The Swedes were the first to recognize that public officials like civil servants, police officers, health inspectors or tax-collectors can make mistakes or act over-zealously in the belief that they are serving the public.

public official ^{n. 公职人员（以官方的身份行事的人）}

• They always ready to draw a bead on an errant public official . ^{他们总是拿一个误入歧途的官员作靶子…}
• He thought he was a good public official, but the voters obviously thought otherwise. ^{他认为自己是一名优秀的公职人员，但选民的想法显然不同。}

health inspector ^{n. someone who works for the government whose job is to visit restaurants and make sure that they are clean and obeying laws about preparing food 卫生检查员}

• Consult your local or state plumbing or health inspector. ^{请咨询当地或州管道或健康检查员。}
• Phoebe dates a Larry, a health inspector she met at Monica's restaurant. ^{菲比和她在莫妮卡餐厅遇到的卫生稽查员Larry约会。}
• The country health agency has dedicated one inspector to monitor conditions in nursing homes. ^{该国卫生机构已指定一名检查员监测各疗养院的情况。}

in the belief that … = because sb. believe that … ^{因为某人相信（固定搭配）…}

• She wrote to him in the belief that he would help her.
• The Swedes were the first to recognize that public officials like civil servants, police officers, health inspectors or tax-collectors can make mistakes or act over-zealously in the belief that (=because they believe that) they are serving the public.
• They leave unwanted objects in drawers, cupboards and attics for years, in the belief that (=because they believe that) they may one day need just those very things.

As long ago as 1809, the Swedish Parliament introduced a scheme to safeguard the interest of the individual.

as long ago as … = as early as … ^{早在…就…}

• The ancient city was founded as long ago as 500 BC. ^{这座古城早在公元前500年就建立了。}
• Considering how recent these developments are, it is even more remarkable that as long ago as the 1960s, an Englishman, Leon Bagrit, was able to predict some of the uses of computers which we know today.
• The technology was developed as early as the 1970s. ^{这种技术早在20世纪70年代就被开发出来了。}

parliament ^{n. group of people who are elected to make a country’s laws and discuss important national affairs 国会，议会}

• Big Ben takes its name from Sir Benjamin Hall who was responsible for the making of the clock when the new Houses of Parliament were being built.
• The Bangladesh Parliament today approved the policy, but it has not yet become law. ^{孟加拉共和国议会今天批准了这项政策，但它还没有成为法律。}
• The election was announced and parliament was dissolved.^{宣布选举后，议会解散了。}
• The parliament is composed mainly of extreme nationalists. ^{国会主要由极端民族主义者组成。}

Parliament ^{n. （P大写，特指英国国会）the main law-making institution in the UK, which consists of the House of Commons and the House of Lords 英国国会（包括下议院和上议院）}

• The police were called in, but they could not arrest anyone, for the basket contained two Members of Parliament and the Commanding Officer of the station!
• They bulldozed the tax through Parliament. ^{他们使税收提案在议会强行通过。}
• Parliament passed the bill without further amendment. ^{议会未作进一步修改便通过了议案。}
• He was elected to Parliament as the Member for Leeds. ^{他被选入国会作为利兹市的议员。}

Congress ^{n. （特指美国国会）the group of people elected to make laws in the US, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives 美国国会（包括参议院和众议院）}

• Congress is in gridlock. ^{国会因意见分歧而陷入僵局。}
• Congress scores low in public opinion polls. ^{国会在民意测验中得分很低。}
• Congress will vote on the proposals tomorrow. ^{国会明天将对提案进行投票表决。}

introduce ^{v. 开始推行，开始采用}

• The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860 when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.
• Introduce the local cultures. ^{介绍当地文化。}
• To introduce her hometown. ^{介绍她的家乡。}
• They want to introduce a new brand. ^{他们想介绍一个新品牌。}

scheme ^{n. 1. 计划，方案；2. 阴谋诡计}

• Most of us fail in our efforts at self-improvement because our schemes are too ambitious and we never have time to carry them out.
• schemes and intrigues ^阴谋诡计

safeguard ^{v. to protect sth. from harm or damage 保护，保卫}

• We hope that world leaders can agree on a plan to safeguard the environment. 
• They will press for international action to safeguard the ozone layer. ^{他们将竭力要求国际行动来保护臭氧层。}
• The leaflet explains how to safeguard against dangers in the home. ^{小册子告诉人们在家里如何防备各种危险。}

A parliamentary committee representing all political parties appoints a person who is suitably qualified to investigate private grievances against the State.

appoint ^{v. to choose someone for a position or a job 任命，委任}

• They have appointed a new manager.
• He promised to appoint an AIDS czar to deal with the disease. ^{他承诺任命一位艾滋病特使来对付这种疾病。}
• After due consideration, we have decided to appoint Mr Davis to the job. ^{经过适当考虑，我们决定委任戴维斯先生干这项工作。}

grievance ^{n. a complaint or a strong feeling that you have been treated unfairly 委屈，不平，不满，牢骚}

• inviting the members to air their grievances 
• Management agreed to settle the workers' grievances.
• Bill still harbours / nurses a grievance against his employers for not promoting him. 

The official title of the person is 'Justiteombudsman', but the Swedes commonly refer to him as the 'J. O.' or 'Ombudsman'.

refer to A as B ^{表达“把A成为B”}

• People who work in offices are frequently referred to as 'white collar workers' for the simple reason that they usually wear a collar and tie to go to work.
• Some people refer to such modification as maturity. ^{有些人把这种变化称为成熟。}

常与副词 commonly, usually, generally, frequently, often 等连用

The Ombudsman is not subject to political pressure.

be subject to sth.  ^{likely to be affected by sth., especially sth. bad 可能或易于受到……的影响}

• Flights are subject to delay because of the fog.
• Smokers are more subject to heart attacks than non-smokers.

He investigates complaints large and small that come to him from all levels of society.

large and small ^{两个含义相反的形容词连用时，常位于被修饰名词之后。}

• He investigates complaints large and small that come from all levels of society to him.^{礼让弱小原则，应该让“to him”在前}
• A man with a noble heart never bows before difficulties great or small. ^大大小小
• We should be fair to all people, big and small, young and old. ^{大人物与小人物、年轻人与老年人}

level ^{n. relative position in rank, class or authority 级别，阶层}

• These are subjects for discussion at management level. ^管理层
• Project Management level. ^{项目管理团队。}
• We need support at grass-roots level. ^{我们需要基层的支持。}

As complaints must be made in writing, the Ombudsman receives an average of 1,200 letters a year.

make / bring / file / lodge / submit / a complaint + about sth. / against sb. ^{表达“做投诉”}

• I'd like to make a complaint about the noise. ^{关于某事的投诉（about sth.）}
• He brought a complaint against his former manager. ^{针对某人的投诉（against sb.）}
• I determined to lodge a complaint as soon as we arrived.
• … if any further complaints were lodged against him, he would be prosecuted. 

in writing ^{以书面形式}

• All bookings must be confirmed in writing. 
• Cancellations must be made in writing. ^{撤销必须有书面通知。}
• The terms of engagement are to be agreed in writing. ^{聘用条款应有书面协议。}

in … ^以…形式

• speak in English
• pay in cash
• a short note scribbled in pencil
• write a message in code ^用密码
• The title was printed in capital letters. 

an average of … ^平均…

• Parents spend an average of $220 a year on toys for their children.
• Prices have risen by an average of 4% over the past year. 

He has eight lawyer assistants to help him and he examines every single letter in detail.

every single ^{每一…（加强 every 的语气）}

• We eat rice every single day!
• Don't write down every single word I say.
• Every single key word can make you learn more clearly and easily. ^{每一个关键词都能让你学得更清楚、更容易。}

There is nothing secretive about the Ombudsman's work, for his correspondence is open to public inspection.

There is nothing secretive about … ^{没有什么可保密的}

• There is nothing secretive about it .
• There is nothing secretive about Christianity.

correspondence ^{n. [U]  the letters that someone sends and receives, especially official or business letters 信件[信函]}

• She has a lot of correspondence to deal with.
• He always replied to his correspondence. ^{他总是来函必复。}
• We kept up a correspondence for many years. ^{我们保持了很多年的通信联系。}

mail ^{n. [U] the letters and packages that are delivered to you 邮件}

• There isn't much mail today.
• He agreed that a train did come into the station at the time on the paper and that it did stop, but only to take on mail, not passengers.

open ^{adj. public, not limited 公开的，开放的，没有限制的}

• The action is an open violation of the Vienna Convention. ^{这次行动是对《维也纳公约》的公然违犯。}
• It's an open meeting, everybody's invited. ^{这是一个开放的会议，谁来都欢迎。}
• They had advised us to keep it a secret, but we wanted it out in the open. ^{他们曾建议我们对其保密，但我们却想将它公之于众。}

If a citizen's complaint is justified, the Ombudsman will act on his behalf.

justified ^{adj. having an acceptable explanation or reason 合理的}

• In my opinion, the decision was wholly justified. ^{在我看来，这个决定是完全合理的。}
• This sort of increase simply cannot be justified. ^{这种增长完全没有道理。}
• Dismissals must be justified. ^{解雇行为必须有正当理由。}

justify ^{v.to show or prove that sb./sth. is right or reasonable 表明或证明……是合理的}

• The end justifies the means. 
• He made a half-hearted attempt to justify himself. ^{他没有尽力证明自己有理。}

justification ^{n. [U and C] a good and acceptable reason for doing sth. 正当的理由}

• He was getting angry—and with some justification. ^{他生气了—而且不是没有道理的。}
• To me the only justification for a zoo is educational. ^{对我来说，动物园存在的惟一正当理由就是它的教育意义。}
• I can see no possible justification for any further tax increases. ^{我看不出还能提出什么理由来进一步加税了。}

on behalf of sb. / on sb.'s behalf 、in behalf of sb. / in sb.'s behalf ^{1、代表、代替；2、为了某人的利益}

• The legal guardian must act on behalf of the child. ^代表
• I am writing this letter on behalf of my colleague. ^{我代表我的同事写这封信。}
• The charity raised funds in behalf of those affected by the disaster. ^{慈善机构为受灾者筹集资金。}
• Unfortunately, George cannot be with us today so I am pleased to accept this award on his behalf.
• They campaigned on behalf of asylum seekers.

The action he takes varies according to the nature of the complaint.

take action   ^{do sth. in response to what has happened 采取行动}

• Immediate action must be taken to stop the fire spreading.
• It was impossible for the Ombudsman to take action, …  
• You should take action first. ^{你应该首先采取行动。}

He may gently reprimand an official or even suggest to parliament that a law be altered.

reprimand / rebuke sb. for sth. ^{（上下级）因为某事批评某人}

• I was reprimanded / rebuked by my manager for being late.
• Recognizing who the customer was, the manager was most apologetic and reprimanded the assistant severely.
• He let me off with a reprimand. ^{他把我训斥了一顿就让我过了。}
• I would not judge nor rebuke them. ^{我既不会审判他们，也不会谴责他们。}

The following case is a typical example of the Ombudsman's work.

example ^{v.举例说明；n.例子}

• The doctors gave numerous examples of patients being expelled from the hospital. ^{医生给出了大量病人被逐出医院的实例。}
• Take, for example, the simple sentence: "The man climbed up the hill." ^{以这个简单句为例：“那个人爬上了山坡。”}
• Her courage is an example to us all. ^{她的勇气是我们大家的榜样。}