VOA标准英语2012-- 'Toxic Culture' May Have Led to Government Spending Scandal
时间：2019-01-13 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2012年(五月)
'Toxic 1 Culture' May Have Led to Government Spending Scandal
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is caught up in a scandal, accused of wasteful 2 spending on lavish 3 conferences and executive travel to exotic locations.
It's the perfect example of what a toxic office culture can lead to, according to David Gebler, a lawyer, corporate 4 consultant 5 and author of the upcoming book, "The Three Power Values: How Commitment, Integrity, and Transparency Clear the Roadblocks to Performance."
The GSA - an independent government agency with a $26-billion annual operating budget - owns, leases, and manages federal buildings, including department headquarters, courthouses and post offices across the country.
A public furor 6 erupted after the news media reported the agency had spent more than $800,000 to hold a regional conference for just 300 employees in Las Vegas in 2010.
According to investigators 7, a top agency administrator 8 had used taxpayer 9 money to pay for several so-called “scouting trips” to the Nevada gambling 10 mecca for him and his wife, who was not a government employee.
At the conference, the agency spent lavishly 11 on receptions and dinners, parties in private rooms, and amenities 12 such as clown and mind readers’ shows and commemorative coins and T-shirts for each person who attended.
Members of Congress who directed withering 13 questions at GSA administrators 14 in hastily-called hearings last month after the scandal broke, wondered where the “whistleblowers” had been for more than a year. A whistleblower is an informer who exposes wrongdoing. Turns out, the agency’s own inspector 15 general, Brian Miller 16, informed the public about the spending excess after his own lengthy 17 probe.
Corporate watchdog David Gebler writes that “good employees do bad things when they’re part of an unhealthy culture of ‘Don’t ask too many questions’ or ‘I know this is wrong, but it’s not my problem.’”
He says it’s all too easy for what he calls “boss-pleasers” and “team players” to look the other way when they shouldn’t.
“Loyalty is not a good thing when it creates a culture of “‘I know this is bad, but it’s not my decision,’” Gebler says.
After the spending spree was revealed, GSA Administrator Martha Johnson apologized to the American people for what she termed "a raucous 18, extravagant 19, arrogant 20, self-congratulatory event." She resigned and two of her top aides, who led the activities in Las Vegas, were fired.
- The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
- There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。
- It is a shame to be so wasteful.这样浪费太可惜了。
- Duties have been reassigned to avoid wasteful duplication of work.为避免重复劳动浪费资源，任务已经重新分派。
- He despised people who were lavish with their praises.他看不起那些阿谀奉承的人。
- The sets and costumes are lavish.布景和服装极尽奢华。
- This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
- His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。
- He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
- Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。
- His choice of words created quite a furor.他的措辞引起了相当大的轰动。
- The half hour lecture caused an enormous furor.那半小时的演讲引起了极大的轰动。
- This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
- The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
- He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。
- The new scheme will run off with a lot of the taxpayer's money.这项新计划将用去纳税人许多钱。
- The taxpayer are unfavourably disposed towards the recent tax increase.纳税者对最近的增加税收十分反感。
- They have won a lot of money through gambling.他们赌博赢了很多钱。
- The men have been gambling away all night.那些人赌了整整一夜。
- His house was lavishly adorned.他的屋子装饰得很华丽。
- The book is lavishly illustrated in full colour.这本书里有大量全彩插图。
- The campsite is close to all local amenities. 营地紧靠当地所有的便利设施。
- Parks and a theatre are just some of the town's local amenities. 公园和戏院只是市镇娱乐设施的一部分。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- She gave him a withering look. 她极其蔑视地看了他一眼。
- The grass is gradually dried-up and withering and pallen leaves. 草渐渐干枯、枯萎并落叶。
- He had administrators under him but took the crucial decisions himself. 他手下有管理人员，但重要的决策仍由他自己来做。 来自辞典例句
- Administrators have their own methods of social intercourse. 办行政的人有他们的社交方式。 来自汉英文学 - 围城
- The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school.视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。
- The inspector was shining a flashlight onto the tickets.查票员打着手电筒查看车票。
- Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
- The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。
- We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
- The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。
- I heard sounds of raucous laughter upstairs.我听见楼上传来沙哑的笑声。
- They heard a bottle being smashed,then more raucous laughter.他们听见酒瓶摔碎的声音，然后是一阵更喧闹的笑声。
- They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts.他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。
- He is extravagant in behaviour.他行为放肆。