Lesson 47 The Meeting 會議
Words:
congregate v. 聚集
congress n. 國會，議會
congressional adj. 會議的，大會的；國會的
congressman n. 國會議員
conjectural adj. 推測的
conjure v. 變魔術，變戲法
connect v. 連接；聯系；聯合；溝通
connection n. 連接；（s）親屬；熟人，關系戶；由共同利益結合在一起的人
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. 盡責的，一絲不茍的；憑良心的
conscious adj. 有意識的，神志清醒的；意識到的
consciousness n. 意識，知覺
consecrate v. 使神圣，給。。。祝圣；奉獻
consecutive adj. 連續的
consequence n. 結果，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.”
“請進。”瓊斯議員說道。瓊斯已經做了20年的議會成員。20年間，他結識了無數有影響力的關系戶，并日益富足，成為品嘗佳釀的專家。他請客熱喝了點好酒。“我能為你做點什么？”瓊斯向那個西裝革履的男人問道。
“我是您所在地區的一家聯合大企業的律師，我們公司很想提交一些特殊的法律議案。”那個穿西裝的人說道。
“您可別指望我會為那些專為大企業謀利的法律變出一張贊成票。”議員說道。
“完全沒有，”律師道，“您只需運用您的影響力和各種后門關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，“我是一名盡職盡責的立法者，我有一顆嚴正良心。”
“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在事故中失去知覺的人。事實上，我方是有意識地選擇五任當選議員的。
“聽著，我可不是靠同你們這樣的人搞些陰謀才連續五任當選議員的。我跟權勢交往不過是為了幫助我所在的社區。人們尊敬我是因為議會取得了不少成就。他們知道我不會做些主觀臆測的決斷，因此我每次都能重新當選。人們聚集在一起聽我演說。我甚至幫助他們為教堂祝圣。”
“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，您的協助不會帶來任何負面后果。”
“你怎末不早說要是拯救鯨魚呢？”瓊斯微笑到，“我很愿意幫忙。”
