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Contraposition Posted 13 years ago
Vocabulary
a winning strategy
What does 'celebrate' mean?
What does 'winning strategy' mean?
Cameroon is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. In 1999, it was the most corrupt country surveyed. When I visited in 2001 it was the fifth most corrupt, an improvement much celebrated by the government. A moment’s reflection should tell you that earning the title of “Most Corrupt Country in the World” takes some effort. Because Transparency International ranks countries according to international perceptions of corruption, a winning strategy is to concentrate on screwing bribes out of foreign businessmen—for instance, at the airport. But the Cameroon authorities have spread themselves too thin, because Cameroon is massively corrupt at every level and does not just target foreigners. Perhaps it’s this lack of focus that has caused them to slip from the top spot.
quoted from Tim harford, 'Undercover Economist'
What does 'winning strategy' mean?
Cameroon is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. In 1999, it was the most corrupt country surveyed. When I visited in 2001 it was the fifth most corrupt, an improvement much celebrated by the government. A moment’s reflection should tell you that earning the title of “Most Corrupt Country in the World” takes some effort. Because Transparency International ranks countries according to international perceptions of corruption, a winning strategy is to concentrate on screwing bribes out of foreign businessmen—for instance, at the airport. But the Cameroon authorities have spread themselves too thin, because Cameroon is massively corrupt at every level and does not just target foreigners. Perhaps it’s this lack of focus that has caused them to slip from the top spot.
quoted from Tim harford, 'Undercover Economist'
Top answer
He is being ironic. If you want to win the title "Most Corrupt" you need to employ a strategy that will win you that title, a winning strategy. "Winning" is adjectival.
- He is being ironic.
- If you want to win the title "Most Corrupt" you need to employ a strategy that will win you that title, a winning strategy.
- "Winning" is adjectival.
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6 Answers
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He is being ironic. If you want to win the title "Most Corrupt" you need to employ a strategy that will win you that title, a winning strategy. "Winning" is adjectival.
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If you want to try to win something, the strategy to follow is...
You need to realize that the tone of the piece is ironic. No one SHOULD want to "win" the title of "most corrupt nation." However, the author writes as though it really was something you want to win, and suggests the way to get that title is to focus on foreigners.
You need to realize that the tone of the piece is ironic. No one SHOULD want to "win" the title of "most corrupt nation." However, the author writes as though it really was something you want to win, and suggests the way to get that title is to focus on foreigners.
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But the Cameroon authorities have spread themselves too thin, because Cameroon is massively corrupt at every level and does not just target foreigners. Perhaps it’s this lack of focus that has caused them to slip from the top spot.
I don't understand the last two sentences. Although I know what the idiom 'spread oneself too thin' means by consulting a dictionary, I don't see what the auth
I don't understand the last two sentences. Although I know what the idiom 'spread oneself too thin' means by consulting a dictionary, I don't see what the auth
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Again, we are pretending that "winning" most corrupt nation is a real goal.
The winning strategy is to focus on interactions with foreigners, because you win based on what foreigners think of you.
They didn't focus on foreigners. They were corrupt everywhere. If they had focused all their corrupt efforts on foreigners and not worked to be corrupt throughout the government, they w
The winning strategy is to focus on interactions with foreigners, because you win based on what foreigners think of you.
They didn't focus on foreigners. They were corrupt everywhere. If they had focused all their corrupt efforts on foreigners and not worked to be corrupt throughout the government, they w
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In 1999, it was the most corrupt country surveyed.
visited in 2001 it was the fifth most corrupt, an improvement much celebrated by the government.
The government celebrated because they were no longer in the worst position.
Because Transparency International ranks countries according to international perceptions of corruption, a winning
visited in 2001 it was the fifth most corrupt, an improvement much celebrated by the government.
The government celebrated because they were no longer in the worst position.
Because Transparency International ranks countries according to international perceptions of corruption, a winning
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Thanks. I seem to understand the meaning. But doesn't '******** bribes out of foreign businessmen' mean 'foreigners give bribe to the Cameroon government', not vice versa?
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