TEXT FIVE

　　Tesco is preparing a legal battle to clear its name of involvement in the dairy price-fixing scandal that has cost consumers £270 million. Failure to prove that it had no part in collusion with other supermarkets and dairy processors may land it with a fine of at least £80 million. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) said yesterday that Asda, Sainsbury’s and the former Safeway, plus the dairy companies Wiseman, Dairy Crest and Cheese Company, had admitted being in a cartel to fix prices for milk, butter and cheese. They were fined a total of just over £116 million as part of a leniency deal offered by the watchdog to companies that owned up quickly to anti-competitive behaviour.

　　Officials at the OFT admitted privately that they did not think they would ever discover which company or individual had initiated the pricing formula. But the watchdog recognises that at the time supermarkets were under pressure from politicians and farmers to raise the cost of milk to save dairy farming, though it is not certain that money found its way to farmers. The OFT claimed in September that it had found evidence that the retail chains had passed future milk prices to dairy companies, which then reached a fixed price among themselves.

　　The average cost to each household is thought to be £11.25 over 2002 and 2003. Prices went up an extra 3p on a pint of milk, 15p on a quarter of a pound of butter and 15p on a half pound of cheese. There is no direct recompense for consumers, however, and the money will go to the Treasury. The National Consumer Council gave warning that the admissions would dent consumer confidence in leading high street names and that people would become sceptical of their claims. Farmers For Action, the group of farmers that has led protests over low milk prices since 2000, is seeking legal advice on whether it can now bring a claim for compensation.

　　The OFT investigation is continuing, however, in relation to Tesco, Morrisons and the dairy group Lactalis McLelland, and any legal action is expected to be delayed until that is completed.

　　Tesco was defiant and said that it was preparing a robust defence of its actions. Lucy Neville-Rolfe, its executive director, said: “As we have always said, we acted independently and we did not collude with anyone. Our position is different from our competitors and we are defending our own case vigorously. Our philosophy is to give a good deal to customers.”

　　Morrisons has supported the OFT in inquiries into the former Safeway business that it took over, but in a statement said that it was still making “strong representations” in its defence. A spokeswoman for Lactalis McLelland said that the company was “co-operating” with the OFT. Industry insiders suggested that the three companies were deliberately stalling the OFT investigation.

　　Sainsbury’s admitted yesterday that it had agreed to pay £26 million in fines, but denied that it had sought to profiteer. Justin King, the chief executive, said he was disappointed that the company had been penalised for actions meant to help farmers but recognised the benefit of a speedy settlement. Asda declined to say how much it would pay in fines and also said that its intention had been to help farmers under severe financial pressure.

　　1. From the first paragraph, we may infer that _____

　　[A] Tesco is the most resolute among all the retailers to defend its reputation.

　　[B] it is already proved that Tesco has colluded with Asda, Wiseman, Dairy Crest and Cheese Company in fixing the dairy price.

　　[C] Tesco is offered a leniency deal of £80 million because of its quick response to the anti-competitive behaviors

　　[D] Tesco is trying its best to prove its innocence of the scandal.

　　2. Who is most probably the initiator of the pricing formula?

　　[A] Retail chains.

　　[B] Farmers.

　　[C] Dairy companies.

　　[D] Politicians

　　3. The word “defiant” (Line 1, Paragraph 5) most probably means _____.

　　[A] resisiting

　　[B] angry

　　[C] deficient

　　[D] confident

　　4. We may infer from Morrisons’ statement that _____

　　[A] Morrisons turn out to be the most defentive when dealing with OFT.

　　[B] Morrisons is reluctant to support the inquiries into the former Safeway business.

　　[C] industry insiders suggest that Morrisons was trying to delay the OFT investigation with non-cooperation.

　　[D] Morrisons indeed refuses to admit its involvement in the scandal.

　　5. The writer’s attitude to Tesco can be said to be _____

　　[A] biased.

　　[B] objective.

　　[C] sympathetic.

　　[D] optimistic.

　　篇章剖析：

　　本文介紹了目前奶制品公司因內(nèi)部設(shè)定價(jià)格而面臨受到的調(diào)查和處罰的狀況。第一段由Tesco公司目前正在通過法律解決自己面臨的困境引出本文的話題;第二段是追溯牛奶價(jià)格上漲的原因;第三段是講述牛奶價(jià)格上漲對消費(fèi)者的損害;第四段又回到Tesco事件上，描述了其態(tài)度;第五段和第六段講述其他相關(guān)公司對該事件的看法和態(tài)度。

　　詞匯注釋：

　　processor n. 加工者 `cartel n. 卡特爾, 聯(lián)合企業(yè), 壟斷集團(tuán)

　　leniency n. 寬大，慈悲,慈悲寬厚的行為 dent v.使凹下, 凹進(jìn), 削弱

　　defiant adj.挑戰(zhàn)的, 挑釁的, 目中無人的 stall v.(使)停轉(zhuǎn), (使)停止, 遲延 profiteer vi. 牟取暴利

　　難句突破:

　　(1) They were fined a total of just over £116 million as part of a leniency deal offered by the watchdog to companies that owned up quickly to anti-competitive behaviour.

　　主體句式: They were fined a total of just over £116 million as part of a leniency deal…

　　結(jié)構(gòu)分析: 這是一個(gè)復(fù)合句，其成分比較復(fù)雜。offered by the watchdog to companies作為一個(gè)分詞短語來修飾前面的deal, 而后面that引導(dǎo)的定語從句又修飾companies。

　　句子譯文:他們總共的罰金只有差不多一億一千六百萬，這是監(jiān)察部門對積極坦白反競爭行為公司的一種寬大處理。

　　(2) The National Consumer Council gave warning that the admissions would dent consumer confidence in leading high street names and that people would become sceptical of their claims.

　　[主體句式] The National Consumer Council gave warning…

　　[結(jié)構(gòu)分析] 這是一個(gè)復(fù)合句，句子的賓語warning 帶著兩個(gè)同位語從句，以that 引導(dǎo);第一個(gè)同位語從句中，confidence in 后面是一個(gè)分詞短語作介詞的賓語。

　　[句子譯文]全國消費(fèi)者委員會警告說長此以往會損害消費(fèi)者的信心，人們也會逐漸懷疑委員會的聲明。

　　題目分析：

　　1. From the first paragraph, we may infer that _____由第一段可以推斷出______

　　[A] Tesco is the most resolute among all the retailers to defend its reputation.[A] 在所有的零售商中，Tesco 捍衛(wèi)其名譽(yù)的態(tài)度比較為堅(jiān)決。

　　[B] it is already proved that Tesco has colluded with Asda, Wiseman, Dairy Crest and Cheese Company in fixing the dairy price. [B]已有證據(jù)顯示 Tesco 和Asda, Wiseman, Dairy Crest 及 Cheese Company聯(lián)合確定牛奶價(jià)格。

　　[C] Tesco is offered a leniency deal of £80 million because of its quick response to the anti-competitive behaviors[C]由于對反競爭行為的快速反應(yīng)，Tesco 會被輕罰八千六百萬元作為寬大處理。

　　[D] Tesco is trying its best to prove its innocence of the scandal.[D] Tesco 竭力證明自己和傳聞無關(guān)。

　　[答案] D

　　[難度系數(shù)] ☆☆

　　[分析] 推理題。第一段主要講述了Tesco公司已被卷入和其他公司聯(lián)手劃定牛奶價(jià)格的丑聞中，目前正在通過法律手段來證明自己與此無關(guān)。選項(xiàng)A的表述在文章中并沒有明確表述，Tesco 雖然正在訴諸法律手段保衛(wèi)其名譽(yù)，但是否態(tài)度比較堅(jiān)決我們無法得知。選項(xiàng)B, 文章中只是說明后幾家公司承認(rèn)其定價(jià)行為，但并為說明Tesco與他們聯(lián)合。選項(xiàng)C，文章指出如果Tesco的丑聞被證實(shí)后會被處以的處罰并且是一種寬大措施，但金額應(yīng)該為£116而不是£80。選項(xiàng)D，Tesco 正在竭力證明自己和傳聞無關(guān)，這正是第一段論述的內(nèi)容。

　　2. Who is most probably the initiator of the pricing formula?2. 誰比較有可能是價(jià)格形成的始作俑者?

　　[A] Retail chains[A] 零售商。

　　[B] Farmers.[B] 牧場主。

　　[C] Dairy companies.[C]牛奶公司。

　　[D] Politicians[D] 政治家。

　　[答案]B

　　[難度系數(shù)] ☆☆☆

　　[分析] 細(xì)節(jié)題。關(guān)于價(jià)格形成比較初由誰引起，第二段和第三段有相關(guān)論述。第二段提到，監(jiān)察部門發(fā)現(xiàn)超市受到政治家和農(nóng)民的壓力要求上調(diào)牛奶價(jià)格，而OFT發(fā)現(xiàn)了零售商將牛奶未來的價(jià)格信息傳遞給了牛奶公司，牛奶公司內(nèi)部自己確定了價(jià)格。第三段又提到牧場主機(jī)構(gòu)和牧場主一直在抗議低廉的牛奶價(jià)格。由此可以推斷，比較有可能引發(fā)牛奶價(jià)格確定的源頭就是牧場主。

　　3. The word “defiant” (Line 1, Paragraph 5)most probably means _____.3. “defiant”(第五段第一行)比較可能的意思是______.

　　[A] resisiting[A] 抗議的

　　[B] angry[B] 憤怒的

　　[C] deficient[C]不完善的

　　[D] confident[D] 自信的

　　[答案]A

　　[難度系數(shù)] ☆☆☆☆

　　[分析] 猜詞題。根據(jù)其上下文的意思，Tesco 聲稱正在為自己的行為準(zhǔn)備比較堅(jiān)決的辯護(hù)，其執(zhí)行理事的一番話也表現(xiàn)了他們這種強(qiáng)硬的態(tài)度，可見他們采取了一種抵抗的態(tài)度，選項(xiàng)[A]比較為符合。

　　4. We may infer from Morrisons’ statement that _____.4. 從Morrisons的話可以推斷出______。

　　[A] Morrisons turn out to be the most defensive when dealing with OFT.[A] Morrisons在與OFT打交道時(shí)實(shí)際上是具防御性質(zhì)的。

　　[B] Morrisons is reluctant to support the inquiries into the former Safeway business.[B] Morrisons不愿意支持對前Safeway業(yè)務(wù)的調(diào)查。

　　[C] industry insiders suggest that Morrisons was trying to delay the OFT investigation with non-cooperation.[C] 業(yè)界內(nèi)部人士透露說Morrisons以不合作的方式竭力推遲OFT的調(diào)查。

　　[D] Morrisons indeed refuses to admit its involvement in the scandal.[D] Morrisons實(shí)際上否認(rèn)其卷入丑聞。

　　[答案] D

　　[難度系數(shù)] ☆☆☆

　　[分析] 推理題。要結(jié)合上下文來理解Morrisons的意思，Morrisons has supported the OFT in inquiries into the former Safeway business that it took over, but in a statement said that it was still making “strong representations” in its defense. 前后兩個(gè)分句是轉(zhuǎn)折關(guān)系，可以看出Morrisons的態(tài)度。雖然他協(xié)助OFT對于前Safeway的調(diào)查，但是他卻聲稱在辯護(hù)中仍要做出抗議。行動上他是一種合作態(tài)度，但他還是要竭力維護(hù)自己的利益、并且沒有任何跡象表明其承認(rèn)了卷入丑聞的指控，因此選項(xiàng)D比較為符合。而其余三個(gè)選項(xiàng)都與前面的意思分析相反。

　　5. The writer’s attitude to Tesco can be said to be _____5. 作者對于Tesco 的態(tài)度可以說是______。

　　[A] biased.[A] 有偏見的。

　　[B] objective.[B] 客觀的。

　　[C] sympathetic.[C] 同情的。

　　[D] optimistic.[D] 樂觀的。

　　[答案]B

　　[難度系數(shù)] ☆

　　[分析] 態(tài)度題。 作者的態(tài)度可以通過材料的選擇和措辭看出來，作者在文章中列出了Tesco有關(guān)方面的事件，但一直沒有做出任何的直接評判，也沒有通過任何字眼來暗示自己的意思，因此可以認(rèn)為作者采取了一種比較客觀的態(tài)度。

　　參考譯文：

　　Tesco為了擺脫限定奶制品價(jià)格風(fēng)波，正在準(zhǔn)備一場大官司。奶制品事件已經(jīng)給消費(fèi)者帶來了兩億七千萬的損失。如果不能證明自己并未和其他超市、奶制品加工商串通一氣的話，它就得接受至少八千萬的罰單。昨天，OFT聲稱Asda, Sainsbury’s 和前 Safeway，還有奶制品公司W(wǎng)iseman, Dairy Crest and Cheese Company都已承認(rèn)它們聯(lián)合設(shè)定了牛奶、黃油及奶酪的價(jià)格。他們總共的罰金只有差不多一億一千六百萬，這是監(jiān)察部門對積極坦白反競爭行為公司的一種寬大處理。

　　OFT官員私下聲稱他們不一定想要找出到底是具體哪家公司或哪個(gè)人發(fā)起這次價(jià)格行動的，但是監(jiān)察部門承認(rèn)這次超市受到政客和農(nóng)民的雙重壓力，要求提高牛奶成本以拯救奶制品畜牧業(yè)，但是比較終錢還不一定能流到農(nóng)民手中。OFT九月份稱他們已經(jīng)發(fā)現(xiàn)證據(jù)證明零售鏈已經(jīng)將未來的牛奶價(jià)格告知奶制品公司，然后奶制品公司自己內(nèi)部設(shè)定了固定價(jià)格。

　　2002和2003年間平均每戶損失為11.25英鎊。每品脫牛奶價(jià)格上漲3便士，每0.25磅黃油上漲15便士，每半磅奶酪漲15便士。但是消費(fèi)者卻沒有任何的補(bǔ)償，利潤全部到了國庫。全國消費(fèi)者委員會警告說長此以往會損害消費(fèi)者的信心，人們也會逐漸懷疑委員會的聲明。Farmers For Action2002年以來一直領(lǐng)導(dǎo)農(nóng)民抗議牛奶價(jià)格過低，目前在就是否可以申請補(bǔ)償尋求法律意見。

　　不過OFT還在繼續(xù)對Tesco, Morrisons 和奶制品集團(tuán) Lactalis McLelland進(jìn)行調(diào)查，任何法律行為都將推遲到調(diào)查結(jié)束。

　　Tesco對此不屑一顧，聲稱在為自己的行為準(zhǔn)備比較堅(jiān)決的辯護(hù)。執(zhí)行理事Lucy Neville-Rolfe說：“正如我們一貫宣稱的，我們行動完全獨(dú)立，和誰都沒有聯(lián)合。我們的立場和我們的對手不一樣，我們在盡力保護(hù)我們的事業(yè)。我們的理念就是為消費(fèi)者更好地服務(wù)。”

　　Morrisons協(xié)助OFT調(diào)查它所管理的前Safeway的交易，但是在一次聲明中還稱自己依然會在辯護(hù)中進(jìn)行強(qiáng)烈的抗議。Lactalis McLelland的一個(gè)代言人說公司在和OFT“合作”，而企業(yè)內(nèi)部人士暗示這三家公司在蓄意拖延OFT調(diào)查。

　　昨天Sainsbury’s承認(rèn)已經(jīng)同意支付兩千六百萬的罰金，但是卻否認(rèn)它在牟取暴利。執(zhí)行董事Justin King說本來是要幫助農(nóng)民卻因此受到懲罰，感覺很失望，但他也承認(rèn)盡快解決更為有利。Asda不愿意透露要賠付多少，并聲稱其初衷是要幫助那些有沉重經(jīng)濟(jì)壓力的農(nóng)民。