When competition is fierce and elbows are flying, nothing is more natural than the desire to climb atop the heap. The biggest fi

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问题     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.


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答案所以当所谓"庞大丑陋"的沃尔玛公司受到嘲弄的时候,Target公司在过去的几年中轻松削减了非工会工人的福利。

解析 本句为主从复合句,主干结构是Target has cut the benefits。while引导时间状语从句。翻译时注意被动语态的处理。此处is mocked尽量转成主动译出,变成"受到嘲弄"。
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