New Horizon College English Book 4
新视野大学英语4
School of Foreign Studies
Unit 6
Bribery and Business Ethics
Introduction
In the severe competitive society, businessmen
want to achieve their goals by using various kinds of
means. Facing huge profits, some find it difficult to keep
balance between moral standard and business interest.
Here comes a problem:
bribery or business ethics?
Dictation
Business students often have to study professional 1 ethic
as part of their course because many people feel that bribery is
increasing international . The people in the motor industry in
3 Britain
have admitted to the fact that they have been
making payments of one kind or another bribes, extra
4 discounts, etc. in recent years. They have spent a large sum of
money just to keep 5 customers happy and they argue to say that,
because the market is so 6 competitive, if they did not give bribes
then one of their competitors would.
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) wishes
stop
to see a code of conduct that would 7
bribery.
While some members of the ICC would like the 8 code
to have the power of 9 law , other members feel it is
not the business of the ICC to 10 enforce the code
and that it should only state what is right and wrong.
Questions and Answers
Listen to the tape again. Then answer the following
questions with your own experiences.
1. Why do business students study professional ethics?
2. In what forms does bribery come?
3. What can we do to restore ethics in business?
Contents
• New Words
• Structure and writing device
• Passage Reading
• Activity
• Assignment
1. bribery n.
the acting of giving or taking bribes
Example
Numerous officials get involved
in the bribery scandal.
许多官员与这桩受贿丑闻有牵连。
I. New Words
2. ethics n.
(pl.) moral rules or principles 道德
(sing.) science that deals with moral 伦理学
Example
Medical ethics don’t
__ (don’t/doesn't) permit the
doctor to do that.
Ethics is
__ (are/is) a branch of philosophy.
I. New Words
Contents
• New Words
• Structure and writing device
• Passage Reading
• Summary
• Assignment
Main Idea of The Text
The passage focuses on a social phenomenon in
business----bribery.
The passage discusses the practice of bribery in
business and lists the categories of bribery in
business and how international businessmen
often face a conflict between moral standards
and the need to make profit.
Analysis of The Text
Problem
Analysis
Solution
Bribery and
Business
Ethics
Analysis of The Text
Part
Para.
1
Main Idea
1~_ 4
1) Bribery has become a common
occurrence in many countries
2
_~__
5 8
Three main categories of bribery
3
__~__
9 11
The efforts to ban bribery and the
result
Contents
• New Words
• Structure and writing device
• Passage Reading
• Activity
• Assignment
Part I (Para.1-4): Phenomena
A.Language points
B.Questions
Passage Reading
(Paras.?)1-4)
Part I Problem (Para.
Q1: Why do students feel surprised when they find business
ethics included in their business courses?
A: Because they often do not realize that bribery in various
forms is on the increase. (Para. 1)
Q2: What will a businessman choose to do if he wants to make it
easier to get an import license for his goods? Example?
A: He may choose to stand by his principles, but, in practice, he
usually prefers to bribe the official in charge. (Para. 3)
Part I Problem (Para. (Paras.
?)
1-4)
Q3: What other questionable practices do businessmen adopt in addition to
giving money?
A: They tend to pay agents and purchasers an exaggerated commission,
offer additional discounts, and make payments to numbered bank accounts
in Switzerland. (Para. 3)
Q4: Why is bribery on the increase?
A: Because it seems to have become a fact of commercial life.
(Para. 4)
Bribery and Business Ethics
Para. 1 Students taking business courses are sometimes
a little surprised to find that classes on business ethics
have been included in their schedule. They often do
not realize that bribery in various forms is on the
increase in many countries and, in some, has been a
way of life for centuries.
1.on the increase
Synonym: on the rise
Antonyms: on the decrease, on the decline
据统计，中国上半年的GDP持增长势头。
It is estimated that China’s GDP is on the
increase in the first half year.
Para. 2 Suppose that during a negotiation with
some government officials, the Minister of Trade
makes it clear to you that if you offer him a
substantial bribe, you will find it much easier to
get an import license for your goods, and you are
also likely to avoid “procedural delays”, as he puts
it. Now, the question is: Do you pay up or stand
by your principles?
1. put
state or express sth. in a particular way
简单地说，学英语贵在坚持。
To put it simply, to learn English well, the most
important thing is to persist.
他太相信别人，换句话说，他毫无商业头脑。
He was too trusting, or, to put it another way, he had
no head for busiess.
2. pay up
pay all the money that one owes
你如果现在付清债务，就不会送你上法庭。
If you pay up now, you will not be taken to court.
3. stand by:
1) remain faithful to a promise, etc; keep to
2) stay loyal to someone and support them, especially when they
are in trouble
他仍然信守自己所说的每一句话
He still stands by every word she said.
我非常感激我的家人，他们支持我经历了所有这一切
I owe so much to my family for standing by me through
all this.
Para. 3a It is easy to talk about having high moral
standards but, in practice, what would one really do
in such a situation? Some time ago a British car
manufacturer was accused of operating a fund to pay
bribes, and of other questionable practices such as
paying agents and purchasers an exaggerated
commission, offering additional discounts, and
making payments to numbered bank accounts in
Switzerland.
A “numbered bank account” is a bank
account which is opened by using a
number instead of name in order to keep
the name of depositor secret.
Para. 3b The company rejected these charges and
they were later withdrawn. Nevertheless, at that time,
there were people in the motor industry in Britain
who were prepared to say in private: “Look, we’re in
a very competitive business. Every year we’re selling
more than a ￡1billion worth of cars abroad. If we
spend a few million pounds to keep some of the
buyers happy, who’s hurt? If we didn’t do it, someone
else would.”
1. questionable:
1) Not likely to be honest, good, useful
他们得出的结论很值得怀疑的。
The conclusion that they come to are highly questionable.
It’s questionable whether the expenditure on this project
is really justified.
这个工程的支出是否合理值得怀疑。
2. withdraw:
1) Say that what you said earlier was not true
一到法庭，他就撤回了对警察所做的陈述
Once in court, he withdraw the statement he’d made to the
police.
3. in private:
1) With no one else present
A home is a place for relaxing in private.
家是私下放松的地方。
他最不愿意和口是心非的人打交道。
He is most reluctant to have dealings with those who
comply in public but undermine in private.
Para. 4a It is difficult to resist the impression that
bribery and other questionable payments are on the
increase. Indeed, they seem to have become a fact of
commercial life. To take just one example, the
Chrysler Corporation, the third largest of the US car
manufacturers, revealed that it made questionable
payments of more than $2.5 million between 1971 and
1976.
Para. 4b By announcing this, it joined more than 300
other US companies that had admitted to the US
Securities and Exchange Commission that they had
made payments of one kind or another
—bribes, extra discounts, etc.—in recent years. For
discussion purposes, we can divide these payments
into three broad categories.
Summary of Part one
Part I . Bribery — a common occurrence in many countries
(Paras.1~4)
viewpoint : bribery, on the increase, a way of life
example1: negotiation with government official
example 2:
British car manufacturer
conclusion:
bribery, a fact of commercial life
Part Ⅱ (Para.5-8): Analysis
A.Language points
B.Questions
Passage Reading
Part II . Three categories of bribery (Paras.5~8)
Part II
Category 1 Category 2 Category 3
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
In this part, a writing technique is employed here:
Listing + Examples
Para. 5 The first category consists of substantial
payments made for political purposes or to secure
major contracts. For example, one US corporation
offered a large sum of money in support of a US
presidential candidate at a time when the company was
under investigation for possible violations of US
business laws. This same company, it was revealed, was
ready to finance secret US efforts to throw out the
government of Chile.
1. secure
Obtain or achieve something, especially when this means
using a lot of effort
汤姆流利的英语帮他获得了这份工作。
Tom’s fluent English helped him secure the job.
The delegation has secured the promise of a ceasefire.
代表团争取到了停火的承诺。
2. throw out
1) get rid of, make someone leave because of a fault
人要脱胎换骨，首先要抛弃的是思维定式。
For one to undergo a complete change, the first thing to
throw out is one’s fixed pattern of thinking.
Para. 6 In this category, we may also include large
payments made to ruling families or their close
advisers in order to secure arms sales or major
petroleum or construction contracts. In a court case
involving an arms deal with Iran, a witness claimed
that ￡1 million had been paid by a British company
to a “negotiator” who helped close a deal for the
supply of tanks and other military equipment to that
country. Other countries have also been known to put
pressure on foreign companies to make donations to
party bank accounts.
1. close a deal
1) Complete a transaction successfully
经过两年的艰苦谈判，我们终于成交了一笔生意。
After two years of hard negotiation, we’ve at last closed
a deal.
Para. 7a The second category covers payments made
to obtain quicker official approval of some project, to
speed up the wheels of government. An interesting
example of this kind of payment is provided by the
story of a sales manager who had been trying for
some months to sell road machinery to the Minister of
Works of a Caribbean country. Finally, he hit upon
the answer.
Para. 7b Discovering that the minister collected rare
books, he bought a rare edition of a book, slipped
$20,000 within its pages, then presented it to the
minister. This man examined its contents, then said,
“I understand there is a two-volume edition of this
work.” The sales manager, who was quick-witted,
replied, “My company cannot afford a two-volume
edition, sir, but we could offer you a copy with a
preface!” A short time later, the deal was approved.
1. speed up
1) Make something happen or move quickly
For anyone who wants to speed up the wheels of his
adaptability to a new environment, the most important
task is to know as much about it as possible.
对于任何想尽快适应新环境的人，首要任务是尽可能
多地了解它。
2. hit upon
1) think of an idea unexpectedly
通常情况下，科学家们许多偶然的发现，实际上是其多年
努力的必然结果。
Generally speaking, many discoveries scientists hit
upon are, in effect, a natural result of their many
years of efforts.
Para. 8 The third category involves payments made in
countries where it is traditional to pay people to help
with the passage of a business deal. Some Middle East
countries would be included on this list, as well as
certain Asian countries.
Summary of Part Two
political purposes
The 1st category: for _______________
,
to ___________________.
secure major contracts
Example:
One US corporation offered
a large sum of money in
support of a US presidential
candidate…
Summary of Part Two
obtain quicker official approval
The 2nd category: to _________________________,
speed up the wheel
to ___________________
of government
___________________.
Example: a sales manager who had been
trying for some months to sell road
machinery to the Minister of
Works…
Summary of Part Two
The 3rd category: to pay
people to help with the
passage of a business
_______
deal.
Example: Some Middle East countries would be
included on this list, as well as certain
Asian countries.
Writing Device of Part Two
What device of writing is employed herein?
Listing supported by examples.
Part Ⅲ (Para.9-11): Solution
A.Language points
B.Questions
Passage Reading
Part III . Efforts to prohibit bribery and its prospect
(Paras.9~11)
1. Who is making efforts to prohibit bribery?
ICC.
2. How to prohibit bribery?
Set up a code of conduct that
would ban giving and seeking
of bribes.
3. What is the prospect?
• Opinions differ among members of the ICC.
• It is difficult to square business interests
with moral conscience.
Para. 9 Is it possible to devise a code of rules for
companies that would prohibit bribery in all its forms?
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
favors a code of conduct that would ban the giving
and seeking of bribes. This code would try to
distinguish between commissions paid for real
services and exaggerated fees that really amount to
bribes. A council has been proposed to manage the
code.
1. a code of conduct
In a society of honesty, it is true for people’s code of
conduct that they treat each other with all sincerity.
在诚信的社会里，以诚相待是人们的行为准则。
2. amount to
1) have the same effect as
如果你总是这样浑浑噩噩地生活，你一生都不会取得什么
成就.
If you always live in a state of ignorance, you will
never amount to anything all your life.
Para. 10 Unfortunately, opinions differ among
members of the ICC concerning how to enforce the
code. The British members would like the system to
have enough legal power to make companies behave
themselves. However, the French delegates think it is
the business of governments to make and impose law.
The job of a business community like the ICC is to
say what is right and wrong, but not to impose
anything.
1. behave oneself
to act in a way that people think is correct or proper
Translation
•He is now 20, it’s time that he started behaving himself.
• 我希望孩子们规矩点。
Key
他现在二十岁了，该是规矩行事的时候了。
I hope the children behave themselves.
Para. 11 In a well-known British newspaper, a writer
argued recently that “industry is caught in a web of
bribery” and that everyone is “on the take”. This is
probably an exaggeration. However, today’s
businessman, selling in overseas markets, will
frequently meet situations where it is difficult to
square his business interests with his moral
conscience.
1. on the take
be willing to do sth. Wrong in return for
money
总伺机牟取私利的人，终究总是会吃大亏的。
He who is always on the take is in line for great losses
in time.
2. square … with
to make two ideas, facts agree with each other;
to agree or to be consistent with another idea, fact
The official, though at home with the art of flattering,
is still afraid of failure to square his conduct with the
intention of his superior.
这个官员虽精通奉承之道，但仍担心不能使自己的行
为符合领导的意图。
Contents
• New Words
• Structure and writing device
• Passage Reading
• Summary
• Activity & Assignment
Summary of the Text
increase in many
Bribery in various forms is on the _________
countries, and even a way of life for centuries. If an official
substantial bribe, you’ll
clearly tells that if you offer him a _________
easily get an import license and avoid “procedure delays”,
pay up or ________
do you ________
stand by your principles? Bribery
and other questionable payments indeed have become a
commercial life. We divide these payments into
fact of __________
three broad categories. The first category consists of
______
substantial payments made for political
______ purposes or to
contracts The second category covers
secure major_________.
payments made to obtain quicker official _________
approval
Text Study—Summary
speed up the wheel of
of some project, to ________
government. The third category involves payments
made into countries where it is traditional to pay people
passage of a business deal. But how
to help with the ________
to prohibit bribery in all its forms? ICC favors a code
giving and ______
of conduct that would ban the ______
seeking of
bribes. Unfortunately, opinions differ among the
enforce the code.
members of ICC concerning how to _______
Anyway, today’s businessman will frequently meet
s i t u a t i o n s w h e r e i t i s d i ff i cu l t t o _ _square
_____
his business interests ______
with his moral conscience.
Contents
• New Words
• Structure and writing device
• Passage Reading
• Summary
• Activity & Assignment
Group Debate:
To Pay Up or Stand By?
Suppose you are the sales manager mentioned
in our text, what would you do to get your job
fulfilled? Pay the bribe or just stand by the
business ethics?
Discuss with your group members. Decide
your viewpoint and state the reasons.
Translation
she began
1. It really got my dander up when ________
accusing
me of dishonesty (她开始指责我不
_____________________
诚实).
persuasion _______and
bribery
threats
2. We tried _________,
_______
(说服、行贿和威胁), but the guard still
wouldn’t let us pass.
In practice (事实上), women receive much
3. __________
lower wages than their male colleagues.
Translation
amount to
4. Don’t you understand? His words _________
(相当于) that he wants some cash.
Did Peter behave himself (彼得听话吗) while I
5. ____________________
was away?
should square
6. You’re not a 3-year-old child. You
_______________
your
practice with your principles (你应该言行一
__________________________
致).
Thanks for your attention