胡敏读故事记单词托福词汇047（在线收听）

Lesson 47 The Meeting 会议

Words:

congregate v. 聚集

congress n. 国会，议会

congressional adj. 会议的，大会的；国会的

congressman n. 国会议员

conjectural adj. 推测的

conjure v. 变魔术，变戏法

connect v. 连接；联系；联合；沟通

connection n. 连接；（s）亲属；熟人，关系户；由共同利益结合在一起的人

connivance n. 默许，共谋

connive v. 纵容，默许，共谋

connoisseur n. 鉴赏家，行家

conscience n. 良心，良知

conscientious adj. 尽责的，一丝不苟的；凭良心的

conscious adj. 有意识的，神志清醒的；意识到的

consciousness n. 意识，知觉

consecrate v. 使神圣，给。。。祝圣；奉献

consecutive adj. 连续的

consequence n. 结果，后果

consequently adv. 从而，因此

“Come in,” said Congressman Jones. Jones has been a member of the congress for 20 years. In that time, he had made numerous influential connections and had become wealth enough to be a connoisseur of fine wines. He offered some to his guest. “What can I do for you?” Jones asked the man in the suit.

“I am the lawyer for a conglomerate in your district who is very interested in submitting some special legislation,” the suited man said.

“I hope you’re not expecting me to conjure a yes vote on legislation that only serves the nest interested of bug business,” said the Congressman.

“Not at all,” said the lawyer. “All we need is your influence and backdoor connections to get it passed.”

“It sounds to me like a connivance,” the Congressman replied. “I’m a very conscientious legislator and I have a serious conscience.”

“We already know that about you, Congressman Jones,” said the lawyer. “It may seem that I’m thinking like a man who had lost consciousness in an accident. In fact, it was conscious decision on your part to choose someone like you to help us.”

“Listen, I didn’t get elected to five consecutive terms by conniving with people like you. I only connect with influential people to help my community. People respect my congressional achievements. They know that I do not make conjectural judgments and consequently, they reelect me every time. People congregate

to hear me speak. I’ve even helped them consecrate a church.”

“Trust me Congressman Jones,” the lawyer said with a smile. “Your assistance in our Save the Whale’s legislation won’t result in any negative consequences.”

“Why didn’t you say it was to save the whales?” Jones said with a laugh. “I’d love to help.”

“请进。”琼斯议员说道。琼斯已经做了20年的议会成员。20年间，他结识了无数有影响力的关系户，并日益富足，成为品尝佳酿的专家。他请客热喝了点好酒。“我能为你做点什么？”琼斯向那个西装革履的男人问道。

“我是您所在地区的一家联合大企业的律师，我们公司很想提交一些特殊的法律议案。”那个穿西装的人说道。

“您可别指望我会为那些专为大企业谋利的法律变出一张赞成票。”议员说道。

“完全没有，”律师道，“您只需运用您的影响力和各种后门关系使这一法律得以通过就行。”

“你看这似乎是共谋吧，”议员回答道，“我是一名尽职尽责的立法者，我有一颗严正良心。”

“这些我们早就知道，琼斯议员。”律师说道。“也许我的思维方式看起来像个在事故中失去知觉的人。事实上，我方是有意识地选择五任当选议员的。

“听着，我可不是靠同你们这样的人搞些阴谋才连续五任当选议员的。我跟权势交往不过是为了帮助我所在的社区。人们尊敬我是因为议会取得了不少成就。他们知道我不会做些主观臆测的决断，因此我每次都能重新当选。人们聚集在一起听我演说。我甚至帮助他们为教堂祝圣。”

“相信我，琼斯议员，”律师微笑着说，“就我们提出的‘拯救鲸鱼’法案来说，您的协助不会带来任何负面后果。”

“你怎末不早说要是拯救鲸鱼呢？”琼斯微笑到，“我很愿意帮忙。”