Lesson 47 The Meeting 會(huì)議
Words:
congregate v. 聚集
congress n. 國會(huì)，議會(huì)
congressional adj. 會(huì)議的，大會(huì)的；國會(huì)的
congressman n. 國會(huì)議員
conjectural adj. 推測的
conjure v. 變魔術(shù)，變戲法
connect v. 連接；聯(lián)系；聯(lián)合；溝通
connection n. 連接；（s）親屬；熟人，關(guān)系戶；由共同利益結(jié)合在一起的人
connivance n. 默許，共謀
connive v. 縱容，默許，共謀
connoisseur n. 鑒賞家，行家
conscience n. 良心，良知
conscientious adj. 盡責(zé)的，一絲不茍的；憑良心的
conscious adj. 有意識(shí)的，神志清醒的；意識(shí)到的
consciousness n. 意識(shí)，知覺
consecrate v. 使神圣，給。。。祝圣；奉獻(xiàn)
consecutive adj. 連續(xù)的
consequence n. 結(jié)果，后果
consequently adv. 從而，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.”
“請(qǐng)進(jìn)。”瓊斯議員說道。瓊斯已經(jīng)做了20年的議會(huì)成員。20年間，他結(jié)識(shí)了無數(shù)有影響力的關(guān)系戶，并日益富足，成為品嘗佳釀的專家。他請(qǐng)客熱喝了點(diǎn)好酒。“我能為你做點(diǎn)什么？”瓊斯向那個(gè)西裝革履的男人問道。
“我是您所在地區(qū)的一家聯(lián)合大企業(yè)的律師，我們公司很想提交一些特殊的法律議案。”那個(gè)穿西裝的人說道。
“您可別指望我會(huì)為那些專為大企業(yè)謀利的法律變出一張贊成票。”議員說道。
“完全沒有，”律師道，“您只需運(yùn)用您的影響力和各種后門關(guān)系使這一法律得以通過就行。”
“你看這似乎是共謀吧，”議員回答道，“我是一名盡職盡責(zé)的立法者，我有一顆嚴(yán)正良心。”
“這些我們早就知道，瓊斯議員。”律師說道。“也許我的思維方式看起來像個(gè)在事故中失去知覺的人。事實(shí)上，我方是有意識(shí)地選擇五任當(dāng)選議員的。
“聽著，我可不是靠同你們這樣的人搞些陰謀才連續(xù)五任當(dāng)選議員的。我跟權(quán)勢交往不過是為了幫助我所在的社區(qū)。人們尊敬我是因?yàn)?strong>議會(huì)取得了不少成就。他們知道我不會(huì)做些主觀臆測的決斷，因此我每次都能重新當(dāng)選。人們聚集在一起聽我演說。我甚至幫助他們?yōu)榻烫?strong>祝圣。”
“相信我，瓊斯議員，”律師微笑著說，“就我們提出的‘拯救鯨魚’法案來說，您的協(xié)助不會(huì)帶來任何負(fù)面后果。”
“你怎末不早說要是拯救鯨魚呢？”瓊斯微笑到，“我很愿意幫忙。”
