第一段
In a rare unanimous ruling, the US Supreme Court has overturned the corruption conviction of a former Virginia governor, Robert McDonnell. But it did so while holding its nose at the ethics of his conduct, which included accepting gifts such as a Rolex watch and a Ferrari automobile from a company seeking access to government.
单词&词组
unanimous a. 一致通过的
overturn v. 推翻，撤销（判决等）
corruption n. 腐败，贪污
conviction n. 定罪，判罪
hold one's nose （为避开臭气等）捂住鼻子，引申“克制对某必做之事的厌恶或反感等”
ethic n. 道德准则，伦理标准
automobile n. 汽车
本段翻译
在一项罕见的一致裁决中，美国最高法院推翻了前弗吉尼亚州州长罗伯特·麦克唐纳（Robert McDonnell）的腐败指控。但它这样做的同时，却对他的行为准则嗤之以鼻，包括接受一家寻求进入政府部门的公司赠送的劳力士手表和法拉利汽车等礼物。
第二段
The high court’s decision said the judge in Mr. McDonnell’s trial failed to tell a jury that it must look only at his “official acts,” or the former governor’s decisions on “specific” and “unsettled” issues related to his duties.
单词&词组
trial n. 审判，审理
fail to do... 未能做……
jury n. 陪审团
official act 公务行为
official a. 公务的，公职的 n. 官员
本段翻译
高等法院的裁决说，审判麦克唐纳的法官没有告诉陪审团，陪审团必须只看他的“官方行为”，或者前州长对与他职责有关的“具体”和“未解决的”问题的决定。
第三段
Merely helping a gift-giver gain access to other officials, unless done with clear intent to pressure those officials, is not corruption, the justices found.
单词&词组
intent n. 意图，目的
pressure v. 对……施加压力，强迫
justice n. 法官
find v. 裁决，判决
本段翻译
法官们发现，仅仅帮助送礼者接触其他官员，除非是出于对这些官员施压的明确意图，否则这不是腐败。
第四段
The court did suggest that accepting favors in return for opening doors is “distasteful” and “nasty.” But under anti-bribery laws, proof must be made of concrete benefits, such as approval of a contract or regulation. Simply arranging a meeting, making a phone call, or hosting an event is not an “official act”.
单词&词组
favor n. 礼物
in return for 作为……报酬，作为……回报
distasteful a. 令人生厌的，令人反感的
nasty a. 卑鄙龌龊的
bribery n. 贿赂
be made of 由……组成，由……构成
concrete a. 具体的
本段翻译
法院确实提出，接受好处作为开门的回报是“令人厌恶的”和“恶劣的”。但根据反贿赂法，必须证明具体的利益，如批准合同或条例。简单地安排会议、打电话或主持活动不是“官方行为”。
第五段
The court’s ruling is legally sound in defining a kind of favoritism that is not criminal. Elected leaders must be allowed to help supporters deal with bureaucratic problems without fear of prosecution for bribery.” The basic compact underlying representative government,” wrote Chief Justice John Roberts for the court,” assumes that public officials will hear from their constituents and act on their concerns.”
单词&词组
elected leader 民选领袖
deal with 处理，解决，应对
bureaucratic a. 政府的，官员的
prosecution n. 起诉，诉讼
compact n. 契约；协定
representative government 代议制政府
assume v. 假设，假定
constituent n. 选民，选举人
act on... 按照……行事
本段翻译
法院的裁决在法律上是合理的，定义了一种不属于犯罪的偏袒行为。必须允许民选领导人帮助支持者处理官僚主义问题，而不必担心因贿赂而被起诉。“代议制政府的基本契约”首席大法官约翰·罗伯茨（John Roberts）在法庭上写道，“假定公职人员会听取选民的意见，并对他们的关切采取行动。”
第六段
But the ruling reinforces the need for citizens and their elected representatives, not the courts, to ensure equality of access to government. Officials must not be allowed to play favorites in providing information or in arranging meetings simply because an individual or group provides a campaign donation or a personal gift. This type of integrity requires well-enforced laws in government transparency, such as records of official meetings, rules on lobbying, and information about each elected leader’s source of wealth.
单词&词组
reinforce v. 加强，强化
ensure v. 确保，保证
play favorites 厚此薄彼，偏袒
campaign n. 竞选运动
donation n. 捐赠物，尤指捐款
integrity n. 耿直，正直诚实
transparency n. 透明度
government transparency 政府透明度
lobbying n. 游说活动
source of wealth 财富来源
本段翻译
但这项裁决强化了公民及其民选代表（而非法院）确保平等参与政府事务的必要性。不能仅仅因为个人或团体提供了竞选捐款或个人礼物，就允许官员在提供信息或安排会议方面大做文章。这种廉洁要求政府透明度方面的法律得到严格执行，例如官方会议记录、游说规则以及每一位当选领导人财富来源的信息。
第七段
Favoritism in official access can fan public perceptions of corruption. But it is not always corruption. Rather officials must avoid double standards, or different types of access for average people and the wealthy. If connections can be bought, a basic premise of democratic society—that all are equal in treatment by government—is undermined. Good governance rests on an understanding of the inherent worth of each individual.
单词&词组
double standards 双重标准
fan v. 煽起，激起
perception n. 知觉，感知
connection n. ［~s 复数］人际关系，人脉
premise n. 前提
democratic society 民主社会
undermine v. 逐渐损害（或削弱）
governance n. 治理，管理
rest on 依赖，依靠
inherent a. 内在的，固有的
inherent worth 固有价值
本段翻译
官员准入中的偏袒会助长公众对腐败的看法。但并不总是腐败。相反，官员们必须避免双重标准，即普通人和富人的不同类型的准入。如果关系可以买到，民主社会的一个基本前提，即所有人在政府面前一律平等，就会遭到破坏。善政建立在对每个人内在价值的理解之上。
第八段
The court’s ruling is a step forward in the struggle against both corruption and official favoritism.
本段翻译
法院的裁决是在打击腐败和官员徇私舞弊的斗争中向前迈进了一步。
五道题
36. The undermined sentence (Para.1) most probably shows that the court___.
[A] avoided defining the extent of McDonnell’s duties.
[B] made no compromise in convicting McDonnell.
[C] was contemptuous of McDonnell’s conduct.
[D] refused to comment on McDonnell’s ethics.
37. According to Paragraph 4, an official act is deemed corruptive only if it involves___.
[A] concrete returns for gift-givers.
[B] sizable gains in the form of gifts.
[C] leaking secrets intentionally.
[D] breaking contracts officially.
38. The court’s ruling is based on the assumption that public officials are___.
[A] allowed to focus on the concerns of their supporters.
[B] qualified to deal independently with bureaucratic issues.
[C] justified in addressing the needs of their constituents.
[D] exempt from conviction on the charge of favoritism.
39. Well-enforced laws in government transparency are needed to___.
[A] awaken the conscience of officials.
[B] guarantee fair play in official access.
[C] allow for certain kinds of lobbying.
[D] inspire hopes in average people.
40. The author’s attitude toward the court’s ruling is___.
[A] sarcastic.
[B] tolerant.
[C] skeptical.
[D] supportive
参考答案
CACBD
答案解析
36、由题干中的The underlined sentence (Para. 1)定位到第一段第二句的画线处。该句指出，虽然如此，但最高法院却对麦克唐纳行为的道德标准嗤之以鼻,他的行为包括从一家寻求接近政府的公司那里收受，像劳力士手表和法拉利汽车等礼物。由此可知，最高法院对罗伯特·麦克唐纳的行为表示不耻。[C]中的was contemptuous of对应原文中的holding its nose,由此可确定本题答案为[C]。
37、由题干中的Paragraph4定位到第四段。第四段第二句指出,根据反贿赂法，证据必须是实实在在的好处,譬如批准某个合同或某条规定。第二句接着进行解释,仅仅安排一次会见、打个电话或主持项活动都算不上“公务行为"。由此可知，只有给予送礼者具体的回报,才可以被认为是受贿，由此可确定本题答案为[A]。
38、由题干中的court's ruling和assumption定位到第五段。第五段最后一句指出，法院的首席法官约翰·罗伯茨写道，“代议制政府下的基本契约认为，公职人员应听取其选民的意见，并按其意愿行使职能。”由此可知，法院的裁决是基于公职人员应听取其选民的意见，并按其意愿行使职能这一假设。由此可确定本题答案为[C]。
39、由题干中的Well-enforced laws和government transparency定位到第六段的最后一句话。该句指出,这种廉正需要在政府透明度方面有实施得力的法律。而这种廉正是指第六段第二句中的"官员不得只是因为某个人或团体向其提供竞选捐赠或赠予礼物，在提供信息或安排会见方面就有所偏袒”，即官员应该向与其接触的人们提供平等的机会。由此可知，在政府透明度方面有实施得力的法律是为了保证人人有平等的机会接近政府，由此可确定本题答案为[B]。
40、由题干中的the court's ruling和题文同序原则定位到最后一段。最后一段指出,法院的裁决是在反腐败和公务偏袒的斗争中向前迈进的一步。由此可知,作者对于该项裁决的意见是支持的，由此可确定本题答案为[D]。
