When competition is fierce and elbows are flying, nothing is more natural than the desire to climb atop the heap. The biggest firms in most industries have an edge. They probably became the biggest by being the best. (46)
They tend to become more efficient as they grow, reaping economies of scale, thus increasing their margins and their advantage over smaller rivals.
Being large enough to shape an industry can help. And when the national champion is faltering, there is a fair chance politicians will consider it too big to fail.
(47)
So you might think that it"s time to crack open a few cans of the stuff at PepsiCo, which this week surpassed Coca-Cola in market value for the first time in 112 years of crazy competition.
And yet, without wishing to spoil Pepsi"s party, the case for celebration is not so clear-cut. As America has discovered in the geopolitics business, being number one is not much fun.
As soon as a firm climbs above the sharp elbows of its rivals, it starts getting pelted with the eggs of anti-business activists. People who hate big business aim high. (48)
So while big, bad Wal-Mart is mocked, Target has in the past couple of years easily cut the benefits of its non-union workers.
And when was the last time you saw an anti-globalization mob destroy a Burger King outlet?
(49)
Unlike Microsoft, which is loathed by many for its monopoly power, Apple has not had to contend with thousands of young hackers fighting to poke holes in the security of its operating systems.
While Nike was inundated with complaints about its "sweat shops" in poor countries, Adidas steadily improved its brand, and has recently acquired Reebok to emerge as a strong number two. If only Ebenezer Scrooge had lived across town from a bigger rival, the ghosts of Christmas might have picked on the other guy, and left the poor curmudgeon to a good night"s sleep.
As protesters get better at running media campaigns, the second-best advantage may even be growing. (50)
Firms such as Ford, Burger King and Target do not have documentary-makers queuing up to attack them in such films as "Roger and Me" (General Motors), "Super Size Me" (McDonald"s) or "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price".
Even if the runner-up does get caught doing something unpopular, it can pin the blame on merciless competition from the evil number one.
【答案解析】解析：本句为主从复合句，主干结构是They tend to become more efficient，而as they grow是状语从句。分词短谙reaping economies of scale和increasing their margins and their advantage均为状语。翻译时注意词义具体化，使用增词法。economy原意为"经济，经济体"，由于前面谓语是reap，此处具体指"经济效益"。最后一部分their advantage前的谓语省略了increase，这里不能译成"增加"，需要引申为"培养"。此外，句中的代词they在翻译时应表明指代对象，此处是指前文中提到的firms。
【答案解析】解析：本句为主从复合句，主干结构是you might think。that引导宾语从句，其中不定式短语to crack open a few cans of the stuff是从句真正主语。which引导定语从句，修饰前面的PepsiCo。翻译时注意词义具体化。句中crack open a few cans字面意思为"砰地打开几罐"，这里应具体翻译成"喝几罐"。后面的定语从句较长，这需要进行断句处理，将从句修饰的先行词重复一次译出，符合汉语表达习惯。
【答案解析】解析：本句为主从复合句，主干结构是Apple has not had to contend with thousands of young hackers。形容词短语unlike Microsoft是状语，which引导定语从句，修饰Microsoft。分词短语fighting to poke holes in the security of its operating systems是hackers的定语。翻译时注意被动语态的转化、词性转化和减词法的使用。many这里为名词，指"许多人"，翻译时转化成副词"频频"修饰动词，意思保持不变。另外，monopoly power 在句中的意思与monopoly一致，power一词无需译出。
【答案解析】解析：本句为简单句。主干结构是Firms do not have sb. doing sth. to do sth.，分词短语queuing是宾语documentary-makers的补足语，不定式短语to attack them是目的状语。翻译时注意词义的完整性。句中出现了许多耳熟能详的品牌，翻译时尽量将其意思翻译完整。例如Ford不能直接译成"福特"，而是完整译成"福特汽车"。虽然可能对Target这个品牌不太熟悉，但是通过前文的内容，可以推断这是个超市，因此将其译成Target超市即可。