
[07:22.49]Other countries have also been known to put pressure on foreign companies
[07:29.72]to make donations to party funds.
[07:34.27]The second category covers payments made
[07:39.13]to obtain quicker official approval of some project,
[07:44.69]to speed up the wheels of bureaucracy.
[07:48.85]An interesting example of this kind of payment
[07:53.89]is provided by the story of a sales manager
[07:59.45]who had been trying for some months to sell road machinery22
[08:05.38]to the Minister of Works of a Caribbean country.
[08:10.42]Finally,he hit upon the answer.
[08:14.58]Discovering that the minister was a bibliophile23,
[08:19.44]he bought a rare edition of a book,
[08:23.69]slipped $ 20,000 within its pages,
[08:30.04]then presented it to the minister.
[08:33.88]This man examined its contents, then said:
[08:38.84]"I understand there is a two-volume edition of this work."
[08:45.19]The sales manager,who was quick-witted,replied:
[08:50.36]"My company cannot afford a two-volume edition, sir,
[08:56.11]but we could offer you a copy with an appendix!"
[09:01.68]A short time later,the deal was approved.
[09:07.03]The third category involves payments made in countries where it is traditional
[09:14.68]to pay people to facilitate the passage of a business deal.
[09:20.93]Some Middle East countries would be included on this list,
[09:26.80]as well as certain Far Eastern countries.
[09:32.08]The payment may be made by a foreign company
[09:37.41]to ensure that a tender is put on a selective contract list
[09:44.54]or the company may pay
[09:48.30]so that an import licence for essential equipment is approved.
[09:55.15]Sometimes an expensive gift may be necessary
[10:00.71]to soften24 up a government official.
[10:04.79]A common type in this category is the "facilitating payment"
[10:11.45]usually a smaller sum of money
[10:15.89]— made to certain customs officials to clear cargoes25.
[10:21.77]One businessman has told the story of a delivery of 10,000 bottles
[10:30.10]of sterile26 penicillin27 at the airport of a Far Eastern country.
[10:37.65]It was apparently28 customary to pay customs officials about
[10:44.31]$ 250 upon arrivalof each shipment to "get them out of the sun".
[10:54.16]In this case,the company was not prepared to make such a payment,
[11:01.00]so no money changed hands.
[11:05.26]The Minister of Health of that nation
[11:09.70]then ordered that each phial be opened for inspection29,
[11:16.36]thereby destroying the whole shipment.
[11:21.12]Is it possible to formulate30 a code of rules for companies
[11:27.28]which would outlaw31 bribery in all its forms?
[11:32.85]The International Chambers32 of Commerce (ICC) favours a code of conduct
[11:41.62]which would ban the giving and seeking of bribes.
[11:47.58]This code would try to distinguish between commissions
[11:54.53]paid for real services and padded fees.
[12:00.69]A council has been proposed to administer the code.
[12:06.57]Unfortunately, opinions differ among members of the ICC
[12:12.94]concerning how to enforce the code.
[12:17.38]The British members,led by Lord Shawcross,
[12:22.74]would like the system to have enough legal teeth
[12:28.59]to make companies behave themselves.
[12:32.82]"It's no use having a dog without teeth," they argue.
[12:38.67]However, the French delegates think
[12:43.64]it is the business of governments to makeand impose law;
[12:49.59]the job of a business community like the ICC
[12:54.95]is to say what is right and wrong, but not to impose anything.
[13:02.89]In a well-known British newspaper, a writer argued recently
[13:09.73]that "industry is caught in a web of bribery"
[13:16.37]and that everyone is "on the take".
[13:21.20]This is probably an exaggeration.
[13:25.25]However, today's businessman, selling in overseas markets,
[13:32.62]will frequently meet situations where it is difficult
[13:39.17]to square his business interests with his moral conscience.

 


分享到:


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 bribe GW8zK     
n.贿赂;v.向…行贿,买通
参考例句:
  • He tried to bribe the policeman not to arrest him.他企图贿赂警察不逮捕他。
  • He resolutely refused their bribe.他坚决不接受他们的贿赂。
2 bribery Lxdz7Z     
n.贿络行为,行贿,受贿
参考例句:
  • FBI found out that the senator committed bribery.美国联邦调查局查明这个参议员有受贿行为。
  • He was charged with bribery.他被指控受贿。
3 inevitable 5xcyq     
adj.不可避免的,必然发生的
参考例句:
  • Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
  • The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。
4 ethics Dt3zbI     
n.伦理学;伦理观,道德标准
参考例句:
  • The ethics of his profession don't permit him to do that.他的职业道德不允许他那样做。
  • Personal ethics and professional ethics sometimes conflict.个人道德和职业道德有时会相互抵触。
5 syllabuses 7477c0be7bc17cd7dd8ceb17a8912d60     
教学大纲,课程提纲( syllabus的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • All instructors are trained to teach ABRSM syllabuses by our project advisors. 所有导师均已接受本机构音乐顾问有关英皇课程教学之专业培训。
  • Trade Test syllabuses for CNC EDM Wire Cut Operators is given in Appendix 1. 电脑数控火花线割机操作员技能测验的大纲见附录一。
6 tempted b0182e969d369add1b9ce2353d3c6ad6     
v.怂恿(某人)干不正当的事;冒…的险(tempt的过去分词)
参考例句:
  • I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚,但还是没开口。
  • I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。
7 fully Gfuzd     
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地
参考例句:
  • The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气,然后全部呼出。
  • They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
8 corruption TzCxn     
n.腐败,堕落,贪污
参考例句:
  • The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
  • The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。
9 dealing NvjzWP     
n.经商方法,待人态度
参考例句:
  • This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
  • His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。
10 negotiations af4b5f3e98e178dd3c4bac64b625ecd0     
协商( negotiation的名词复数 ); 谈判; 完成(难事); 通过
参考例句:
  • negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
  • Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。
11 bureaucratic OSFyE     
adj.官僚的,繁文缛节的
参考例句:
  • The sweat of labour washed away his bureaucratic airs.劳动的汗水冲掉了他身上的官气。
  • In this company you have to go through complex bureaucratic procedures just to get a new pencil.在这个公司里即使是领一支新铅笔,也必须通过繁琐的手续。
12 questionable oScxK     
adj.可疑的,有问题的
参考例句:
  • There are still a few questionable points in the case.这个案件还有几个疑点。
  • Your argument is based on a set of questionable assumptions.你的论证建立在一套有问题的假设上。
13 withdrawn eeczDJ     
vt.收回;使退出;vi.撤退,退出
参考例句:
  • Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
  • All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。
14 dubious Akqz1     
adj.怀疑的,无把握的;有问题的,靠不住的
参考例句:
  • What he said yesterday was dubious.他昨天说的话很含糊。
  • He uses some dubious shifts to get money.他用一些可疑的手段去赚钱。
15 bribes f3132f875c572eefabf4271b3ea7b2ca     
n.贿赂( bribe的名词复数 );向(某人)行贿,贿赂v.贿赂( bribe的第三人称单数 );向(某人)行贿,贿赂
参考例句:
  • It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
  • corrupt officials accepting bribes 接受贿赂的贪官污吏
16 conglomerate spBz6     
n.综合商社,多元化集团公司
参考例句:
  • The firm has been taken over by an American conglomerate.该公司已被美国一企业集团接管。
  • An American conglomerate holds a major share in the company.一家美国的大联合企业持有该公司的大部分股份。
17 investigation MRKzq     
n.调查,调查研究
参考例句:
  • In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
  • He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。
18 violations 403b65677d39097086593415b650ca21     
违反( violation的名词复数 ); 冒犯; 违反(行为、事例); 强奸
参考例句:
  • This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
  • These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。
19 overthrow PKDxo     
v.推翻,打倒,颠覆;n.推翻,瓦解,颠覆
参考例句:
  • After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后,这个国家处于混乱中。
  • The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。
20 advisers d4866a794d72d2a666da4e4803fdbf2e     
顾问,劝告者( adviser的名词复数 ); (指导大学新生学科问题等的)指导教授
参考例句:
  • a member of the President's favoured circle of advisers 总统宠爱的顾问班子中的一员
  • She withdrew to confer with her advisers before announcing a decision. 她先去请教顾问然后再宣布决定。
21 clinch 4q5zc     
v.敲弯,钉牢;确定;扭住对方 [参]clench
参考例句:
  • Clinch the boards together.用钉子把木板钉牢在一起。
  • We don't accept us dollars,please Swiss francs to clinch a deal business.我方不收美元,请最好用瑞士法郎来成交生意。
22 machinery CAdxb     
n.(总称)机械,机器;机构
参考例句:
  • Has the machinery been put up ready for the broadcast?广播器材安装完毕了吗?
  • Machinery ought to be well maintained all the time.机器应该随时注意维护。
23 bibliophile 8NAzN     
n.爱书者;藏书家
参考例句:
  • Ted loves everything about books.He is a real bibliophile.泰德喜爱所有与书籍有关的事物。他真是一个爱书人。
  • Zhou zuoren is not just a famous author and critics in contemporary history of china,but also an influential bibliophile.周作人不仅是中国现代著名的作家和评论家,也是一位有影响的藏书家。
24 soften 6w0wk     
v.(使)变柔软;(使)变柔和
参考例句:
  • Plastics will soften when exposed to heat.塑料适当加热就可以软化。
  • This special cream will help to soften up our skin.这种特殊的护肤霜有助于使皮肤变得柔软。
25 cargoes 49e446283c0d32352a986fd82a7e13c4     
n.(船或飞机装载的)货物( cargo的名词复数 );大量,重负
参考例句:
  • This ship embarked cargoes. 这艘船装载货物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The crew lashed cargoes of timber down. 全体船员将木材绑牢。 来自《简明英汉词典》
26 sterile orNyQ     
adj.不毛的,不孕的,无菌的,枯燥的,贫瘠的
参考例句:
  • This top fits over the bottle and keeps the teat sterile.这个盖子严实地盖在奶瓶上,保持奶嘴无菌。
  • The farmers turned the sterile land into high fields.农民们把不毛之地变成了高产田。
27 penicillin sMXxv     
n.青霉素,盘尼西林
参考例句:
  • I should have asked him for a shot of penicillin.我应当让他给我打一针青霉素的。
  • Penicillin was an extremely significant medical discovery.青霉素是极其重要的医学发现。
28 apparently tMmyQ     
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎
参考例句:
  • An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽,豁然开朗。
  • He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
29 inspection y6TxG     
n.检查,审查,检阅
参考例句:
  • On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查,发现肉变质了。
  • The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。
30 formulate L66yt     
v.用公式表示;规划;设计;系统地阐述
参考例句:
  • He took care to formulate his reply very clearly.他字斟句酌,清楚地做了回答。
  • I was impressed by the way he could formulate his ideas.他陈述观点的方式让我印象深刻。
31 outlaw 1J0xG     
n.歹徒,亡命之徒;vt.宣布…为不合法
参考例句:
  • The outlaw hid out in the hills for several months.逃犯在山里隐藏了几个月。
  • The outlaw has been caught.歹徒已被抓住了。
32 chambers c053984cd45eab1984d2c4776373c4fe     
n.房间( chamber的名词复数 );(议会的)议院;卧室;会议厅
参考例句:
  • The body will be removed into one of the cold storage chambers. 尸体将被移到一个冷冻间里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Mr Chambers's readable book concentrates on the middle passage: the time Ransome spent in Russia. Chambers先生的这本值得一看的书重点在中间:Ransome在俄国的那几年。 来自互联网

本文本内容来源于互联网抓取和网友提交,仅供参考,部分栏目没有内容,如果您有更合适的内容,欢迎 点击提交 分享给大家。