Corporate scandals (丑闻), like political scandals, start with shocking revelation and then move inevitably into who-knew-what stage. This is where executives can start reestablishing their
(51) ________ --or deepen the damage.
Since they were forced to (52) ________ one of the biggest frauds (欺诈行为) in auto industry history last month, the executives at Volkswagen have offered (53) ________ and promised to fix the cheating devices wired into eleven millions of their diesel cars (柴油车). But they haven’t explained who ordered, (54) ________ and designed the software that enabled the cars to cheat on emissions tests while emitting (55) ________ on the road. Nor has Volkswagen said how and when it plans to fix the cars, which many customers bought in the belief that they were fuel (56) ________ and clean.
On October 8, German prosecutors (检察官) broke into the corporate offices as part of their investigation. Meanwhile, Matthias Muller, the (57) ________ appointed chief executive, continued to insist that the former executive, Martin Winterkorn, who resigned shortly after the scandal, knew (58) ________. ―Do you really think that a chief executive had time for the inner functioning of engine software?‖ he said in a recent interview, as if the problem was some
(59) ________ shortcoming and not an elaborate effort to (60) ________ regulators and customers around the world.
If Mr. Winterkorn was not responsible, who was? Nobody believes that the handful of senior managers could have (61) ________ this scheme without any support. Hans-Dieter Potsch, a supervisory board chairman, issued a statement earlier this month, saying it would take time before Volkswagen could make (62) ________ the findings of its internal investigations. ―We must overcome the crisis,‖ he explained, ―but we must also ensure that Volkswagen continues to grow.‖ That seems to miss the point that Volkswagen will neither overcome the crisis nor grow unless it can instantly produce some (63) ________ answers and explanations.
Even if they manage to fix millions of cars, Volkswagen executives will still face an enormous (64) ________ from lawsuits, lost sales and the (65) ________ to Volkswagen’s reputation. There is no device to block the angry and urgent questions that they face. Apologizing is just the easy part.
51. A. reputation B. revenge C. responsibility D. revolution
52. A. commit B. recognize C. admit D. revise
53. A. gratitude B. apologies C. guidance D. authorities
54. A. approved B. chose C. withdrew D. undertook
55. A. light B. ashes C. smell D. pollutants
56. A. effective B. efficient C. extinct D. essential
57. A. officially B. voluntarily C. temporarily D. newly
58. A. anything B. something C. nothing D. everything
59. A. minor B. major C. inferior D. superior
60. A. conceal B. confuse C. attract D. deceive
61. A. held on B. got rid of C. carried out D. made up
62. A. clear B. public C. possible D. convenient
63. A. convincing B. likely C. factual D. solid
64. A. conflict B. opportunities C. competitions D. challenges
65. A. response B. blow C. solution D. key