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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Unit 4
Honesty
After-Class Reading
PASSAGE I How Honest Are We?
How honest are Asians today? Do people in the region's smaller communities have more integrity than residents of the mega-cities[1]? What motivates people to do the right thing?
Over a four-month period late last year, we tried to find out with a simple test. We visited 14 cities, towns and communities in nine countries. In each, we "lost" ten ordinary wallets filled with the local equivalent of $ 10 to $ 50 in cash, a local address and phone number, classified ads[2] from local newspapers, handwritten shopping lists-everything needed to make the wallets look real. Then we waited to see what would happen.
In each country, a reporter from our Asia headquarters in Hong Kong was joined by two local reporters. Together, they made the drops in front of temples, at airports, in malls. "It was incredibly difficult trying not to be seen dropping the wallets," one of them said.
The best method was for the "dropper" to lean down, tie a shoelace and put down the wallet when he or she was sure nobody was looking. Our dropper then walked away, while a colleague nearby pretending to be window-shopping[3] or in conversation on a public telephone, watched what happened.
Most of the wallets were picked up within minutes. Occasionally, though, the test required patience. In Hong Kong's Central district, one wallet lay unnoticed on the edge of a flower bed[4] in busy Statue Square for an entire lunch hour. One walletlay on the long-distance desk of Seoul's main telephone office[5] for an hour before someone spotted2 it and turned it in.
When we saw someone give a wallet to a security guard[6] or someone in charge, we approached the person and conducted an interview on the spot. Some finders walked away and later telephoned the number in the wallet to arrange its return; we revealed our secret and interviewed them. But others, we never heard from.
Why did we undertake this experiment? Instead of asking for opinions about personal honesty and ethics3, as pollsters do, we wanted to watch people in action as they wrestled5 with a real-life moral dilemma6.[7] We have always been concerned with questions of right and wrong, and thought this experiment would give us insights into how ordinary people would react when confronted with an everyday ethical7 choice.
The results were more revealing than we expected.
Overall, out of 140 wallets we dropped across Asia, 80 were returned-57 percent. A similar experiment in Europe resulted in almost identical totals. Out of 200 wallets dropped in Europe, 116 were returned-58 percent. In the United States, the return rate was slightly higher: 80 out of 120-67 percent.
In the US, only one person declined to take the money in the wallet when it was offered as a reward for being honest. In Europe, more than a quarter refused to take the money. In Asia, a staggering 72 percent of those who returned the wallets- 58 of 80-said no to any reward.
"I cannot accept a reward for having done the right thing," said a university student in Seoul. Among those who did accept the money, several said they intended to donate it to a charity or religious organization.
Within Asia we found other interesting results. Two-thirds of all our wallets were retrieved8 by men. But once the wallet was picked up, it made little difference whether the finder was male or female. In our study, 58 percent of the women who picked up wallets returned them and so did 56 percent of the men.
Are the people in Asia's giant population centers less honest than in its smaller cities? It seemed so. The lowest combined rate of return[8]-still a respectable 50 percent-was in the three largest cities visited: Seoul, Bombay and Manila. The best rates of return were in the less populous9 cities-Singapore; Inchon, Korea; Trivan-drum, India; and Kamakura, Japan-with populations ranging from 180,000 to 2.8 million.
Asia's most impoverished10 countries generally fared as well as those where living standards are high.[9] The combined return rate for Korea, Hong Kong and Japan was 60 percent-24 of 40. The combined return rate for India and the Philippines was 53 percent-21 of 40.
There were other interesting patterns: four out of five wallets "lost" in hospitals were returned. So, too, were ten of the 13 wallets dropped in banks and post offices, as were all four of the wallets in hotel lobbies. Three of the four wallets we dropped near police stations and eight of ten we left in and around churches, temples, shrines12 and mosques14 came back.
On the other hand, six of the 12 wallets we dropped in city halls[10] and other municipal buildings disappeared, as did 11 of the 13 wallets we left on streets, public plazas16 and parks.
We dropped a dozen wallets at various schools. Eight of 12 were returned with all the money and documents inside. The only campus where none came back was in Bangkok, Thailand. There, both of our wallets disappeared-one into the hands of girls wearing the crisp black skirts and white blouses that are both uniform and status symbol.
The phrase we heard over and over throughout Asia when someone returned a wallet was simple: "It's the right thing to do." And this "wallet test" made clear the role family and religion play in setting our moral compasses.[11] A 42-year-old senior police officer at the International Airport outside Manila echoed the sentiments of many. "My parents taught me not to take what's not mine. I've always tried to teach my children the same values."
A large number of those who returned wallets cited their belief in God. "Being a Muslim, I'm aware of temptation and how to overcome it," said a Malaysian woman, who runs a fruit stall with her husband. Several people turned to their houses of worship[12] for help. "They came to me and said: 'Father, please find the owner,'" a priest at St. Joseph's Cathedral told us.
Even the minority who kept the wallets reminded us that almost everyone has a conscience. The surest signs of that were the furtive17 looks and guilty glances of nearly all who pocketed[13] the wallets. They knew they were doing wrong.
A Japanese woman found one of our wallets beside the prayer wheel[14] at a temple. When asked why she hurried to turn it in, she said: "I was told to do this since I was a little girl. I think most Japanese will do the same."
Our experience proved she was right. Not only about most Japanese but about most people. (1103 words)
Proper Names
Bangkok
曼谷(泰国首都)
Bombay
孟买(印度西部港市)
Hong Kong
香港
Inchon
仁川(韩国港市)
Kamakura
镰仓(日本-城市)
Manila
马尼拉(菲律宾首都)
Seoul
汉城(韩国首都)
Singapore
新加坡(市)(新加坡共和国首都)
St. Joseph's Cathedral
圣约瑟夫大教堂
Trivandrum
特里凡得琅(印度南部港市)
New Words
dilemma
n. a difficult choice between two or more (usually undesirable) alternatives 困境,(进退两难的)窘境
e.g. He was faced with the dilemma of whether or not to return to his country.
furtive
adj. done secretly and quietly so as not to be noticed 鬼鬼祟祟的,偷偷摸摸的
e.g. With a furtive glance over her shoulder, she unlocked the door and entered the house.
impoverished
adj. poor and without money to live on 贫困的,赤贫的
e.g. The goal is to lure18 businesses into impoverished areas by offering them tax breaks (减税).
lobby
n. the area that is behind the main door of a hotel or other large building and that has corridors and staircases leading off it 大厅,门厅,穿堂
e.g. I) I met her in the lobby of the museum.
II) I rushed into the hotel lobby, where our luggage was still piled high.
mosque13
n. a building where Muslims go to worship 清真寺
e.g. He has campaigned for years to build a second mosque for the city's Muslim community.
municipal
adj. belonging to or concerned with a city or town that has its own local government 市的,市政的
e.g. This was the first big municipal housing scheme to get underway after the war.
Muslim
n. someone who believes in Islam and lives according to its rules 伊斯兰教徒
e.g. He refused to leave until relief supplies reached the 60,000 starving Muslim inhabitants.
plaza15
n. an open square in a city 广场,市场
e.g. The town is built around a large plaza with a fountain in the middle.
pollster
n. one that conducts a poll or compiles data obtained by a poll 民意测验者,民意调查者
e.g. Pollsters ask people questions and record their answers.
populous
adj. (formal) having a large population, densely19 populated 人口众多的,人口稠密的
e.g. China is the world's most populous country.
revealing *
adj. showing something that was hidden 发人深省的,揭露内情的,坦诚的 e.g. A revealing story explained all about the lies she told about her life.
shrine11
n. a religious place that honors a person or saint 圣殿,神庙
e.g. We lit a candle at the shrine to Saint Anthony.
staggering
adj. very surprising 惊人的
e.g. It costs a staggering $ 50,000 per week to keep the museum open to the public.
stall
n. a large table or a small shop with an open front from which goods are sold in a public place 店铺,摊位
e.g. In the village market, the stalls are piled high with local vegetables.
unnoticed*
adj. not noticed, not observed 未察觉的,未注意到的
e.g. She may be able to slip out of one of the gateways20 unnoticed among the other visitors.
Phrases and Expressions
in action
engaged in a certain activity, in operation 在活动,在运行中
e.g. I) She's a very good tennis player; you ought to see her in action.
II) I'd like to see the new computer system in action.
on the spot
immediately, at the place of the action 立即,在现场
e.g. I) He was hit by a falling tree and killed on the spot.
II) When the fighting started, police and reporters were soon on the spot.
turn in
1) give something back to a person or organization in authority 交上,上缴
e.g. Please turn your old parking permits (许可证) in at the end of the week.
2) (AmE) give a piece of written work to a teacher or employer交(作业、写好的文字材料)
e.g. She's worried she won't be able to turn in her project (课程作业) on time.
wrestle4 with
struggle to deal with or overcome 全力对付,努力克服
e.g. I) For over a year David wrestled with a guilty conscience.
II) Delegates wrestled with the problems of violence and sanctions (制裁)
PASSAGE II The Truth about Lying
I've been wanting to write on a subject that intrigues22 and challenges me: the subject of lying. I've found it very difficult to do. Everyone I've talked to has a quite intense and personal but often rather intolerant point of view about what we can-and can never never[1]-tell lies about. I've finally reached the conclusion that I can't present any ultimate conclusions, for too many people would promptly23 disagree. B Instead, I'd like to present a series of moral puzzles, all concerned with lying. I'll tell you what I think about them. Do you agree?
Social Lies
Most of the people I've talked with say that they find social lying acceptable and necessary. They think it's the civilized24 way for folks to behave. Without these little white lies[2], they say, our relationships would be short and nasty. It's arrogant25, they say, to insist on being so incorruptible and so brave that you cause other people unnecessary embarrassment26 or pain by compulsively presenting them with your honesty. I basically agree. What about you?
Will you say to people, when it simply isn't true, "I like your new hairdo," "You're looking much better," "It's so nice to see you," "I had a wonderful time"?
Will you praise ugly presents and ugly kids?
And even though, as I do, you may prefer the polite evasion27 of "You really cooked up a storm" instead of "The soup"-which tastes like warmed-over coffee- "is wonderful," will you, if you must, proclaim it wonderful?[3]
There's one man I know who absolutely refuses to tell social lies. "I can't play that game," he says, "I'm simply not made that way." And his answer to the argument that saying nice things to someone doesn't cost anything is, "Yes, it does-it destroys your credibility. " My friend does not indulge in what he calls "flattery, false praise and sweet comments". When others tell lies he will not go along. He says that social lying is lying, that little white lies are still lies. And he feels that telling lies is morally wrong. What about you?
Peace-Keeping Lies
Many people tell peace-keeping lies; lies designed to avoid irritation28 or argument; lies designed to shelter the liar29 from possible blame or pain; lies designed to keep trouble at bay without hurting anyone.
I tell these lies at times, yet I always feel they're wrong. I understand why we tell them, but still they feel wrong.[4] And whenever I lie so that someone won't disapprove30 of me or think less of[5] me or yell at me, I feel I'm a bit of a coward, I feel I'm dodging31 responsibility, I feel guilty. What about you?
Do you, when you are late for a date because you overslept, say you're late because you got caught in a traffic jam?
Do you, when you didn't remember that it was your father's birthday, say that his present must be delayed in the mail?
Finally, do you keep the peace by telling your husband lies on the subject of money? And in general do you find yourself ready, willing and able to lie to him when you make absurd mistakes or lose or break things?
Protective Lies
Protective lies are lies folks tell-often quite serious lies-because they're convinced that the truth would be too damaging. They lie because they feel there are certain human values that are more important than the wrong of having lied. They lie, not for personal gain, but because they believe it's for the good of the person they're lying to. They lie to those they love, to those who trust them most of all, on the grounds that breaking this trust is justified32.[6]
They may lie to their children on money or marital33 matters.
They may lie to the dying about the state of their health.
I sometimes tell such lies, but I'm aware that it's quite presumptuous34 to claim I know what's best for others to know. That's called playing God.[7] That's called manipulation and control. And we never can be sure, once we start to juggle35 lies, just where they'll land, exactly where they'll roll.[8]
And furthermore, we may find ourselves lying in order to back up the lies that are backing up the lie we initially36 told.
And furthermore-let's be honest-if conditions were reversed, we certainly wouldn't want anyone lying to us.
Yet, having said all that, I still believe that there are times when protective lies must nonetheless be told. What about you?
If your former husband failed to send his monthly child-support check and in other ways behaved like a total rat,[9] would you allow your children-who believed he was simply wonderful-to continue to believe that he was wonderful?
If your dearly beloved brother selected a wife whom you deeply disliked, would you fake your feelings?
Trust-Keeping Lies
Another group of lies are trust-keeping lies, lies that involve triangulation,[10] with A (that's you) telling lies to B on behalf of C (whose trust you'd promised to keep). Most people concede that once you've agreed not to betray a friend's confidence, you can't betray it, even if you must lie. But I've talked with people who don't want you to tell them anything that they might be called on to lie about. They absolutely don't want to know about it.
"I don't tell lies for myself," says Fran, "and I don't want to have to tell them for other people." What about you?
Do you believe you can have close friends if you're not prepared to receive their deepest secrets?
Do you believe you must always lie for your friends?
As you can see, these issues get terribly sticky.[11]
Some say that truth will out[12] and thus you might as well tell the truth. Some say you can't regain37 the trust that lies lose. Some say that even though the truth may never be revealed, our lies damage our relationships. Some say...well, here's what some of them have to say.
"I'm a coward," says Grace, "about telling close people important, difficult truths. I find that I'm unable to carry it off. And so if something is bothering me, it keeps building up inside till I end up just not seeing them any more.[13]"
"I suffer most from the misconception that children can't take the truth," says Emily. "But I'm starting to see that what's harder and more damaging for them is being told lies, is not being told the truth."
"I'm afraid," says Joan, "that we often wind up feeling a bit of contempt for the people we lie to."
And then there are those who have no talent for lying.
"Over the years, I tried to lie," a friend of mine explained, "but I always got found out and I always got punished. I guess I gave myself away because I feel guilty about any kind of lying. It looks as if I'm stuck with telling the truth."
For those of us, however, who are good at telling lies, for those of us who lie and don't get caught, the question of whether or not to lie can be a hard and serious moral problem. I liked the remark of a friend of mine who said, "I'm willing to lie. But just as a last resort-the truth's always better."
"Because," he explained, "though others may completely accept the lie I'm telling, I don't."
I tend to feel that way too.
What about you? (1247 words)
Proper Names
Emily
(女子名)埃米莉
Fran
(女子名)弗兰(Frances的昵称)
Grace
(女子名)格雷斯
Joan
(女子名)琼
New Words
arrogant
adj. excessively and unpleasantly proud of oneself 傲慢的,自大的
e.g. Ever since he met the Queen, he's been quite arrogant.
civilized *
adj. having or showing good behavior or manners 有教养的,文雅的
e.g. I) Let's discuss this like civilized people.
II) They were brought up to behave in a civilized way in public.
concede
v. admit as true or correct, often unwillingly38 承认,承认......为真(或正确)
e.g. I) The company conceded that an error had been made.
II) We have to concede that if it's wrong to injure humans it must also be wrong to do the identical or very similar injury to non-humans.
coward
n. a person who doesn't have the courage to face danger or pain 懦夫,胆小鬼
e.g. Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant39 (勇敢的) never taste of death but once. (Shakespeare, Julius Caesar)
credibility *
n. the quality of deserving to be believed and trusted 可靠性,可信度
e.g. After the recent scandal the local government has lost all its credibility.
evasion
n. an indirect answer 回避真相的说法,借口e.g. His speech was full of lies and evasions40 and never properly addressed the issue.
fake
v. pretend that you have (a feeling or illness)假装,伪装
e.g. She didn't want to go out, so she faked a headache.
flattery*
n. insincere praise 奉承,恭维话
e.g. I) Flattery will get you nowhere.
II) He was immune to the flattery of political leaders.
incorruptible*
adj. incapable41 of being bribed42 or morally corrupted43 不受腐蚀的,廉洁的,正直的
e.g. A good judge must be incorruptible.
initially
adv. at the beginning 开始,起先
e.g. I) Initially, most people approved of the new scheme.
II) I don't remember who initially conceived the idea.
intolerant*
adj. lacking kindness or understanding toward people who are different 不容忍的
e.g. I) She can be very intolerant of students who don't understand what she is talking about.
II) This made him impatient and in a sense intolerant of those less able around him.
justified*
adj. reasonable and acceptable 正当的,有理的
e.g. In my opinion, this decision was wholly justified.
liar*
n. someone who tells lies 说谎者
e.g. He's such a liar-you can't trust a word he says.
oversleep*
v. sleep longer or later than one intended 睡过头
e.g. I) I missed the train this morning because I over-slept again.
II) We talked until the early hours and consequently I overslept.
presumptuous
adj. showing disrespect as a result of being too confident 专横的,自以为是的
e.g. He was presumptuous in making the announcement before the decision had been approved.
triangulation
n. formation of or division into triangles 形成或分成三角(关系)
Phrases and Expressions
back up
1) supply evidence to prove something is true, give moral, physical support to 证实,支持
e.g. I) Most people have strong views on language, but there's been very little research to back up their claims.
II) The police didn't believe the man's story until two witnesses backed him up.
2) make a spare copy of (data or a disk) 复制
e.g. Make sure you back up the file before you turn the computer off.3) (cause to) go backwards44 (使)倒退
e.g. The driver backed up his car and stopped.
be stuck with
be unable to get away from, have something you don't want 无法摆脱,解脱不了
e.g. I) We were stuck with him for the entire train journey.
II) I bought a used car that does not run very well, and now I'm stuck with it.
build up
(cause to) increase or become larger or stronger (使)增强、增大
e.g. I) Tension is building up between the two communities.
II) She needs something to build up her confidence again.
carry off
1) succeed in doing something 成功地处理或应付
e.g. I) She would have carried everything off beautifully.
II) It's not an easy part to act but I thought he carried it off brilliantly.
2) take something somewhere, especially without permission 拿走,夺走
e.g. Thieves broke into the shop and carried off jewellery worth thousands of pounds.
end/wind up (doing something)
eventually reach or come to a specified45 state or course of action 结果......
e.g. I) I ended up paying for everyone at the table.
II) She ended up owning the company where she had got her first job.
III) We got lost and wound up being two hours late.
IV) I wound up having to start the course from the beginning again.
give away
reveal a secret, usually unintentionally 暴露,泄露
e.g. I) It was meant to be a surprise until Caroline gave it away.
II) The children said they didn't eat the cake, but the chocolate around their mouths gave them away.
go along (with)
support an idea or agree with someone's opinion 赞成,附和
e.g. I) They are unlikely to go along with the scheme voluntarily.
II) The game is changing and we've got to go along with it and start playing it the way the others play it.
indulge in
allow oneself to have or do something even if it is not good or wise 纵容,放纵
e.g. I shall forget about dieting today. I'm just going to indulge in the delicious food.
keep/hold... at bay
prevent something dangerous or unpleasant from happening or from coming too close 阻止发生,使......无法靠近
e.g. Economic collapse46 in North Korea was kept at bay by aid from China.
last resort
the only thing someone turns to when everything else has failed 最后一着
e.g. I) In the last resort we can always walk home.
II) Sleeping pills should be a last resort. They can be addictive47 and also can interfere48 with normal sleep patterns.
on behalf of
1) in the interests of 为了某人
e.g. Please don't leave on my behalf.
2) instead of someone, as someone's representative 代表某人
e.g. On behalf of everyone here, may I wish you a very happy retirement49.
on the grounds
for the reason 由于......的原因
e.g. Zoe was awarded compensation on the grounds that the doctor had been negligent50
shelter... from
protect... from 使......免于,防止......遭受......
e.g. I) The wall sheltered the soldiers from gunfire.
II) These plants must be sheltered from direct sunlight.
up a storm
(perform the specified action) with great enthusiasm and energy 热情地,干劲十足地
e.g. The band could really play up a storm.
PASSAGE III Is Business Bluffing52 Ethical?
A respected businessman with whom I discussed the theme of this article remarked with some heat, "You mean to say you're going to encourage men to bluff51? Why, bluffing is nothing more than a form of lying! You're advising them to lie!"
I agreed that the basis, of private morality is a respect for truth and that the closer a businessman comes to the truth, the more he deserves respect.[1] At the same time, I suggested that most bluffing in business might be regarded simply as game strategy-much like bluffing in poker53, which does not reflect on the morality of the bluffer54.
I quoted Henry Taylor, the British statesman who pointed55 out that "falsehood ceases to be falsehood when it is understood on all sides that the truth is not expected to be spoken" - an exact description of bluffing in poker, diplomacy56, and business. I cited the analogy of the criminal court, where the criminal is not expected to tell the truth when he pleads "not guilty". Everyone from the judge down takes it for granted that the job of the defendant57's attorney is to get his client off, not to reveal the truth; and this is considered ethical practice.
I reminded my friend that millions of businessmen feel forced every day to say yes to their bosses when they secretly believe no and that this is generally accepted as permissible58 strategy when the alternative might be the loss of a job. The essential point, I said, is that the ethics of business are game ethics, different from the ethics of religion.
We can learn a good deal about the nature of business by comparing it with poker. While both have a large element of chance, in the long run the winner is the man who plays with steady skill. In both games ultimate victory requires intimate knowledge of the rules, insight into the psychology59 of the other players, self-confidence, a considerable amount of self-discipline, and the ability to respond swiftly and effectively to opportunities provided by chance.[2]
No one expects poker to be played on the ethical principles preached in churches. Poker has its special ethics, and here I am not referring to rules against cheating. The man who keeps an ace1 up his sleeve or who marks the cards is more than unethical; he is a crook60, and can be punished as such-kicked out of the game or, in the Old West,[3] shot.
In contrast to the cheat, the unethical poker player is one who, while abiding61 by the letter of the rules,[4] finds ways to put the other players at an unfair disadvantage. Perhaps he bothers them with loud talk. Or he tries to get them drunk. Ethical poker players frown on such tactics.[5]
Poker's own brand[6] of ethics is different from the ethical ideals of civilized human relationships. The game calls for distrust of the other fellow. It ignores the claim of friendship. Cunning deception63 and concealment64 of one's strength and intentions, not kindness and openheartedness, are vital in poker.[7] No one thinks any the worse of poker on that account.[8] And no one should think any the worse of the game of business because its standards of right and wrong differ from the prevailing65 traditions of morality in our society. That most businessmen are not indifferent to ethics in their private lives, everyone will agree. My point is that in their office lives they cease to be private citizens; they become game players who must be guided by a somewhat different set of ethical standards.
The point was forcefully made to me by a Midwestern executive who has given a good deal of thought to the question: "So long as a businessman complies with the laws of the land[9] and avoids telling harmful lies, he's ethical. If the law as written gives a man a wide-open chance to make a killing,[10] he'd be a fool not to take advantage of it. If he doesn't, somebody else will. There's no obligation on him to stop and consider who is going to get hurt. If the law says he can do it, that's all the justification66 he needs. There's nothing unethical about that. It's just plain business sense[11]."
I think it is fair to sum up the prevailing attitude of businessmen on ethics as follows:
We live in what is probably the most competitive of the world's civilized societies. Our customs encourage a high degree of aggression67 in the individual's striving for success. Business is our main area of competition, and it has been made into a game of strategy. The basic rules of the game have been set by the government, which attempts to detect and punish business frauds. But as long as a company does not break the rules of the game set by law, it has the legal right to shape its strategy without reference to anything but its profits. Decisions in this area are, finally, decisions of strategy, not of ethics.
If a man plans to take a seat in the business game, he owes it to himself to master the principles by which the game is played, including its special ethical outlook.[12] He can then hardly fail to recognize that an occasional bluff may well be justified in terms of the game's ethics and warranted in terms of economic necessity. Once he clears his mind on this point, he is in a good position to match his strategy against that of the other players. He can then determine objectively whether a bluff in a given situation has a good chance of succeeding and can decide when and how to bluff, without a feeling of ethical damage.
To be a winner, a man must play to win. This does not mean that he must be cruel, harsh, or treacherous68. On the contrary, the better his reputation for integrity, honesty, and decency69, the better his chances of victory will be in the long run. But from time to time every businessman, like every poker player, is offered a choice between certain loss or bluffing within the legal rules of the game. If he is not resigned to losing, if he wants to rise in his company and industry, then in such a crisis he will bluff-and bluff hard.
Every now and then one meets a successful businessman who has conveniently forgotten the small or large deceptions70 that he practiced on his way to fortune.[13] "God gave me my money," old John D. Rockefeller once piously71 told a Sunday school class. It would be a rare tycoon72 in our time who would risk the loud laugh with which such a remark would be greeted.[14]
In the last third of the twentieth century even children are aware that if a man has become prosperous in business, he has sometimes departed from the strict truth in order to overcome obstacles or has practiced the more subtle deceptions of the half- truth or the misleading omission73.[15] Whatever the form of the bluff, it is an integral part of the game, and the executive who does not master its techniques is not likely to accumulate much money or power. (1210 words)
Proper Names
Henry Taylor
(男子名)亨利.泰勒
John D. Rockefeller
约翰.D.洛克菲勒(1839-1937,美国洛克菲勒财团创始人)
New Words
ace
n. the highest or lowest value playing card with a single symbol on it A 纸牌,幺点骨牌
analogy
n. a comparison or similarity between two things that are alike in some way 比拟,类比,相似(之处)
e.g. I) The author uses the analogy of bees when describing the workers at the bakery.
II) He drew an analogy between the brain and a vast computer.
bluff
1) v. give a false display of strength or confidence 虚张声势,用假象骗人
e.g. They were bluffing when the reporters said they knew the movie star.
2) n. an act or instance of deceiving or misleading 虚张声势,欺骗
e.g. The soldiers thought it was a bluff.
bluffer
n. a person who pretends to be confident in order to deceive or mislead 用假象骗人的人
concealment*
n. the act of keeping information or a feeling secret 隐藏,掩盖,隐瞒
e.g. His concealment of his true motives74 was masterly.
deception*
n. the act of deceiving 欺骗,蒙蔽
e.g. It was an innocent deception, meant as a joke.
defendant
n. a person in a law case who is accused of a crime 被告,被告人
e.g. The defendant in this trial is accused of stealing a car.
distrust *
n. lack of trust, suspicion 怀疑
e.g. The two groups have existed in a state of mutual75 distrust for centuries.
falsehood *
n. (formal) the quality or fact of being untrue or of being a lie 谎言,欺骗
e.g. She needs to learn what truth means and how it differs from falsehood.
forcefully *
adv. strongly and clearly, persuasively76 强有力地,有说服力地
e.g. He argued forcefully that stricter laws were necessary to deal with the problem.
fraud
n. someone or something that is not what he, she, or it appears to be 骗子,欺诈行为
e.g. I) He claims that the vote was a fraud.
II) The man turned out to be a fraud who had put his name on someone else's work.
indifferent
adj. having or showing no interest, not caring 冷漠的,不关心的
e.g. I) He complained that people became indifferent to the suffering of others.
II) Children fail to progress if their parents seem to be indifferent to their success.
integral
adj. necessary to form a whole or make something complete 必不可少的,构成整体所必需的
e.g. I) Practice is an integral part of language learning.
II) Talks, videos and walks will provide an integral part of the weekend.
legal
adj. allowed or required by the law, of or based on the law 合法的,法定的,法律(上)的
e.g. I) Now he has a legal right to vote.
II) Christmas and New Year's Day are legal holidays in the USA.
Midwestern
adj. of or relating to a region in the north central United States 美国中西部的
obligation
n. a legal or moral requirement to do something, a feeling that one must do something 义务,责任,职责
e.g. I) If you have not signed a contract, you are under no obligation to pay them any money.
II) Everyone has a legal obligation to provide the tax office with details of their earnings77.
obstacle
n. something that prevents action, movement, or success 障碍(物),妨碍
e.g. I) Lack of a high school diploma (文凭) proved to be a huge obstacle.
II) A tree fell across the road and became an obstacle for cars and trucks.
openheartedness *
n. kindness, frankness, sincerity78 亲切和善,真诚坦率
piously
adv. in a state of feeling or showing love and duty to God and religion 虔诚地
poker
n. a popular card game usually played for money 扑克
e.g. We'll travel by train and Arnold is going to teach me how to play poker.
preach
v. teach or support something and urge others to follow 宣讲,劝告
e.g. I) The bishop79 preached to a crowd of several hundred local people.
II) She is always preaching to her children about not talking to strangers.
prevailing*
adj. most frequent or common, widespread 占优势的,普遍的
e.g. The prevailing opinion now is that the president is doing a good job.
resigned*
adj. having or showing patient acceptance of something unpleasant 听任于,顺从
e.g. I) She seems resigned to not having a holiday this year.
II) He is resigned to the noise, the mess, the constant upheaval80 (动乱).
sleeve
n. the part of a piece of clothing that covers some or all of the arm 袖子
e.g. I) In the summer, she likes blouses with short sleeves.
II) You'd better roll your sleeves up or you'll get them dirty.
statesman
n. an experienced politician, especially one who is respected for making good judgments81 政治家
e.g. Winston Churchill was a great statesman for England during World War II.
tactic62
n. (usually plural) a way or method of doing or achieving something 方法,策略
e.g. I) That company needs new marketing82 tactics for its products.
II) He uses power as a tactic in making others do what he wants.
treacherous
adj. disloyal, not to be trusted 背信弃义的,不忠的
e.g. He is a treacherous man who pretends friendship, then harms people.
tycoon
n. a wealthy and powerful person in business or industry (企业界的)巨头,大亨
e.g. He is a tycoon who owns steel mills, a shipyard, and other businesses.
unethical
adj. not morally correct 不道德的
e.g. It is unethical to torment83 (折磨) any creature for entertainment.
warrant
v. make a particular activity necessary 证明(某事物)正当、有理或恰当
e.g. I) There's enough evidence to warrant a trial.
II) That dangerous situation warrants immediate21 action.
Phrases and Expressions
abide84 by
act in accordance with something, be faithful to something 遵守,信守
e.g. You'll have to abide by the referee's decision.
call for
need a particular action or quality, or make it necessary 要求,需要
e.g. I) This kind of work calls for a lot of patience
II) It's a situation that calls for a blend of delicacy85 and force.
depart from
start to do something differently from the usual, traditional, or expected way背离,违反
e.g. I) On this occasion we departed from our normal practice of holding the meetings in public.
II) The Prime Minister gave a press conference which departed from the agreed text(达成的文本).
(every) now and then
sometimes but not very often or regularly 有时,不时地
e.g. I) Every now and then I like to visit art galleries.
II) She meets her old boyfriend for a drink now and then.
frown on/upon
disapprove of 不赞许,对......皱眉
e.g. I) His parents frowned on his staying out late.
II) Smoking in the canteen is rather frowned on here.
get (someone) off
(help someone to)avoid punishment for something 逃脱惩罚,使......逃脱惩罚
e.g. I) The student who cheated got off with just a warning.
II) She was charged with fraud, but her lawyer managed to get her off.
in the long run
in the distant future 从长远来看,最终
e.g. I) In the long run, your education will prove to be a good investment.
II) My mother always told me that in the long run I would be glad I didn't give up piano.
match... against...
make two things, people, or teams compete with each other 使......与......相较量
e.g. I) Germany has been matched against Holland in the semi-final.
II) The teacher matched one group against the other in a spelling contest.
on that account
because of that, for that reason 由于那个缘故
e.g. I) Philip had on that account taken a sudden dislike to him.
II) I have no criticisms of him on that account, or of his performance as minister of state.
reflect on
affect other people's opinion of someone or something 招致非议,给......带来影响
e.g. I) When one player behaves disgracefully it reflects on the whole team.
II) Students who do well on exams reflect well on their teachers.
with (some) heat
with a strong emotion, especially excitement or anger 情绪激烈地
e.g. "No, I did not do it, and I deny absolutely all your accusations," he replied with heat.
1 ace | |
n.A牌;发球得分;佼佼者;adj.杰出的 | |
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2 spotted | |
adj.有斑点的,斑纹的,弄污了的 | |
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3 ethics | |
n.伦理学;伦理观,道德标准 | |
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4 wrestle | |
vi.摔跤,角力;搏斗;全力对付 | |
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5 wrestled | |
v.(与某人)搏斗( wrestle的过去式和过去分词 );扭成一团;扭打;(与…)摔跤 | |
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6 dilemma | |
n.困境,进退两难的局面 | |
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7 ethical | |
adj.伦理的,道德的,合乎道德的 | |
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8 retrieved | |
v.取回( retrieve的过去式和过去分词 );恢复;寻回;检索(储存的信息) | |
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9 populous | |
adj.人口稠密的,人口众多的 | |
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10 impoverished | |
adj.穷困的,无力的,用尽了的v.使(某人)贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 );使(某物)贫瘠或恶化 | |
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11 shrine | |
n.圣地,神龛,庙;v.将...置于神龛内,把...奉为神圣 | |
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12 shrines | |
圣地,圣坛,神圣场所( shrine的名词复数 ) | |
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13 mosque | |
n.清真寺 | |
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14 mosques | |
清真寺; 伊斯兰教寺院,清真寺; 清真寺,伊斯兰教寺院( mosque的名词复数 ) | |
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15 plaza | |
n.广场,市场 | |
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16 plazas | |
n.(尤指西班牙语城镇的)露天广场( plaza的名词复数 );购物中心 | |
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17 furtive | |
adj.鬼鬼崇崇的,偷偷摸摸的 | |
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18 lure | |
n.吸引人的东西,诱惑物;vt.引诱,吸引 | |
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19 densely | |
ad.密集地;浓厚地 | |
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20 gateways | |
n.网关( gateway的名词复数 );门径;方法;大门口 | |
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21 immediate | |
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 | |
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22 intrigues | |
n.密谋策划( intrigue的名词复数 );神秘气氛;引人入胜的复杂情节v.搞阴谋诡计( intrigue的第三人称单数 );激起…的好奇心 | |
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23 promptly | |
adv.及时地,敏捷地 | |
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24 civilized | |
a.有教养的,文雅的 | |
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25 arrogant | |
adj.傲慢的,自大的 | |
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26 embarrassment | |
n.尴尬;使人为难的人(事物);障碍;窘迫 | |
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27 evasion | |
n.逃避,偷漏(税) | |
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28 irritation | |
n.激怒,恼怒,生气 | |
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29 liar | |
n.说谎的人 | |
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30 disapprove | |
v.不赞成,不同意,不批准 | |
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31 dodging | |
n.避开,闪过,音调改变v.闪躲( dodge的现在分词 );回避 | |
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32 justified | |
a.正当的,有理的 | |
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33 marital | |
adj.婚姻的,夫妻的 | |
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34 presumptuous | |
adj.胆大妄为的,放肆的,冒昧的,冒失的 | |
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35 juggle | |
v.变戏法,纂改,欺骗,同时做;n.玩杂耍,纂改,花招 | |
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36 initially | |
adv.最初,开始 | |
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37 regain | |
vt.重新获得,收复,恢复 | |
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38 unwillingly | |
adv.不情愿地 | |
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39 valiant | |
adj.勇敢的,英勇的;n.勇士,勇敢的人 | |
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40 evasions | |
逃避( evasion的名词复数 ); 回避; 遁辞; 借口 | |
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41 incapable | |
adj.无能力的,不能做某事的 | |
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42 bribed | |
v.贿赂( bribe的过去式和过去分词 );向(某人)行贿,贿赂 | |
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43 corrupted | |
(使)败坏( corrupt的过去式和过去分词 ); (使)腐化; 引起(计算机文件等的)错误; 破坏 | |
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44 backwards | |
adv.往回地,向原处,倒,相反,前后倒置地 | |
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45 specified | |
adj.特定的 | |
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46 collapse | |
vi.累倒;昏倒;倒塌;塌陷 | |
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47 addictive | |
adj.(吸毒等)使成瘾的,成为习惯的 | |
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48 interfere | |
v.(in)干涉,干预;(with)妨碍,打扰 | |
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49 retirement | |
n.退休,退职 | |
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50 negligent | |
adj.疏忽的;玩忽的;粗心大意的 | |
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51 bluff | |
v.虚张声势,用假象骗人;n.虚张声势,欺骗 | |
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52 bluffing | |
n. 威吓,唬人 动词bluff的现在分词形式 | |
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53 poker | |
n.扑克;vt.烙制 | |
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54 bluffer | |
n.用假像骗人的人 | |
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55 pointed | |
adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
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56 diplomacy | |
n.外交;外交手腕,交际手腕 | |
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57 defendant | |
n.被告;adj.处于被告地位的 | |
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58 permissible | |
adj.可允许的,许可的 | |
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59 psychology | |
n.心理,心理学,心理状态 | |
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60 crook | |
v.使弯曲;n.小偷,骗子,贼;弯曲(处) | |
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61 abiding | |
adj.永久的,持久的,不变的 | |
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62 tactic | |
n.战略,策略;adj.战术的,有策略的 | |
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63 deception | |
n.欺骗,欺诈;骗局,诡计 | |
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64 concealment | |
n.隐藏, 掩盖,隐瞒 | |
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65 prevailing | |
adj.盛行的;占优势的;主要的 | |
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66 justification | |
n.正当的理由;辩解的理由 | |
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67 aggression | |
n.进攻,侵略,侵犯,侵害 | |
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68 treacherous | |
adj.不可靠的,有暗藏的危险的;adj.背叛的,背信弃义的 | |
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69 decency | |
n.体面,得体,合宜,正派,庄重 | |
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70 deceptions | |
欺骗( deception的名词复数 ); 骗术,诡计 | |
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71 piously | |
adv.虔诚地 | |
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72 tycoon | |
n.有钱有势的企业家,大亨 | |
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73 omission | |
n.省略,删节;遗漏或省略的事物,冗长 | |
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74 motives | |
n.动机,目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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75 mutual | |
adj.相互的,彼此的;共同的,共有的 | |
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76 persuasively | |
adv.口才好地;令人信服地 | |
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77 earnings | |
n.工资收人;利润,利益,所得 | |
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78 sincerity | |
n.真诚,诚意;真实 | |
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79 bishop | |
n.主教,(国际象棋)象 | |
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80 upheaval | |
n.胀起,(地壳)的隆起;剧变,动乱 | |
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81 judgments | |
判断( judgment的名词复数 ); 鉴定; 评价; 审判 | |
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82 marketing | |
n.行销,在市场的买卖,买东西 | |
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83 torment | |
n.折磨;令人痛苦的东西(人);vt.折磨;纠缠 | |
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84 abide | |
vi.遵守;坚持;vt.忍受 | |
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85 delicacy | |
n.精致,细微,微妙,精良;美味,佳肴 | |
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