2015年ESL之就医和人际交往 05 Giving Bribes to Children for Good Behavior

Giving Bribes² to Children for Good Behavior

Camille: No, you can’t have a new bike if you get an “A” on the test. You should study because you want to do well in school. We’ll talk about it when I get home tonight. Kids! 

Aaron: What’s the matter? 

Camille: My kids won’t do anything without an incentive³. I know it’s my own fault for offering rewards for good behavior, but now, all they want to know is what they’ll get to do what I ask. 

Aaron: Rewards are okay if you use them sparingly, aren’t they? 

Camille: That’s the problem. I feel like I have to bribe¹ them to do the simplest things. I get home from work and I’m tired and frazzled. I don’t want another power struggle so I rely on bribes. It’s backfired. 

Aaron: How do you mean? 

Camille: Now my kids won’t do anything without knowing what’s in it for them. And they keep upping the ante. Soon I’ll have to start forking over cash to get them to behave. 

Aaron: I don’t know what to say. When I was growing up, my mother put the fear of God into us. We wouldn’t dare misbehave for fear of making her angry. We never got rewards for good behavior. It was just expected of us. 

Camille: What’s your mother’s number? Is she available to babysit? 

Aaron: Uh, I don’t know. I don’t think she could inspire that kind of obedience⁴ from other people’s children. 

Camille: I’m desperate! At the very least, she can give me a few parenting lessons. 

 

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse 

1 bribe   

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 bribes   

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

3 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

4 obedience   

n.服从，顺从

参考例句：

• Society has a right to expect obedience of the law.社会有权要求人人遵守法律。
• Soldiers act in obedience to the orders of their superior officers.士兵们遵照上级军官的命令行动。