Passage 2
In a major European city the local government wanted to put up a big office building in the city center, and to choose an engineering company to do the work. Several big companies wanted to be bidding (竞标) against each other for the project, because it would bring them a lot of money if they could be awarded the project. but, of course, they could not all have it, so the mayor had to decide which of them should be the lucky one. He, therefore, appointed a government official to ask the companies to apply for the job, decide which was the most suitable, and then advise the city council of which one to chooseAfter some months. the choice was made and work was about to begin when one of the companies failing to be awarded the project complained to the mayor. They said that the official who had been responsible for advising him on the choice of a company to do the work had accepted kick backs(佣金,回扣).The mayor immediately ordered some people to look into the whole matter, and after a month had proof that the official did take kickbacks. He therefore sent for him and asked for an InquiryThe official admitted that the accusation(指控) was true.“But”, he said,“ I did notst take one from the company which I recommended. I took a kick-back from each company that wanted the job.”“Well. then, "said the mayor, "How did you finally make your choice? Did you choose the one that gave you the most kick-backs?Certainly not, sir! "answered the official, deeply hurt by the mayor who should accuse him of such dishonesty. I was very careful to take exactly the same kick-backs from each of the companies.”Then how did you choose? asked the mayor.“As an honest government official, "answered the man,"I chose the company that Ithought would do the work best and most cheaply, of course.
Several big companies wanted to be bidding (竞标) against each other for the projectbecause____
我
