TEXT ONE

　　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 has cost consumers ￡270 million.

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

　　[C] Tesco will be offered a leniency deal of ￡80 million.

　　[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 3, Paragraph 4)most probably means _____.

　　[A] resisiting

　　[B] angry

　　[C] deficient

　　[D] confident

　　4. We may infer from Morrisons’ statement that _____.

　　[A]  Morrisons was uncooperative with OFT.

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

　　[C] Morrisons was trying to delay the OFT investigation.

　　[D] Morrisons was working hard to defend its interests.

　　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部設定價格而面臨受到的調查和處罰的狀況。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格上漲的原因；第三段是講述牛奶價格上漲對消費者的損害；第四段又回到Tesco事件上，描述了其態度；第五段和第六段講述其他相關公司對該事件的看法和態度。
　　詞匯注釋：
　　processor n. 加工者
　　cartel n. 卡特爾, 聯合企業, 壟斷集團
　　leniency n. 寬大，慈悲,慈悲寬厚的行為
　　dent v.使凹下, 凹進, 削弱
　　defiant adj.挑戰的, 挑釁的, 目中無人的

　　stall v.(使)停轉, (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...

　　結構分析: 這是一個復合句，其成分比較復雜。offered by the watchdog to companies作為一個分詞短語來修飾前面的deal, 而后面that引導的定語從句又修飾companies.

　　句子譯文:他們總共的罰金只有一億一千六百萬多點，這是監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...

　　[結構分析] 這是一個復合句，句子的賓語warning 帶著兩個同位語從句，以that 引導；第一個同位語從句中，confidence in 后面是一個分詞短語作介詞的賓語。

　　[句子譯文]全國消費者委員會警告說長此以往會損害消費者的信心，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 has caused a loss of  ￡270 million to consumers.[A] Tesco 給消費者造成了兩億七千萬的損失。
　　[B] Tesco has colluded with Asda, Wiseman, Dairy Crest and Cheese Company in fixing the dairy price.[B] Tesco 和Asda, Wiseman, Dairy Crest 及 Cheese Company聯合確定牛奶價格。
　　[C] Tesco will be offered a leniency deal of ￡80 million.[C]Tesco 會被輕罰八千億元作為寬大處理。
　　[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。
　　[答案] D
　　[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手劃定牛奶價格的丑聞中，目前正在通過法律手段來證明自己與此無關。選項A, 從本段第一句可以看出給消費者造成損失這一事項還未證實，Tesco 正在訴諸法律手段。選項B, 也是Tesco 可能存在但還未被證實的事項。選項C，是如果Tesco的丑聞被證實后會被處以的處罰，但文章也并未指出是一種寬大措施。選項D，Tesco 正在竭力證明自己和傳聞無關，這正是第一段論述的內容。

　　2. Who is most probably the initiator of the pricing formula?2. 誰比較有可能是價格形成的始作俑者？
　　[A] supermarkets.[A] 超市。
　　[B] farmers.[B] 牧場主。
　　[C] dairy companies.[C]牛奶公司。
　　[D] politicians[D] 政治家。
　　[答案]B
　　[分析] 細節題。關于價格形成比較初由誰引起，第二段和第三段由相關論述。第二段提到，監察部門發現超市受到政治家和農民的壓力要求上調牛奶價格，而OFT發現了零售商將牛奶未來的價格信息傳遞給了牛奶公司，牛奶公司內部自己確定了價格。第三段又提到牧場主機構和牧場主一直在抗議低廉的牛奶價格。由此可以推斷，比較有可能引發牛奶價格確定的源頭就是牧場主。

　　3. The word "defiant" (Line 3, Paragraph 4)most probably means _____.3. "defiant"(第四段第三行)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
　　[分析] 猜詞題。根據其上下文的意思，Tesco 聲稱自己正在在為自己的行為準備比較堅決的辯護，其執行理事的一番話也表現了他們這種強硬的態度，可見他們采取了一種抵抗的態度，選項[A]比較為符合。

　　4. We may infer from Morrisons’ statement that _____.4. 從莫里森斯的話可以推斷出______。
　　[A] Morrisons was uncooperative with OFT.[A] 莫里森斯和OFT采取了不合作態度
　　[B] Morrisons was reluctant to support the inquiries into the former Safeway business.[B] 莫里森斯不愿意支持對前Safeway業務的調查。
　　[C] Morrisons was trying to delay the OFT investigation.[C] 莫里森斯竭力推遲OFT的調查。
　　[D] Morrisons was working hard to defend its interests.[D] 莫里森斯努力維護自己的權益。
　　[答案]D
　　[分析] 推理題。要結合上下文來理解莫里森斯的意思，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 defence. 前后兩個分句是轉折關系，可以看出莫里森斯的態度。雖然他協助OFT對于前Safeway的調查，但是他卻聲稱在辯護中仍要做出抗議。行動上他是一種合作態度，但他還是要竭力維護自己的利益，選項D比較為符合。

　　5. The writer’s attitude to Tesco can be said to be _____.5. 作者對于Tesco 的態度可以說是______。
　　[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
　　[分析] 態度題。作者的態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有關方面的事件，但一直沒有做出任何的評判，可以看出是一種比較客觀的態度。

　參考譯文：

　　Tesco為了擺脫限定奶制品價格風波，正在準備一場大官司。奶制品事件已經給消費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Wiseman, Dairy Crest and Cheese Company都已承認它們聯合設定了牛奶、黃油及奶酪的價格。他們總共的罰金只有一億一千六百萬多點，這是監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人發起這次價格行動的，但是監察部門承認這次超市受到政客和農民的雙重壓力，要求提高牛奶成本以拯救奶制品畜牧業，但是比較終錢還不一定能流到農民手中。OFT九月份稱他們已經發現證據證明零售鏈已經將未來的牛奶價格告知奶制品公司，然后奶制品公司自己內部設定了固定價格。

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

　　不過OFT還在繼續對Tesco, Morrisons 和奶制品集團 Lactalis McLelland進行調查，任何法律行為都將推遲到調查結束。Tesco對此不屑一顧，聲稱在為自己的行為準備比較堅決的辯護。執行理事Lucy Neville-Rolfe說："正如我們一貫宣稱的，我們行動完全獨立，和誰都沒有聯合。我們的立場和我們的對手不一樣，我們在盡力保護我們的事業。我們的理念就是給消費者一個好的待遇。"

　　Morrisons協助OFT調查它所管理的前Safeway的交易，但是在一次聲明中還稱自己依然會在辯護中進行強烈的抗議。Lactalis McLelland的一個代言人說公司在和OFT"合作"，而企業內部人士暗示這三家公司在蓄意拖延OFT調查。

　　昨天賽恩斯伯里承認自己已經同意支付兩千六百萬的罰金，但是卻否認它在牟取暴利。執行董事Justin King說本來是要幫助農民卻因此受到懲罰，感覺很失望，但他也承認盡快解決更為有利。Asda不愿意告訴要賠付多少，但卻說聲稱其初衷是要幫助那些有沉重經濟壓力的農民。

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