2023考研英語(yǔ)閱讀心系社會(huì)的企業(yè)

　　Firms with benefits

　　心系社會(huì)的企業(yè)

　　A new sort of caring, sharing company gathersmomentum

　　一種關(guān)愛社會(huì)、分享利益的新型公司形式方興未艾

　　HE likes to do things differently.

　　伊馮喬伊納德喜歡別出心裁地做事。

　　Yvon Chouinard changed his favourite sport, mountaineering, by introducing reusable pitons.

　　他在其最終愛的登山運(yùn)動(dòng)中融入了變化：使用可循環(huán)利用的巖石釘。

　　Climbers often used to leave pitons in the cliff, which is environmentally messy, another ofMr Chouinard s peeves.

　　在此之前，登山者通常把巖石釘留在崖壁中，這種對(duì)環(huán)境不利的行為讓喬伊納德十分氣惱。

　　In business, Mr Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, an outdoor-clothing firm, says hebelieves that well-treated employees perform better.

　　喬伊納德是巴塔哥尼亞戶外用品公司的創(chuàng)始人，其經(jīng)商理念是：善待員工可提升其業(yè)績(jī)。

　　Before it was fashionable, MrChouinard preached a philosophy of sustainability and long-term profitability that he callsthe slow company.

　　在這一理念被廣為接受之前，喬伊納德宣揚(yáng)的是可持續(xù)發(fā)展且可長(zhǎng)線盈利的經(jīng)商哲學(xué)，他將其稱為慢速公司。

　　On January 3rd Patagonia was anything but slow in becoming the first firm to takeadvantage of a new California law designed to give businesses greater freedom to pursuestrategies which they believe benefit society as a whole rather than having to concentrateon maximising profits for the next financial quarter.

　　1月3日，巴塔哥尼亞的表現(xiàn)一點(diǎn)都不慢：它成為了第一家響應(yīng)加利福尼亞州新法出臺(tái)的公司。加州新法給予了公司更大的自由度去達(dá)成其認(rèn)為可造福全社會(huì)的戰(zhàn)略目標(biāo)，而非必須專注于如何在下一財(cái)季中將盈利最大化。

　　According to Mr Chouinard, the new benefit corporationusually referred to as a BCorpcreates the legal framework for firms like his to remain true to their social goals.

　　喬伊納德認(rèn)為，新型的互益性法人組織為心系社會(huì)的企業(yè)構(gòu)建了法律框架。

　　To qualify as a B Corp, a firm must have an explicit social or environmental mission, and alegally binding fiduciary responsibility to take into account the interests of workers, thecommunity and the environment as well as its shareholders.

　　可以被歸為互益性企業(yè)的公司必須要有一項(xiàng)明確的社會(huì)或環(huán)境目標(biāo)，并須承擔(dān)具法律約束力的信托責(zé)任：在考慮其股東權(quán)益的同時(shí)也必須考慮其員工、社會(huì)和環(huán)境的利益。

　　It must also publish independently verified reports on its social and environmental impactalongside its financial results.

　　除公開其財(cái)務(wù)業(yè)績(jī)之外，互益性企業(yè)必須就其對(duì)社會(huì)和環(huán)境產(chǎn)生的影響出具經(jīng)獨(dú)立審核的報(bào)告。

　　Other than that, it can go about business as usual.

　　除上述約束之外，這類企業(yè)可照常開展其業(yè)務(wù)。

　　The B Corp is a deliberate effort to change the nature of business by changing corporatelaw, led by B Lab, a non-profit outfit based in Pennsylvania.

　　總部位于賓夕法尼亞州的一個(gè)非營(yíng)利機(jī)構(gòu)，互益性研究室，主導(dǎo)了互益性企業(yè)這種審慎的嘗試，旨在通過(guò)修改公司法改變商業(yè)的本質(zhì)。

　　California is the sixth state to allow B Corps; the first was Maryland, in April 2010.

　　加利福尼亞州是全美第六個(gè)認(rèn)可互益性企業(yè)的州;第一個(gè)是馬里蘭州。

　　Patagonia was followed immediately by another 11 Californian firms, including GiveSomething Back Office Supplies, Green Retirement Plans and DopeHut, a clothing retailer.

　　巴塔哥尼亞在加州很快就有了11個(gè)追隨者，其中包括回饋辦公用品公司、綠色退休計(jì)劃及多普客等加州企業(yè)。

　　Across America, there are now several hundred B Corps.

　　全美現(xiàn)共有數(shù)百家互益性企業(yè)。

　　Before Patagonia, the best-known was probably Seventh Generation, a maker of greendetergents, paper towels and other household products.

　　在巴塔哥尼亞加入這一行列之前，最出名的互益性企業(yè)可能要數(shù)第七世代，該公司生產(chǎn)無(wú)害洗滌劑、紙巾和其它家居用品。

　　California s B Corp legislation took effect alongside a new law creating the flexible purposecompany,

　　在此次加州出臺(tái)的新法中，與互益性企業(yè)的立法同時(shí)生效的是一項(xiàng)構(gòu)建彈性目標(biāo)公司的新法，

　　which allows a firm to adopt a specific social or environmental goal, rather than thebroader obligations of a B Corp.

　　該法準(zhǔn)許企業(yè)設(shè)定一項(xiàng)特定的社會(huì)或環(huán)境目標(biāo);與之相比，互益性企業(yè)的社會(huì)和環(huán)境責(zé)任更為寬泛。

　　Another option in America is the low-profit limited-liability company, which can raisemoney for socially beneficial purposes while making little or no profit.

　　在美國(guó)法系中還有一種低利潤(rùn)有限責(zé)任公司的形式，此類公司為社會(huì)籌資，其本身盈利甚微甚至不盈利。

　　The idea of a legal framework for firms that put profits second is not confined to America.

　　為那些將盈利放在次要目的的公司構(gòu)建法律框架的理念并非美國(guó)獨(dú)有。

　　Britain, for example, has since 2005 allowed people to form community interest companies.

　　比如巴西自2005年起就準(zhǔn)許個(gè)人創(chuàng)辦社會(huì)利益公司。

　　Similar laws are brewing in several European countries.

　　類似的法律框架在歐洲數(shù)國(guó)也正初現(xiàn)端倪。

　　The impetus for all this comes from people like Mr Chouinard,

　　這種理念正是由喬伊納德這類人士推動(dòng)發(fā)展的。

　　who believe that existing laws governing corporations and charities are too restrictive.

　　在這些人看來(lái)，現(xiàn)存的法律框架對(duì)法人組織和慈善機(jī)構(gòu)的限制過(guò)嚴(yán);

　　For-profit firms, they argue, often face pressure to abandon social goals in favour ofincreasing profits.

　　以盈利為目標(biāo)的公司往往會(huì)因?yàn)榉糯笫找娴膲毫Χ艞壣鐣?huì)責(zé)任。

　　Non-profit firms and charities are needlessly restricted in their ability to raise capital whenthey need to grow.

　　在公司發(fā)展過(guò)程中，非營(yíng)利性的企業(yè)和慈善機(jī)構(gòu)無(wú)需就其籌資能力受到如此嚴(yán)格的制約。

　　This prevents socially minded organisations from pursuing their goals as efficiently aspossible.

　　這些法律制約使心系社會(huì)的組織無(wú)法盡心盡力達(dá)成其社會(huì)目標(biāo)。

　　Existing laws for co-operatives and mutual companies are inadequate.

　　現(xiàn)存法律在合作社法人組織和互助公司方面有所缺失。

　　Hence the need for B Corps and other novel structures, goes the argument.

　　所以，喬伊納德這類人士認(rèn)為，有必要構(gòu)建互益性企業(yè)和其它創(chuàng)新的組織結(jié)構(gòu)。

　　There is no tax advantage to being a B Corp, but there is to some of the new legalstructures.

　　互益性企業(yè)在稅收方面不享有任何優(yōu)勢(shì)，而一些新型的法律結(jié)構(gòu)組織則有退稅優(yōu)勢(shì)。

　　Whether these new legal forms will change business that much remains to be seen.

　　這些新型的法律結(jié)構(gòu)組織是否能如預(yù)期一樣改變商業(yè)的本質(zhì)有待于時(shí)間的見證。

　　Supporters of existing corporate law say it does not prevent firms, if they so wish, fromsetting social and environmental goals or rigorously reporting on their performance indelivering them,

　　現(xiàn)存公司法的擁躉認(rèn)為現(xiàn)存法律框架并未妨礙有此類理念的公司設(shè)定社會(huì)及環(huán)境目標(biāo)、在達(dá)成此類目標(biāo)的過(guò)程中也不會(huì)導(dǎo)致業(yè)績(jī)嚴(yán)重滑坡，

　　and that pursuing profit is often the best way to benefit society.

　　并且，企業(yè)盈利就是對(duì)社會(huì)回饋的最佳方式。

　　Nor is it clear how much difference in practice will be made by the obligation of a B Corp toweigh interests other than profits. How does one measure such things?

　　互益性公司將社會(huì)和環(huán)境利益優(yōu)于盈利的法律責(zé)任在實(shí)踐中到底會(huì)產(chǎn)生多少差異也尚不明朗。

　　What counts for more: a clean lake or a happy neighbour?

　　而這類理念該如何權(quán)衡呢?一條清澈的湖泊和一個(gè)和睦的社區(qū)，這兩者到底哪個(gè)更重要?

　　Mr Chouinard argues that making a firm s social mission explicit in its legal structuremakes it harder for a new boss or owner to abandon it.

　　喬伊納德認(rèn)為，將企業(yè)的社會(huì)目標(biāo)在其法律構(gòu)架中載明之后，該企業(yè)的新老板或新所有人就會(huì)難以放棄這一目標(biāo)。

　　Perhaps so. B Corps will be tested in the market.

　　也許確實(shí)如此。市場(chǎng)會(huì)考驗(yàn)互益性公司。

　　Anyone who feels inspired by a B Corp s mission is free to invest in its shares, or work for it.

　　那些被互益性公司目標(biāo)所鼓舞的人士，歡迎隨時(shí)投資或入職。

　　詞語(yǔ)解釋

　　1.momentum n.勢(shì)頭;動(dòng)力

　　They began to lose momentum in the second halfof the game.

　　在比賽的下半場(chǎng)，他們的勢(shì)頭就逐漸減弱。

　　2.piton n.巖釘;峻峭的山頂

　　The first task was to remove the old piton in thedihedral, essentially a piece of trash.

　　第一個(gè)目標(biāo)就是清除在巖角上的舊巖釘，那已經(jīng)是個(gè)垃圾了。

　　3.perform v.執(zhí)行;履行;表演

　　Every manager must perform some duties of a ceremonial nature.

　　每個(gè)管理者必須執(zhí)行一些禮儀性的任務(wù)。

　　4.pursue v.追求;追捕;繼續(xù)執(zhí)行

　　Everyone has the freedom to pursue their dreams.

　　每個(gè)人都有追求各自夢(mèng)想的自由。

　　5.framework n.框架;體系;結(jié)構(gòu)

　　They established a basic framework of ground rules for discussions.

　　他們建立了討論的基本準(zhǔn)則的基本框架。

　　Firms with benefits

　　心系社會(huì)的企業(yè)

　　A new sort of caring, sharing company gathersmomentum

　　一種關(guān)愛社會(huì)、分享利益的新型公司形式方興未艾

　　HE likes to do things differently.

　　伊馮喬伊納德喜歡別出心裁地做事。

　　Yvon Chouinard changed his favourite sport, mountaineering, by introducing reusable pitons.

　　他在其最終愛的登山運(yùn)動(dòng)中融入了變化：使用可循環(huán)利用的巖石釘。

　　Climbers often used to leave pitons in the cliff, which is environmentally messy, another ofMr Chouinard s peeves.

　　在此之前，登山者通常把巖石釘留在崖壁中，這種對(duì)環(huán)境不利的行為讓喬伊納德十分氣惱。

　　In business, Mr Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, an outdoor-clothing firm, says hebelieves that well-treated employees perform better.

　　喬伊納德是巴塔哥尼亞戶外用品公司的創(chuàng)始人，其經(jīng)商理念是：善待員工可提升其業(yè)績(jī)。

　　Before it was fashionable, MrChouinard preached a philosophy of sustainability and long-term profitability that he callsthe slow company.

　　在這一理念被廣為接受之前，喬伊納德宣揚(yáng)的是可持續(xù)發(fā)展且可長(zhǎng)線盈利的經(jīng)商哲學(xué)，他將其稱為慢速公司。

　　On January 3rd Patagonia was anything but slow in becoming the first firm to takeadvantage of a new California law designed to give businesses greater freedom to pursuestrategies which they believe benefit society as a whole rather than having to concentrateon maximising profits for the next financial quarter.

　　1月3日，巴塔哥尼亞的表現(xiàn)一點(diǎn)都不慢：它成為了第一家響應(yīng)加利福尼亞州新法出臺(tái)的公司。加州新法給予了公司更大的自由度去達(dá)成其認(rèn)為可造福全社會(huì)的戰(zhàn)略目標(biāo)，而非必須專注于如何在下一財(cái)季中將盈利最大化。

　　According to Mr Chouinard, the new benefit corporationusually referred to as a BCorpcreates the legal framework for firms like his to remain true to their social goals.

　　喬伊納德認(rèn)為，新型的互益性法人組織為心系社會(huì)的企業(yè)構(gòu)建了法律框架。

　　To qualify as a B Corp, a firm must have an explicit social or environmental mission, and alegally binding fiduciary responsibility to take into account the interests of workers, thecommunity and the environment as well as its shareholders.

　　可以被歸為互益性企業(yè)的公司必須要有一項(xiàng)明確的社會(huì)或環(huán)境目標(biāo)，并須承擔(dān)具法律約束力的信托責(zé)任：在考慮其股東權(quán)益的同時(shí)也必須考慮其員工、社會(huì)和環(huán)境的利益。

　　It must also publish independently verified reports on its social and environmental impactalongside its financial results.

　　除公開其財(cái)務(wù)業(yè)績(jī)之外，互益性企業(yè)必須就其對(duì)社會(huì)和環(huán)境產(chǎn)生的影響出具經(jīng)獨(dú)立審核的報(bào)告。

　　Other than that, it can go about business as usual.

　　除上述約束之外，這類企業(yè)可照常開展其業(yè)務(wù)。

　　The B Corp is a deliberate effort to change the nature of business by changing corporatelaw, led by B Lab, a non-profit outfit based in Pennsylvania.

　　總部位于賓夕法尼亞州的一個(gè)非營(yíng)利機(jī)構(gòu)，互益性研究室，主導(dǎo)了互益性企業(yè)這種審慎的嘗試，旨在通過(guò)修改公司法改變商業(yè)的本質(zhì)。

　　California is the sixth state to allow B Corps; the first was Maryland, in April 2010.

　　加利福尼亞州是全美第六個(gè)認(rèn)可互益性企業(yè)的州;第一個(gè)是馬里蘭州。

　　Patagonia was followed immediately by another 11 Californian firms, including GiveSomething Back Office Supplies, Green Retirement Plans and DopeHut, a clothing retailer.

　　巴塔哥尼亞在加州很快就有了11個(gè)追隨者，其中包括回饋辦公用品公司、綠色退休計(jì)劃及多普客等加州企業(yè)。

　　Across America, there are now several hundred B Corps.

　　全美現(xiàn)共有數(shù)百家互益性企業(yè)。

　　Before Patagonia, the best-known was probably Seventh Generation, a maker of greendetergents, paper towels and other household products.

　　在巴塔哥尼亞加入這一行列之前，最出名的互益性企業(yè)可能要數(shù)第七世代，該公司生產(chǎn)無(wú)害洗滌劑、紙巾和其它家居用品。

　　California s B Corp legislation took effect alongside a new law creating the flexible purposecompany,

　　在此次加州出臺(tái)的新法中，與互益性企業(yè)的立法同時(shí)生效的是一項(xiàng)構(gòu)建彈性目標(biāo)公司的新法，

　　which allows a firm to adopt a specific social or environmental goal, rather than thebroader obligations of a B Corp.

　　該法準(zhǔn)許企業(yè)設(shè)定一項(xiàng)特定的社會(huì)或環(huán)境目標(biāo);與之相比，互益性企業(yè)的社會(huì)和環(huán)境責(zé)任更為寬泛。

　　Another option in America is the low-profit limited-liability company, which can raisemoney for socially beneficial purposes while making little or no profit.

　　在美國(guó)法系中還有一種低利潤(rùn)有限責(zé)任公司的形式，此類公司為社會(huì)籌資，其本身盈利甚微甚至不盈利。

　　The idea of a legal framework for firms that put profits second is not confined to America.

　　為那些將盈利放在次要目的的公司構(gòu)建法律框架的理念并非美國(guó)獨(dú)有。

　　Britain, for example, has since 2005 allowed people to form community interest companies.

　　比如巴西自2005年起就準(zhǔn)許個(gè)人創(chuàng)辦社會(huì)利益公司。

　　Similar laws are brewing in several European countries.

　　類似的法律框架在歐洲數(shù)國(guó)也正初現(xiàn)端倪。

　　The impetus for all this comes from people like Mr Chouinard,

　　這種理念正是由喬伊納德這類人士推動(dòng)發(fā)展的。

　　who believe that existing laws governing corporations and charities are too restrictive.

　　在這些人看來(lái)，現(xiàn)存的法律框架對(duì)法人組織和慈善機(jī)構(gòu)的限制過(guò)嚴(yán);

　　For-profit firms, they argue, often face pressure to abandon social goals in favour ofincreasing profits.

　　以盈利為目標(biāo)的公司往往會(huì)因?yàn)榉糯笫找娴膲毫Χ艞壣鐣?huì)責(zé)任。

　　Non-profit firms and charities are needlessly restricted in their ability to raise capital whenthey need to grow.

　　在公司發(fā)展過(guò)程中，非營(yíng)利性的企業(yè)和慈善機(jī)構(gòu)無(wú)需就其籌資能力受到如此嚴(yán)格的制約。

　　This prevents socially minded organisations from pursuing their goals as efficiently aspossible.

　　這些法律制約使心系社會(huì)的組織無(wú)法盡心盡力達(dá)成其社會(huì)目標(biāo)。

　　Existing laws for co-operatives and mutual companies are inadequate.

　　現(xiàn)存法律在合作社法人組織和互助公司方面有所缺失。

　　Hence the need for B Corps and other novel structures, goes the argument.

　　所以，喬伊納德這類人士認(rèn)為，有必要構(gòu)建互益性企業(yè)和其它創(chuàng)新的組織結(jié)構(gòu)。

　　There is no tax advantage to being a B Corp, but there is to some of the new legalstructures.

　　互益性企業(yè)在稅收方面不享有任何優(yōu)勢(shì)，而一些新型的法律結(jié)構(gòu)組織則有退稅優(yōu)勢(shì)。

　　Whether these new legal forms will change business that much remains to be seen.

　　這些新型的法律結(jié)構(gòu)組織是否能如預(yù)期一樣改變商業(yè)的本質(zhì)有待于時(shí)間的見證。

　　Supporters of existing corporate law say it does not prevent firms, if they so wish, fromsetting social and environmental goals or rigorously reporting on their performance indelivering them,

　　現(xiàn)存公司法的擁躉認(rèn)為現(xiàn)存法律框架并未妨礙有此類理念的公司設(shè)定社會(huì)及環(huán)境目標(biāo)、在達(dá)成此類目標(biāo)的過(guò)程中也不會(huì)導(dǎo)致業(yè)績(jī)嚴(yán)重滑坡，

　　and that pursuing profit is often the best way to benefit society.

　　并且，企業(yè)盈利就是對(duì)社會(huì)回饋的最佳方式。

　　Nor is it clear how much difference in practice will be made by the obligation of a B Corp toweigh interests other than profits. How does one measure such things?

　　互益性公司將社會(huì)和環(huán)境利益優(yōu)于盈利的法律責(zé)任在實(shí)踐中到底會(huì)產(chǎn)生多少差異也尚不明朗。

　　What counts for more: a clean lake or a happy neighbour?

　　而這類理念該如何權(quán)衡呢?一條清澈的湖泊和一個(gè)和睦的社區(qū)，這兩者到底哪個(gè)更重要?

　　Mr Chouinard argues that making a firm s social mission explicit in its legal structuremakes it harder for a new boss or owner to abandon it.

　　喬伊納德認(rèn)為，將企業(yè)的社會(huì)目標(biāo)在其法律構(gòu)架中載明之后，該企業(yè)的新老板或新所有人就會(huì)難以放棄這一目標(biāo)。

　　Perhaps so. B Corps will be tested in the market.

　　也許確實(shí)如此。市場(chǎng)會(huì)考驗(yàn)互益性公司。

　　Anyone who feels inspired by a B Corp s mission is free to invest in its shares, or work for it.

　　那些被互益性公司目標(biāo)所鼓舞的人士，歡迎隨時(shí)投資或入職。

　　詞語(yǔ)解釋

　　1.momentum n.勢(shì)頭;動(dòng)力

　　They began to lose momentum in the second halfof the game.

　　在比賽的下半場(chǎng)，他們的勢(shì)頭就逐漸減弱。

　　2.piton n.巖釘;峻峭的山頂

　　The first task was to remove the old piton in thedihedral, essentially a piece of trash.

　　第一個(gè)目標(biāo)就是清除在巖角上的舊巖釘，那已經(jīng)是個(gè)垃圾了。

　　3.perform v.執(zhí)行;履行;表演

　　Every manager must perform some duties of a ceremonial nature.

　　每個(gè)管理者必須執(zhí)行一些禮儀性的任務(wù)。

　　4.pursue v.追求;追捕;繼續(xù)執(zhí)行

　　Everyone has the freedom to pursue their dreams.

　　每個(gè)人都有追求各自夢(mèng)想的自由。

　　5.framework n.框架;體系;結(jié)構(gòu)

　　They established a basic framework of ground rules for discussions.

　　他們建立了討論的基本準(zhǔn)則的基本框架。