【英语趣味课堂】商业贿赂-Bribes in Business

Todd: So, Aiman, now you actually are a business student, correct? You study business?

 

Aiman: Well, actually I studied business. I did my undergraduate¹ in Global Business Management but now I'm doing my master's in International Material Flow Managament.

 

Todd: OK, so you have experience with the business field. You've worked as a professional. What job did you have before?

 

Aiman: IT specialist. An IT trainer and mainly a technical person in different industries.

 

Todd: OK, we bring this up because we both have experience in cultures with bribery³, bribes⁴. So, were gonna talk about bribery. So in your country Syria, what is something you would pay a bribe² for?

 

Aiman: Well, in Syria you'd pay a bribe for anything. Everything. Even if you didn't do anything. You might need to pay a bribe.

 

Todd: So how does it work?

 

Aiman: Well if the policeman decided⁵ to pull you over you have to pay them something otherwise they'll come up with something to make you pay more.

 

Todd: So let's say … well can you give an example of something that you would have to pay a bribe for?

 

Aiman: Just driving really. You'd be driving and the policeman would just ask you to pull over and then he'll come and it means that he needs a bribe, otherwise he will just keep you there waiting.

 

Todd: And now how much would the bribe usually be?

 

Aiman: Usually it would be one dollar.

 

Todd: Really? Just one dollar?

 

Aiman: Yeah, but ...

 

Todd: That's so low.

 

Aiman: Yeah, but by Syrian standards. It's not. It's 50 Syrian pounds.

 

Todd: So basically⁶, the problem is probably that the policemen make very low wages, so this is how they supplement⁷ their wages is by taking bribes.

 

Aiman: Yes, exactly. And the problem is that not only policemen do that but every government worker do the same so if you have to do anything, that has anything to do with the government or a public officer, you'd have to bribe your way through.

 

Todd: So like if you went to the city hall and you needed to get some documents, you would probably have to pay a bribe.

 

Aiman: Yes.

 

Todd: Now when you pay a bribe is this out in the open or do you have to put the money in an envelope and keep it secret?

 

Aiman: Well, it used to be secret but now it's more out in the open.

1 undergraduate   

n.大学生，大学肆业生

参考例句：

• Mr. Stone spent his undergraduate days in Columbia University,majoring in economics.斯通先生在哥伦比亚大学度过了他四年的大学生活，主修经济学。
• During this time,they are called undergraduate students.在此期间，他们被称为大学本科生。

2 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。

3 bribery   

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。

4 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

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 basically   

adv.基本上，从根本上说

参考例句：

• His heart is basically sound.他的心脏基本上健康。
• Basically I agree with your plan.我基本上同意你的计划。

7 supplement   

n.增补，补充；副刊；vt.增补，补充

参考例句：

• A supplement to this dictionary may be published next year.该词典的补编或许将于明年出版。
• They had to get a job to supplement the family income.他们不得不找一份工作以贴补家庭收入。