研究生英語Unit6[1]

1、Unit SixThe soul of a BusinessnWarming-up Activitiesn1. What are usually the basic principles, or the soul, of a company?n2.The authors philosophy is to manage for profit and the common good. Could we run our business in that way in the increasingly competitive business world? Why?n3. There are many

2、 fake（冒牌的，假的） commodities on the market today. Certainly they seriouly infringe（侵犯） the benefit of the customers. What do you think we can do to ban the production of such goods?nIntroduction to the TextnAmerican business, at one time, was conducted with a spirit of cooperation between manufacturer

3、and consumer. In todays world, however, it may not be profitable, or even possible to approach business in such an ethical way. The Soul of A Business introduces a small, ethically run health food company, Toms in Maine. The article describes the ethical principles the husband and wife owners cling

4、to （堅持）. The companys success can be attributed to valuing the dignity of both people and the environment, working toward social rather than solely financial gains, and by focusing on what is good and fight. So the answer to whether in todays business world a company can conduct itself ethically, is

5、 a definitive yes. nPara. 1nWe operate in the business world primarily as calculating minds, (line 1, Para. 1) nWe do business mainly in the way as if we are machines, concerned only with profits. n“Minds” refers to human beings. nIts only when we share something of our spirits or our hearts that we

6、 relate to one another . (lines 3-4, Para. 1) nIt is only when we show our spirits or reveal our hearts desires to each other that we understand each other . nPara. 2nWhat words does Tom use to define his idea?nManaging for profit and the common good.nWhat is the philosophy mentioned in the passage?

7、nManaging for both profit and the common good.nPara. 3nWhat does “the idea” refer to?n“The idea” refers to the notion of “managing for profit and the common good”.nWhat does the word “revolutionary” mean here?nIt means “completely new or different”.nWhy does the idea might seem revolutionary?nBecaus

8、e the idea is not new, but it hasnt been practised for a long time. People dont often think about business benefitting man in more than a financial way.n. there was a time in America when profit and the common good were closely allied. (lines 1-2, Para. 3) n. there used to be a period of time in Ame

9、rica when the concerning of profit and the benefits of consumers as a whole were closely joined. nMaybe if we go back to that notion, we will again experience some of the different growth of old. (lines 2-4, Para. 3) nIf we practice what we used to believe, we will again be able to manage for profit

10、 and the common good. nPara. 4nHowever, given the world economy today, thats probably not possible. (line l, Para. 4) nNevertheless, facing todays world economy, it may be impossible for us to do what we carried out in the past. nParas. 3-4nWhat does the author think of the philosophy?nThe author th

11、inks that the philosophy may seem revolutionary today, though in the past, it was accepted. He thinks a return to it could be healthy but probably not possible.nPara. 5nWhat kind of business does Tom do? nTom has a company which is a leading producer of natural can products. nWho does Tom say he has

12、 won support from?nHe has won the support from his wife who shares his values and works together with him.nPara.6nWhat has contributed to Toms hope of setting an example of ethical business standards?nThe education he has received at Harvard Divinity school.nMain idea of Para. 7:nIs the concept whic

13、h was taught at Harvards Business the same concept as managing for “profit and the common good”?nPara. 8nWhat does “spirt-to-spirt” mean in the sentence “it is spirt-to-spirt that we are talking about”?nIt means that both businessmen and consumers will think of others. They will treat each other fai

14、rly and with respect.n . because it is spirit-to-spirit that were talking about. (lines 1-2, Para. 8) n. because what we are talking about is our real concern for the consumers as people, not only as buyers. nPara. 9nThese sound like the values of the time when todays network of nature-conscious con

15、sumers was first emerging. (lines 3-4, Para. 9) nThese seem to be the values of the time when a large number of people began to be aware of the importance of nature to human kind. nHere “network” refers to a large number (of people who share the same values) and “ nature-conscious consumers” refers

16、to those who know the importance of nature (or environmental preservation) nWhat does “nature-conscious consumers” refer to?nThey are the people who respect wildlife and all aspects of the environment.nParas. 8-9nWhat are the values that consumers and business people may share according to Tom?n1).

17、Respecting peoples dignity;n2). Valuing the community;n3). Valuing the environment and animals of our natural world.nPara. 10nWhat was the idea shared by Tom and his wife in the mid-60s?nBoth Tom and his wife should go into business together, working a close partners.nWhat have you learned about it?

18、nThe idea was quite uncommon in the 1960s, when wives were not supposed to be involved in their husbands work.nAlso critical are the values shared and nurtured by his business partner, who is also his wife. (lines 1-2, Para. 10) nHis wife, and business partner as well, also plays a very important ro

19、le in helping to form and support the values. nnurture v. ncare for and educate (a child); encourage the growth of (sth); support nDo you think that its just a mothers duty to nurture her children?nWe want to nurture the new project, not to destroy it.nPara. 11n Having Kates gift, of knowing a lot a

20、bout herbs and being able to translate that into ideas for products, has been a great collaboration. (lines 2-4, Para. 11) nThanks to Kates talent, knowing a lot about herbs and being able to transform her knowledge into ideas for products, we have cooperated very well. Having Kates gift refers to b

21、oth the talent Kate has and to making use of her talent. ncollaborate (with sb) (on sth) nwork together (with sb) especially to create or produce somethingnShe collaborated with her sister on a biography of their father.nHe and I collaborated in writing plays. nin collaboration (with sb) (on sth) /

22、collaboration (between A & B)nShe wrote the book in collaboration with her sister, i.e. they wrote it together. l Para. 12l She and I both share the same commitment to having a work culture thats not only fair to people but motivating so they grow and discover things, and so they work by being passi

23、onate about things and themselves. (lines 1-4, Para. 12) l She and I both believe that a work culture should not only be pleasant to employees, but also can motivate them to work better, so that they wont be bored by their jobs, but love them and enjoy their life. A work culture refers to ideas, cus

24、toms, and values in the workplace which characterize the company. nPara. 13nWhy does Tom say that his wifes heritage helps them share their success with their community?nBecause his wifes family has contributed their profits from their mills to the building of the town, the school, and the libraries

25、, and thus won the respect and a good relationship with the communities.nWhat kind of heritage does Toms wife have?nThe heritage refers to what her family has done to their community. Tom and his wife have upheld this heritage and continued to make contributions to their communities.nShe is now purs

26、uing her art more intentionally, playing a secondary role in the company. (lines 4-5, Para. 13)n She has chosen to spend more time pursuing her art and taken a less active role in the company. nPara. 15nWhat has Tom enjoyed most in building the company over the past 20 years?nHe has most enjoyed try

27、ing to make his vision of the company a reality.nWhat is the personal care product mentioned by Tom?nIt is the product made from natural ingredients for personal health care.nWhat does “it” refer to in the second sentence in this paragraph?nIt refers to the product.nWhy does Tom say so?nBecause the

28、intention to produce such a product is more important than the final product itself.nMore than creating it, he says, is what your intention is every moment. (lines 3-4, Para. 15) nWhat you intend to do (your purpose in doing something) is more important than creating it, he says. nPara. 16n. , but t

29、o see it also has a wider influence, such that other companies are changing their ways and coming around to ours, then you know youve made a difference. (lines .l-3, Para. 16) n. but when you find that you have influenced other companies by what you have believed and practiced, you realize that you

30、have really achieved something in life. nmake a difference nbe important; matter; have an effectnIt makes no difference (to me) what you say. Im not going.n It wont make much difference whether you go today or tomorrow. nPara. 17nDo you think the writer agreed with Tom when he said, “ I think most e

31、ntrepreneurs are driven by social aims more than by financial aims”?nThe author admires but does not agree with Tom. The author uses “idealis” to describe Tom, that is to say, Toms idea amy not be practical or possible.nThe biggest kick for me is to see how weve had an impact. (lines 2-3, Para. 17)

32、nMy greatest pleasure is to see how weve influenced others. nPara. 18nWhat are the peculiarities that Tom hopes to have in his business? What is special about their coming from Maine?nAs they came from Maine, they like nature and they respect one anohter. They can distinguish their product from othe

33、rs by values.nBeyond excellence and efficacy, we can share a little about our peculiarities as a group of people, communicating that we come from Maine, that we like nature, and that we respect one another. (lines 1-3, Para. 18) nMore than our high quality and effectiveness, we also would like peopl

34、e to know our unique values and beliefs (we love nature and respect each other) and we come from Maine. (People in Maine are usually considered to be rugged individualists). n. but Ive found you should be passionate about putting the peculiar features of your company into your product. (lines 6-& Pa

35、ra. 18) n. but I think you should be enthusiastic to let your products have the unique characteristics of your company. nPara. 19nWhy does Tom argue that retailers should not become homogenized and low-priced?nBecause it is the “l(fā)ook, feel, taste and smell” of the kind of personal experience they ha

36、ve offered” that has kept them in business.l At a time when small independent retailers are concerned with the competitive pricing pressures from large discount chains, I would argue that the very strategy that has kept them in business is the look, feel, taste and smell of the kind of personal expe

37、rience theyve offered. (lines l-5. Para. 19) l When small independent retailers are worried about the pressures from the low prices of large chain stores, I would assert that the reason for those small stores to exist is that they bring to the customers the humane atmosphere which large chain stores

38、 do not have. n They are filled with the personality of the people behind them, and the customer goes into the store for that kind of experience. (lines 6-7, Para. 19)n They (the small retailers) offer the personal touch (atmosphere) customers enjoy. nI dont think it makes any sense to strip that aw

39、ay to become a homogenized, low-priced retailer. (lines 8-9, Para. 19) nI dont think it is reasonable to get rid of the personal touch to become an average retailer with competitive prices. nmake sense nbe sensible; have an understandable meaningnIt doesnt make sense to buy that expensive coat when

40、these cheaper ones are just as good.nThese words are jumbled up and dont make sense. nstrip awayngradually get rid of (habits, customs, etc)nIt took me the whole day to strip away the old patterned paper.nThe company decided to strip away my pension rights.nstrip sb of sth ntake away (property, hono

41、rs, etc) from somebodynThe general was stripped of his rank. (免去軍銜) nPara. 20nWhat does the values world mean according to Tom?nThe “values world” means the business world in which we set our values and standards and vocalize them to others.nPara. 21nWhat is meant by “goodness” here? Why do some oth

42、er businessmen feel it a shame to talk about it in business?nGoodness here refers to the quality of being kind, considerate, and helpful in business. Because to them talking about goodness equates to talking about religion which detracts from the idea that they are competent, rational business peopl

43、e.nWe also have expectations about the power of that force of goodness when we become part of it. (lines 4-5, Para. 21)n We also hope we will contribute to the common good while doing business, having more passion for our customers and being thoughtful and helpful. nPara. 23nBut we can talk about go

44、odness as a force we can become part of, or more co-creative with. (lines 1-2, Para. 23) nBut we can discuss goodness as being a power that we can join or be more creative with in our world. nPara. 24nNoting that they were recently mentioned in Jay Lenos monologue, and that it had a very favorable i

45、mpact on sales, Tom observes, We didnt have anything to do with that. (lines 1-3, Para. 24) nPointing out that they were recently talked about by Jay Leno (an American late night television host) in his long speech, which had positive effects on their sales, Tom remarked that they didnt have anythin

46、g to do with that. nPara. 25nWe can say that the purpose of a business is to make money, and also to be intentional about protecting, nurturing, and sustaining those things we value in life . (lines 2-4, Para. 25) nWe can claim that the goal of a business is to make profits. But not only this. A bus

47、iness should also be concerned about what we value in life and should be responsible for doing something to let those things exist and grow. nBeing multi-purposed means you allocate resources for these multiple purposes, which are intentioned with one another. (lines 5-7, Para. 25) nHaving many purp

48、oses means you give supplies for the many purposes which are designed with one another. nintentional adj.n intended, not accidental, deliberatenIf l hurt your feelings, it was not intentional.nHe intentionally came here to discuss the matter with you.nintention (of doing sth / that .) nidea or plan

49、of what you are going to do; purpose or aim, meaningnI came with the intention of staying, but now I decided to leave.nI have no intention of coming to this terrible place again. nNote: nIntent n. nintention, purpose, especially in lawnto act with criminal intentnto fire a weapon with intent to kill

50、nintend v. nhave (a particular purpose or plan) in mind, meannI meant it to be an informal discussion, but it didnt turn out as I intended.nI intend that you shall take over the business. nallocate v. nassign sth (to sb / sth) for a special purposenGovernment allocated funds for repair work,nYou hav

51、e been allocated Room 306. n The notion that we cant simultaneously offer respect, and also maximize the utilization of resources, is typical Western thinking. (lines 9-10, Para, 25) nThe concept that we cant respect people and properly use valuable things, at the same time make full use of the resources, is a typical Western way of thinking. nPara