No company likes to be told it is contributing to the moral decline of a nation. Is this what you intended to accomplish with your careers? Senator Robert Dole asked Time Warner executives last week. You have sold your souls, but must you corrupt our nation and threaten our children as well? At Time Warner, however, such questions are simply the latest manifestation of the soul-searching that has involved the company ever since the company was born in 1990. It’s a self-examination that has, at various times, involved issues of responsibility, creative freedom and the corporate bottom line. At the core of this debate is chairman Gerald Levin, 56, who took over for the late Steve Ross in 1992. On the financial front, Levin is under pressure to raise the stock price and reduce the company’s mountainous debt, which will increase to $ 17.3 billion after two new cable deals close. He has promised to sell off some of the property and restructure the company, but investors are waiting impatiently. The flap over rap is not making life any easier for him. Levin has consistently defended the company’s rap music on the grounds of expression. In 1992, when Time Warner was under fire for releasing Ice-T’s violent rap song Cop Killer, Levin described rap as lawful expression of street culture, which deserves an outlet. The test of any democratic society, he wrote in a Wall Street Journal column, lies not in how well it can control expression but in whether it gives freedom of thought and expression the widest possible latitude, however disputable or irritating the results may sometimes be. We won’t retreat in the face of any threats. Levin would not comment on the debate last week, but there were signs that the chairman was backing off his hard-line stand, at least to some extent. During the discussion of rock singing verses at last month’s stockholders’meeting. Levin asserted that music is not the cause of society’s ills and even cited his son, a teacher in the Bronx, New York, who uses rap to communicate with students. But he talked as well about the balanced struggle between creative freedom and social responsibility, and he announced that the company would launch a drive to develop standards for distribution and labeling of potentially objectionable music.The 15-member Time Warner board is generally supportive of Levin and his corporate strategy. But insiders say several of them have shown their concerns in this matter. Some of us have known for many, many years that the freedoms under the First Amendment are not totally unlimited, says Luce. I think it is perhaps the case that some people associated with the company have only recently come to realize this. 63. Senator Robert Dole criticized Time Warner for ________. (A)its raising of the corporate stock price (B)its self-examination of soul (C)its neglect of social responsibility (D)its emphasis on creative freedom 64. According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE? (A)Luce is a spokesman of Time Warner. (B)Gerald Levin is liable to compromise. (C)Time Warner is united as one in the face of the debate. (D)Steve Ross is no longer alive. 65. In face of the recent attacks on the company, the chairman ________. (A)stuck to a strong stand to defend freedom of expression (B)softened his tone and adopted some new policy (C)changed his attitude and yielded to objection (D)received more support from the 15-member board 66. The best title for this passage could be ________. (A)A Company under Fire (B)A Debate on Moral Decline (C)A Lawful Outlet of Street Culture (D)A Form of Creative Freedom 答案及試題解析 63.(C)意為:它對社會責任的忽視。 第一段指出,沒有哪個公司喜歡別人說它導致了全國道德敗壞,多爾參議員所指責時代華納公司的正是這一點。他說:難道這就是你們的經營目標嗎,你們出賣了自己的靈魂,難道你們也想毀了國家、危及我們的孩子嗎?另從第三、四段來看,這里多爾所指責的正是該公司用它的音樂作品帶來的社會影響,多爾認為這些音樂作品對社會和青少年有不良影響。 A 意為:它將公司股價提高。從多爾所說的話來看,他關心的不是該公司的經濟狀況。 B 意為:它對靈魂的自我檢驗。第一段第三句指出,對時代沃納公司來說,多爾所質疑的問題只不過是公司自創立以來一直進行的自我反省的最新表述,在公司發展的不同階段,這一自我反省涉及(社會)責任、創作自由、公司利潤(bottom line)。換言之,在公司的發展過程中,社會責任、創作自由、公司能否賺錢這三者之間的矛盾一直困擾著公司。根據公司董事長列文的話(見第三段),公司把創作自由放在了發展的首位。這造成了它對作品的社會影響的忽視,所以,后來列文改變態度以后,承認應該在創作自由和社會責任上尋找一個平衡點(見第四段)。可見,多爾參議員所指責的正是公司的所作所為帶來的不良社會影響,這樣他就擊中了要害。 D 意為:它對創作自由的強調。見上文分析。 64.(D)回答這一問題主要涉及對第二段第一句中 late 的理解。 除其他意思外,該詞有前,已故的等意思。一般來講,該詞加在人名或稱呼前時譯作已故的、如:the late Mr. Green 已故格林先生,her late husband 她的前夫(已故),若加在頭銜前,則要據情況而譯,如:the late president 前總統(也可能已故,也可能僅指剛剛卸職)。第二段第一句可譯為:處于爭議中心的是董事長杰拉德?列文,他在 1992年前董事長史蒂夫?羅斯去世后繼任,今年 56 歲。 A 意為:路斯是時代沃納公司的發言人。在最后一段第二句,路斯僅被稱作 insider(內部人士,知情人士),他說:我們有些人多年來一直知道(憲法)第一修正案中所規定的自由并非是無限制的自由,我想可能公司的某些人最近才意識到這一點。他的話說明了公司領導內部對處理創作自由和社會影響這一對矛盾上的不同看法、也暗含著對公司一貫政策(過于強調創作自由)的批評。可見,他并非公司指派的發言人,而僅代表自己。 B 意為:列文傾向于妥協。根據第三段中列文所說的話,他是一個持強硬立場的人。他說:檢驗任何民主社會的標準不是看它如何嚴厲地控制(思想的)表達,而是看它是否給人以最大限度的思想和表達思想的自由。我們不會屈服于任何威脅。但是,在這次的爭議中,雖然列文也在為公司發行的音樂作品爭辯,但他也做出了某些程度的讓步(參閱第四段第一句)。由此可見,列文并非是個易于妥協的人。 C 意為:在這場爭議中。時代沃納公司團結一致。不對,例如上文所提到的路斯的觀點。 65.(B)意為:態度有所緩和,采取了某種新政策。 第四段指出,列文對上周的爭議拒絕評價,但有跡象表明他正在放棄自己的強硬立場-至少在某種程度上可以這樣說。在上月討論搖滾樂歌詞的董事會上,列文強調音樂并不引起社會丑惡現象,他甚至舉了他兒子的例子。但是,他同時也談到了創作自由與社會責任保持平衡的問題,他表示,公司將為音樂的發行和標識(labeling 指:標識作品或產品的應用對象,如:是否適應于青少年使用等)制定標準。可見,列文在做出妥協姿態的同時,也采取了實際的行動。 A 意為:堅持強硬立場保護思想表達自由。 C 意為:改變其態度并向反對派屈服。與 B 表達的內容相比,C 表達的內容語氣太強。因為,正如第四段第一句所說的,列文僅做出了某種程度的讓步(to some extent)。 D 意為:獲得了董事會 15 位成員更多的支持。雖然董事會一直支持列文及其公司經營戰略,但在這次的爭議中,意見出現了分歧。參閱第 64 題題解。 66.(A)意為:遭到責難的公司。 從以上的分析可以看出,本文主要是評述了時代華納公司因發行新音樂專輯而受到的責難及其反應。 B 意為:一場關于道德敗壞的爭論。這個題目太寬泛。更何況,時代華納公司所被指責的主要是它對社會責任的忽視,而并非它所發行的作品所帶來的實際社會影響。 C 意為:街頭文化的合法表達(途徑)。 D 意為:一種表現創作自由的形式 翻譯句子 1、The flap over rap is not making life any easier for him. Levin has consistently defended the company’s rap music on the grounds of expression. [參考譯文] 人們對說唱音樂的焦慮并沒使他的日子變得好過。萊文一向以它是一種富于表現力的演唱方式這個理由來為公司的說唱音樂辯護。 [結構剖析] 第一個句子是一個簡單句。flap over rap 是句子的主語,is making 是謂語,使用了結構:make+n.+adj.。第二個句子也是一個簡單句。 [閱讀重點] 第一句中的重點是掌握 to make life easier 這個表述方法,其它部分都是輔助這個短語的。另外,對于 flap 一詞的理解也至關重要,在這里它的意思是焦慮、興奮狀態的意思。第二句中的主干是 defend somebody on the grounds of something(為某種理由或手段為某人辯護)。expression 這里的意思是 the quality of singing or playing a musical instrument with feeling,即表達方式、腔調,尤指雄辯的語調、富有表情的唱腔。注意 consistently 是一貫地,一向地的意思,不要與 constantly 混淆。 [結構剖析] 這里直接引語被分成兩部分,一部分在主句前,另一部分放在主句之后。在這個例子里面,直接引語是主句的賓語。直接引語的主干是 The test…… lies not in…… but in……, however……,這是一個用副詞 however 連接的并列復合句。 [參考譯文] 上星期參議員羅博特多爾質問時代華納公司的高級管理人員們:難道這就是你們希望能夠成就的事業?你們已經出賣了自己的靈魂,但是難道你們還非要腐化我們的國家,威脅我們的孩子們嗎? [結構剖析] 這是一個有直接引語的復雜句。首先抓住核心句 Senator Robert Dole asked Time Warner executives last week,其前后是直接引語。這個直接引語的前半部分是一個一般疑問句,后面由兩個轉折關系的句子構成,由連詞 but 連接。第一個分句是一個簡單句,but 后面的句子是一個一般疑問句。由情態動詞 must 引導,包括由 and 這個連詞連的兩個并列部分,corrupt our nation 和 threaten our children as well 在后面 threaten out children as well 這部分的主語 you 被省略了。 [參考譯文] 這是一種在不同時期會涉及責任、創作自由和公司底線問題的自我反省。 [參考譯文] 在上個月的股東大會上關于搖滾歌詞的討論中,萊文宣稱說:音樂不是社會問題的原因,他甚至還以他的兒子為例。他的兒子是紐約州布朗克斯的一個教師,并用說唱音樂與學生們進行溝通。 [參考譯文] 我想大概情況是這樣的:與公司有關系的一些人直到最近才意識到這一點。 [結構剖析] I think……是這句話的主干,后面的部分是這句話的賓語從句。在賓語從句當中 that 引導一個同位語從句,說明 case 的具體情況是 some people associated with the company have only recently come to realize this。associated with 相當于簡略的定語從句,修飾前面的 people。 [大綱詞匯] contribute v.(to)貢獻,捐助,捐獻;投稿 contribution n.貢獻;捐獻(物) [擴充詞匯] contribute to促成,有助于 [經典例句] Air pollution contributes to quite a number of diseases. 2. accomplish實現 [大綱詞匯] accomplish v.完成 [經典例句] They are ordered to accomplish to mission in 3 days. 3. corrupt使…腐化 [大綱詞匯] corrupt v.賄賂,收買;a.腐化的,貪污的 [衍生詞匯] corruption n.腐敗 [經典例句] He was accused of having corrupted officials in the government. 4. soul-searching良心上的自我反省 [擴充詞匯] soul-search v.深刻反省 soul-searching n.深刻反省,自我解剖 5. corporate公司的 [擴充詞匯] corporate a.公司的;法人的,合伙的 [經典例句] These deeds will definitely damage the corporate image. 6.bottom line賬本底線 7. at the core of在…的中心 [大綱詞匯] core n.果核;中心,核心 [經典例句] The issue lies at the core of the discussion. 8. take over接管 [大綱詞匯] take over接管,接辦 [經典例句] The company went downward since he took over. 9. late已故的 [大綱詞匯] late a.遲的,晚的,晚期的;已故的;ad.遲地,晚地 [經典例句] The late president was always respected by the people. 10. on the financial front就財政方面而言 [大綱詞匯] front n.前面,正面;前線,戰線,陣線a.前面的,前部的v.面對,朝向 [經典例句] The government has made great progress in the educational front. 11. under pressure受到壓力 [大綱詞匯] pressure n.壓(力);強制,壓迫,壓強 [經典例句] The director was under great pressure to veto the decision. 12. stock price股票價格 13. mountainous山一樣的 [大綱詞匯] mountainous a.多山的,山一般的 [經典例句] The homework assigned to us is mountainous. 14. close a deal做成一筆交易 [大綱詞匯] deal n.數量,程度;交易 [經典例句] The deal is not close yet and it is not the time to celebrate. 15. sell off賣掉 [擴充詞匯] sell off賣掉 [經典例句] She sold off her house in downtown and moved to the suburb. 16. restruture重組 [擴充詞匯] restructure v.再構成,重建;重組 [經典例句] It is our urgent task to restructure our economy. 17. the flap over rap由于說唱引起的焦慮 [大綱詞匯] flap n.垂下物,帽檐,袋蓋;n./v.拍打,拍動 [經典例句] Everything was working smoothly and there is no flap. 15. rap music說唱音樂 [擴充詞匯] rap n.說唱(一種音樂形式) 19. on the ground of以…為理由 [擴充詞匯] on the ground of根據,以…為理由 [經典例句] He refused to give her the job on the ground of ill-health.20.under fire受到攻擊 [擴充詞匯] under fire受到攻擊(批評或責難) [經典例句] The basic policy is under fire. 21. release發行 [大綱詞匯] release v.釋放,解放;發表,發行 [經典例句] Her new book was released only a few day ago. 22. outlet發泄的方法 [大綱詞匯] outlet n.出路,出口;發泄方法,排遣 [經典例句] The child needs an outlet for all the energy. 23. lie in在于 [大綱詞匯] lie v.躺,平放;位于lie in在于 [經典例句] The possible solution of the issue lies in his apology. 24. latitude自由 [大綱詞匯] latitude n.緯度 [擴充詞義] latitude n.(言語、行動等的)自由 [經典例句] He gave me considerable latitude in how I spend the money. 25. disputable有爭議的 [大綱詞匯] dispute v.爭論 [衍生詞匯] disputable a.有爭議的,可商榷的 [經典例句] His claim to the land is highly disputable. 26. irritating令人惱火的 [大綱詞匯] irritate v.激怒,惱火,使急躁 [衍生詞匯] irritating a.令人惱火的 [經典例句] She was terribly disturbed by the irritating noise in the next door. 27. retreat退讓 [大綱詞匯] retreat v.撤退,退卻 [經典例句] She retreated to her desk and continued with her work. 28. in the face of面對 [經典例句] He won‘t give up his effort in the face of difficulty. 29. comment on評論 [大綱詞匯] comment n.注釋,評論,意見;v.(on)注釋,評論 [經典例句] They refused to comment on the conflicts between the two parties. 30. back off放棄(主張) [擴充詞匯] back off(=back down)放棄原來的主張,打退堂鼓 [經典例句] He backed off his opinion under pressure. 31. hard-line強硬路線的 [擴充詞匯] hard-line a.(主張采取)強硬路線的,不妥協的hard-liner n.(主張)強硬路線者,不妥協者 [經典例句] The newly elected president insist on hard-line foreign policy. 32. to some extent在某種程度上 [經典例句] The answer is negative to some extent. 33. assert宣稱 [大綱詞匯] assert v.斷言,宣稱 [衍生詞匯] assertion n.語氣肯定的話,斷言 [經典例句] He asserted his idea, clearly and loudly. 34. cite引用 [大綱詞匯] cite v.引用,引證;舉例 [經典例句] He cited Shakespeare in his thesis. 35. launch a drive發起一場運動 [衍生詞義] drive n.運動 a sales drive推銷運動 [經典例句] The municipal government launched a drive against pollution. 36. label歸類 [大綱詞匯] label v.貼標簽于……,把……稱為;n.標簽;標記,符號 [經典例句] She labeled the boy a thief. 37. potentially潛在地 [大綱詞匯] potential a.潛在的,可能的;勢的,位的 [衍生詞匯] potentially ad.潛在地 [經典例句] People considered him a Potentially successful businessman. 38. objectionable會引起反對的 [大綱詞匯] objection v.(to)反對,異議 [衍生詞匯] objectionable a.會引起反對的 [經典例句] He didn‘t realize that it would be an objectionable movie when he shot it. 39. strategy戰略 [大綱詞匯] strategy n.戰略,策略 [經典例句] The government adopted a strategy of massive deflation. 40. First Amendment(美國憲法)第一次修正案 [大綱詞匯] amend v.修改,修正 [衍生詞匯] amendment n.修改,修正;修正案 41. be associated with與……有關系的 [大綱詞匯] associate v.(with)使聯系,使聯合;交往,結合 [經典例句] They were closely associated with each other in the war. 42. come to realize認識到 [大綱詞匯] realize v.認識到,體會到;實現 [經典例句] The school came to realize the necessity of change their method of teaching. 43. be liable to易于… [大綱詞匯] liable a.(for)有責任的,有義務的;(to + infinitive)有……傾向的,易于…的 [經典例句] He is liable to evade his responsibilities. 44. compromise妥協 [大綱詞匯] compromise v./n.妥協,折衷 [經典例句] They forced him to compromise, but he refused firmly. 45. stick to堅持 [大綱詞匯] stick to堅持;忠于;信守 [經典例句] Everybody knows that his always sticks to principles. 46. yield to屈服 [大綱詞匯] yield v.出產,生長;(to)屈服,服從;n.產量,收獲 [經典例句] They believed he would yield to his father‘s pressure soon. 全文翻譯 沒有一家公司樂意聽到別人說自己引起了社會的道德敗壞。參議員羅伯特?多爾上星期質問時代華納公司高級人員時說:難道這就是你們要成就的事業嗎?你們已經出賣了自己的靈魂,難道你們還非要腐化我們的國家,威脅我們的孩子不成?不過,對于成立于1990年的時代華納公司而言,這樣的質問僅僅只是公司自我反思的最新表白,是在不同時期涉及責任、創作自由和公司底線問題的自我反省。 于1992年接替已故董事長斯蒂夫?羅斯的56歲的現任董事長杰拉德?萊文是爭論的焦點人物。財政方面,他承受著抬高股價,減少公司巨額債務的壓力。在兩筆新的有線電視交易談妥后,債務將達到173億美元。他也答應出售部分財產并重組公司,但現在投資者們仍在焦急地等待著。 人們對說唱音樂的焦慮并沒使他的日子變得好過。萊文一向以它是一種富于表現力的演唱方式為理由來捍衛公司的說唱音樂。1992年公司因出品Ice-T樂隊狂暴的說唱歌曲《警察殺手》后備受譴責時,萊文說這是街頭文化的合法表達方式,它應該有自己的宣泄途徑。他在《華爾街日報》一篇專欄文章中寫道:任何一個民主社會的檢驗不在于它能多有效地控制各種情感的表達,而在于是否給予了人們思考和表達的最廣泛的自由,盡管有時這種結果會引起爭論和憤怒。我們不會在任何威脅面前退卻。 萊文不愿對上周的辯論做出評論,但有跡象表明這位董事長的強硬立場起碼在一定程度上有所緩和。在上個月的股東會議上,大家就搖滾樂的歌詞進行了討論。萊文宣稱音樂不是社會問題的病因,他甚至還以自己為例。他的兒子是紐約州布朗克斯的一個教師,用說唱樂的表達方式與學生進行交流。但他也談到了創作自由和社會責任之間要保持平衡的問題。他還宣布公司將致力于為一些人們可能會反感的音樂制定發行和標識的標準。 總的來說,時代華納公司的15位董事是支持萊文和公司的經營策略的。但內部人士透露其中幾位對此事表示擔憂。我們中的一些人多年來就知道憲法第一修正案所說的自由并非毫無限制,魯斯說,我想與公司有關系的一些人可能是最近才意識到這一點。 |
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