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Companies That Care 企业社会责任

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

Business has always been about dollars and cents, the bottom line, and turning a profit. Today, however, all three are becoming increasingly linked with a word that would have seemed out of place in most corporate boardrooms: care. More and more companies are discovering that corporate social responsibility (CSR), or philanthropic or charitable activities, can not only boost their public image, but also give their sales a real shot in the arm.

作生意本来就是锱铢必较，要有利可图。然而，以往这股企业界会议室传出的铜臭味，已逐渐转变为一个截然不同的词汇：关怀。越来越多公司发现企业社会责任，或所谓的慈善公益活动，不仅能提升其公共形象，也能刺激销售额大幅增加。

Consumers are no longer solely interested in which company can give them the best product at the lowest price. They want to know the company they buy from is also giving something back, and contributing in a positive way to society as a whole. Therefore, companies are looking for ways to show that they care about the needs of the community and their impact on the environment.

消费者已不再只对公司提供物美价廉的产品感兴趣。他们想知道自己捧场的公司正有所回馈，为社会做整体积极的贡献。因此，业界正寻找方法以显示其关心小区需求及对环境造成的影响力。

One business which has been leading the way in CSR is salesforce.com. Their company policy is to donate 1% of its profits, 1% of its equity to charities, and 1% of its employees’ time, which equals six days of charity work at full pay per year. Employees are also encouraged to come up with their own ideas for how the company can do some good, and for which organizations they should lend a hand to.

在企业社会公益方面首开先锋的是网络公司salesforce.com。其公司政策是捐出利润和股票的1%给慈善机构；员工也拨出1%的工时，亦即一年有六天支全薪去从事慈善工作。公司也鼓励员工替公司发想行善的方式及援助的对象与机构。

In Taiwan, Uni-President Enterprises Corporation is showing that they care about environmental conservation and the community they serve. The company has sponsored activities leading to an increase in the numbers of black-faced spoonbills, a bird that was once on the brink of extinction. In addition, Uni-President organized a foundation which donates to people who are in need of emergency assistance.

在台湾，「统一企业」也展现出他们对环境保育和小区服务的关怀。它赞助的活动已使原本濒临绝种的黑面琵鹭数量得以增加。此外，「统一企业」也成立了急难救助协会，帮助急需紧急救援的人。

Vocabulary

单词发音

corporate [ˋkɔrpərɪt] adj. 公司的

charitable [ˋtʃærətəb!] adj. 慈善的

impact [ɪmˋpækt] n. 影响

donate [ˋdonet] v. 捐献，捐赠[（+to）]

come up with (针对问题等)想出; 提供

lend a hand 帮忙, 助一臂之力 to give someone some help, not necessarily with the hands

sponsor [ˋspɑnsɚ] v. 资助，赞助

on the brink of  濒于；在……之边缘

More Information

单词发音

bottom line 账本底线﹐〔账目上〕盈亏一览结算线  the final result or statement; upshot

out of place 不合适 of an inappropriate or misapplied nature

boardroom [ˋbord͵rum] n. 董事会会议室

responsibility [rɪ͵spɑnsəˋbɪlətɪ] n. 责任

philanthropic [͵fɪlənˋθrɑpɪk] adj. 博爱的；仁慈的；慈善的

shot in the arm 兴奋剂, 刺激因素  a boost or act of encouragement

solely [ˋsollɪ] n. 仅仅；完全

as a whole 作为整体 considered altogether; completely

equity [ˋɛkwətɪ] n.【术语】〔付清债务后的〕财产净值; 股本值

spoonbill [ˋspun͵bɪl] n.【鸟】篦鹭

课文讲解

Certain industries, by nature, are harmful to the environment. Nowadays, companies in those industries often try to distance themselves from a destructive image by cleaning up after themselves. When oil giant BP closed a refinery in Wyoming, instead of just leaving the deteriorated site as it was, the company cleaned it up. Now, the old site is a wetland which uses “green” technology to treat contaminated groundwater.

有些工业在本质上对环境有害。现在，这类公司常试着藉由做善后清理工作来洗刷负面形象。炼油大厂英国BP石油公司在关闭怀俄明州的炼油厂时，并未弃之不理，反加以维护清理。如今，原址已是一片使用环保科技处理受污地下水后的湿地。

In Brazil, Rodrigo Baggio and his Committee for Democracy in Information Technology (CDI), is looking to lend a helping hand to the poor through education. In a country where the gap between rich and poor is wide, his company helps teach computer skills to the less fortunate. The organization now has 965 schools around Brazil. But the schools are not run like typical non-profit organizations, but more like business. The students must pay for their classes. However, they can pay by doing work at the school.

在巴西，罗吉哥．巴吉欧和他的「信息科技民主化委员会」，积极透过教育来帮助贫困的人们。在这个贫富差距极大的国家里，他的公司帮忙教导弱势者学习计算机技术。该机构在巴西设立了965所学校。这些学校和一般非营利机构的学校经营模式不同，较类似企业化经营。学生们必须缴费上课，但亦可藉学校工读的方式来付学费。

Some individuals who have enjoyed great success in the business world are also getting in on the CSR act. Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda have set up their own charitable foundation, which has created an endowment of US$29 billion. This foundation is dedicated to causes such as AIDS research and the elimination of social inequalities.

在商场上成就非凡的大人物也陆续投入企业社会责任的行列。微软创办人比尔．盖兹和夫人玛琳达设立慈善基金会，捐赠金额已达2,900亿美元。基金会致力于如艾滋病的研究及消除社会不公等现象。

In the world of corporate competition, turning huge profits certainly rises to the top of any priority list. However, as the giants of the corporate world have recently shown, giving a percentage of their earnings back to the community helps link the world through compassion, which may be the greatest payoff of all.

在竞争的商场上，赚钱当然是首要目标。然而，如同企业界巨擘们所展现的风范，将一部份利润回馈于社会而藉怜悯之心连结世界，应是其最大的收获吧。

−by Joe Henley

Vocabulary

单词发音

by nature 就其本质而言; 生性 inevitable, based on absolute truth

destructive [dɪˋstrʌktɪv] adj. 毁灭性的; 破坏的

committee [kəˋmɪtɪ] n. 委员会

gap [gæp] n. 隔阂；差距[（+between）]

get in on the act【口】(尤指为自己得到好处或利益而)参与某种活动

dedicated [ˋdɛdə͵ketɪd] adj. 敬业的﹐有奉献精神的﹐有献身精神的[（+to）]

priority [praɪˋɔrətɪ] n. 优先，重点

percentage [pɚˋsɛntɪdʒ] n. 百分率，百分比

More Information

单词发音

distance [ˋdɪstəns] v. 使疏远[（+from）]

refinery [rɪˋfaɪnərɪ] n. 精炼厂

deteriorate [dɪˋtɪrɪə͵ret] v. 恶化; 败坏

contaminated [kənˋtæmənetɪd] adj.〔水﹑食物等〕被污染的

groundwater [ˋgraʊnd͵wɑtɚ] n.【地】地下水

endowment [ɪnˋdaʊmənt] n.（基金、财产等的）捐赠

cause [kɔz] n. 目标，理想

inequality [ɪnɪˋkwɑlətɪ] n. 不均等；不平等

compassion [kəmˋpæʃən] n. 怜悯；同情

payoff [ˋpe͵ɔf] n. 收益

Reading Questions

1. The phrase “out of place” is closest in meaning to ____.

A. distinguished

B. harmless

C. inappropriate

D. profitable

2. According to the article, which of the following is NOT a way companies have become more responsible?

A. They donated a percentage of their profits to the community.

B. They reduced the price of goods to make them affordable.

C. They initiated activities that protect the environment.

D. They created more affordable educational institutions.

3. What is the purpose of this article?

A. To illustrate how a corporation can make the most amount of money.

B. To demonstrate how a company should improperly donate money.

C. To criticize those companies that do not treat their employees fairly.

D. To show that companies are doing more to give back to society.

4. Which of the following would be the most appropriate alternate title for the article?

A. Success in Contributing

B. The Wetlands of Wyoming

C. From Technology to Destruction

D. Ten Tips for Success

Answer