听力教程第三册答案UNIT8

UNIT 8

Section One Tactics for Listening

Part 1 Spot Dictation

Once upon a time, all- or almost all- businesses were (1) greedy and rapacious, sparing a thought for their (2) workers or the environment only in order to (3) work out how to exploit them. Then bosses found their (4) consciences, guided (or sometimes forced) by (5) customers or critics from the (6) non-profit world. They discovered the idea that companies should not exist only to make a profit but to (7) serve society. Thus corporate social responsibility (CSR) got its (8) start as a business fashion, and it is now hard to find a firm that has not (9) come up with an earnest (10) statement about its relations with the wider world. Thanks to this development, everyone, both (11) within and outside the business, will live happily (12) ever after.

Or will they? In the past two (13) decades, as CSR has become more and more popular, its (14) virtues have passed more or less (15) unquestioned. That is a pity. Even if it (16) turns out to be a good development for businesses and society alike, it ought to be able to (17) stand a little more rigorous scrutiny. Should company managers be allowed to (18) divert potential profits - money that would otherwise be returned to shareholders - to (19) charities? Should firms refuse to do business in troubled countries? Are (20) recycling efforts, if more expensive and less efficient, worth pursuing?

Part 2 Listening for Gist

Small retailers across the United States are facing the same challenge: competition from shopping malls and chain stores. But, in downtown Dickson, Tennessee, a group of retail merchants have banded together to win back their customers who have been attracted to shopping areas in the neighboring big city.

Dickson is a typical small American city. It has quiet residential areas and a nice little downtown that was once a thriving retail center. But according to David Hamilton, president of Dickson's Chamber of Commerce, highway construction over the past several years changed that. Being just 65 kilometers away from a big city like Nashville, Mr Hamilton says, presents another challenge to Dickson's downtown shopping area. "Because we're so close to Nashville, and because so many people work in Nashville, when they think about shopping, they think of going to Nashville malls."

But small business owners in downtown Dickson didn't give up. Instead, they decided to fight back. More than 40 of them founded the Retail Merchants Association of Downtown Dickson. Members of the new association are committed to success; they pay monthly dues and meet periodically to suggest and discuss creative ways of attracting more shoppers to downtown. Mr Williams says one idea is creating events modeled on the annual Christmas parade through the downtown area that attracts a large number of city residents. Free refreshments and giveaways will be part of these regular events. Mr Williams says the group is also planning to beautify the downtown area with