英语听力—环球英语 601 Changing the World by Making Money

　　Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight¹. I'm Adam Navis.
Voice 2
And I'm Liz Waid. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Can a company make money and make the world a better place? Today's Spotlight is on B Corporations³. B Corporations are companies that are trying to use the power of business to solve social and environmental⁴ problems. A B Corporation² promises to care for workers and the environment, as well as make money.
Voice 2
One example of a B Corporation is a company called Ice Stone. Ice Stone makes hard surfaces for kitchens and bathrooms. These surfaces look like stone, but are made from old glass bottles. The workers break down the bottles and use them again. The colour of the bottles creates the colour of the surface. Miranda Magagnini, the C.E.O. of Ice Stone, explains on the B Corporation website:
Voice 3
"Most products are made, used, and then thrown out. They become waste. That is mostly what people use in this world. At Ice Stone, we use a different way of thinking. We think about the whole life of the product: how it is made, its effect on the environment, and the end of the product. We ask ourselves: can it be recycled and reused⁵ in some way?"
Voice 1
But Ice Stone is not only concerned with making money and the environment. It also wants to create a good place to work. The company is based in New York, but Magagnini says:
Voice 3
"Over half of our workers are from Tibet⁶. We have workers from around 15 other countries as well. Everything we do at our company is translated into Tibetan⁷, English and Spanish. We try to create a culture that includes all people."
Voice 2
Ice Stone tries to honour good workers. If a worker performs well, he or she is named the worker of the month. Ice Stone is trying to be a place where people enjoy working. Again, here is Magagnini:
Voice 3
"People want products that they love. But being a good business means⁸ not sacrificing on design or environmental or social standards."
Voice 1
It is not easy to become a B Corporation. The B Corporation mark is given by a not-for-profit company called B Labs. To become a B Corporation, a company must answer a series⁹ of questions. To make sure these answers are true, B Labs confirms¹⁰ the answers.
Voice 2
But it is not enough just to say you do something. B Corporations must have documents to support twenty percent of their answers. Also, B Labs inspects¹¹ ten percent of B Corporations every year. This makes sure businesses do not change their methods once they receive a good mark.
Voice 1
Finally, to become a B Corporation, there must be a change to the documents that govern a company. The goals of a company need to include thinking about the environment and the needs of the workers.
Voice 2
So what does it mean to be a B Corporation? The B Corporation explains it on their website:
Voice 4
"We must be the change we seek in the world. All businesses should be managed as if people and place are important. Through their products, work, and money, businesses should work to do no harm and to help everyone. To do this requires that we understand that we depend on one another. We are responsible¹² for each other and future generations. We see B Corporations as a new part of the economy¹³ which uses the power of businesses to create public good."
Voice 1
It does not matter what kind of product a company makes. All kinds of companies are becoming B Corporations. For example, King Arthur Flour is the oldest flour company in the United¹⁴ States. Their flour is used to make all kinds of bread. When they wanted to expand their factory they had to consider many things. How much would it cost? How much money would it make? But they also had to consider something different: what about the trees that would be cut down?
Voice 2
King Arthur Flour did considered these things before they became a B Corporation. One worker explained this to G. Jeffery MacDonald. He is a writer for the Christian¹⁵ Science Monitor,
Voice 5
"We are protecting our promise to many different people and groups. No matter who is leading or who is here in the future, that promise will be part of our company culture and what we believe is important."
Voice 1
The effects of B Corporations are felt around the world. Guayaki Sustainable¹⁶ Rainforest Products is another B Corporation. They sell a drink called yerba mate¹⁷. It is a kind of tea. The company website explains:
Voice 6
"Gauyaki uses a business plan called Market Driven Restoration. Gauyaki connects people who buy yerba mate products in North America with local communities in Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil. These communities are working on projects to build up the rainforest. A person who drinks Gauyaki Yerba Mate helps protect the rainforest."
Voice 2
Work is a good thing. Work is a gift from God. And businesses should not only look at making money. The Christian Bible¹⁸ asks, "What good does it do to gain the whole world, but lose your self?" [Mark 8:36]   In another place it says,
Voice 7
"Command people who are rich in this world not to be proud. Tell them not to put their hope in riches. Wealth is so uncertain. Command those who are rich to put their hope in God. He richly provides us with everything to enjoy. Command the rich to do what is good. Tell them to be rich in doing good things. They must give freely¹⁹. They must be willing²⁰ to share. In that way they will put riches away for themselves. It will provide a firm base for the next life. Then they will take hold of the life that really is life." [1 Timothy 6:17-19]
Voice 1
In this world, a business can be a force for good or evil²¹. When a business becomes a B Corporation, they promise to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. They are trying to be the change they want to see.
 

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 corporation   

n.公司，企业&n.社团，团体

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation. 这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• The inflation did the corporation up. 通货膨胀使这个公司破产了。

3 corporations   

法人( corporation的名词复数 )； （政治、经济的）组合； 市政委员会

参考例句：

• The bulk of the funds are supplied by some of America's largest and most powerful corporations. 大部分资金是由美国一些最大和最有实力的公司提供的。
• He didn't sympathise with the corporations, but strength was with them. "他并不同情公司，但是力量属于他们。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

4 environmental   

adj.环境的

参考例句：

• A global environmental meeting is going to be held here.一个全球环境会议将在这里举行。
• We need to cure our environmental problems.我们需要解决环境问题。

5 reused   

n.再生的v.再用，重新使用( reuse的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The same water was reused after chemical treatment. 原来的水经过化学处理之后再度使用。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• This water can be reused in the same process. 这种水可以在相同过程中重复使用。 来自辞典例句

6 Tibet   

n.西藏

参考例句：

• It was the year before last that he went to Tibet.他前年去的西藏。
• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。

7 Tibetan   

adj.西藏的；藏族人的；n.西藏语；西藏人；藏族人

参考例句：

• Winter wheat has made it at home on the Tibetan highlands.冬小麦能在西藏高原生长了。
• The study of the Tibetan language is protected by law.藏语文学习依法得到保障。

8 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

9 series   

n.连续；系列

参考例句：

• The students have put forward a series of questions.学生们提出了一系列问题。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

10 confirms   

vt.确定；批准；确认；（基督教中）给…行按手礼v.批准( confirm的第三人称单数 )；证实；使有效；使巩固

参考例句：

• This information confirms me in the belief that he is to blame. 这一消息使我坚信他该受到责备。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The latest information confirms my belief that he is to blame. 最新的消息更增强了我觉得他该受责备的念头。 来自辞典例句

11 inspects   

检查，检验( inspect的第三人称单数 )； 视察

参考例句：

• The fire prevention branch inspects factories and all sorts of public buildings. 消防部门对工厂和各种公共建筑进行检查。
• The dentist inspects the children's teeth twice a year. 牙科医生每年给孩子们检查两次牙。

12 responsible   

adj.有责任的，应负责的；可靠的，可信赖的；责任重大的；vi.休息，睡；静止，停止

参考例句：

• He must be responsible to me for this matter.这件事他必须对我负责。
• The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order.警察负责维持法律与秩序。

13 economy   

n.经济；节俭；秩序；机体

参考例句：

• We must do our best to develop the national economy.我们必须努力发展国民经济。
• The country's economy is not very healthy.国家的经济不很景气。

14 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

15 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

16 sustainable   

adj.足可支撑的，养得起的，可以忍受的

参考例句：

• What is sustainable economic development?什么是可持续的经济发展？
• Our capability for sustainable development was enhanced.我们可持续发展能力增强。

17 mate   

n.伙伴，同事；配偶；大副；v.(使)交配

参考例句：

• Where is the mate to this glove?这副手套的另一只在哪儿？
• She has been a faithful mate to him.她一直是他忠实的配偶。

18 bible   

n.《圣经》；得到权威支持的典籍

参考例句：

• According to the Bible we are all the seed of Adam.根据《圣经》所说的，我们都是亚当的后裔。
• This dictionary should be your Bible when studying English.学习英语时，这本字典应是你的主要参考书。

19 freely   

adv.自由地，随便地，无拘无束地

参考例句：

• She was unable to keep back her tears,and wept freely.她抑制不住泪水，痛痛快快地哭了起来。
• A liquid flows freely and has no fixed shape.液体能自由流动，无固定形态。

20 willing   

adj.愿意的，自愿的，乐意的，心甘情愿的

参考例句：

• We never lack food and clothing if we're willing to work.如果我们愿意工作,就不会缺吃少穿。
• He's quite willing to pay the price I ask.他很愿意照我的要价付钱。

21 evil   

n.邪恶，不幸，罪恶；adj.邪恶的，不幸的，有害的，诽谤的

参考例句：

• We pray to God to deliver us from evil.我们祈求上帝把我们从罪恶中拯救出来。
• Love of money is the root of all evil.爱钱是邪恶的根源。