商务英语阅读教程Unit 2

Unit 2 Multinational Corporation

Part I Pre-reading Questions

1.

Multinational

corporations

are business

entities that

operate

in

more

than

one

country.

One

typical function is located in one country, while other facilities are located in other countries. In

some

circles,

this

type

of corporation

refers

to

a

multinational

enterprise

or

a

transnational

corporation.

2.

Multinational

corporations

have

many

branches

at

home

and

abroad,

and

their

strategic

objectives

are

oriented

to

the

international

market,

aiming

at

maximizing

global

profits

and

controlling foreign companies through holdings.

3. Corporate social responsibility refers to the responsibility for consumers,

the community and

the environment while creating profits for shareholders and the staff. The social responsibility of

the enterprise requires taking the profit as the goal, emphasizing the concern of the human value in

the production process and the contribution to the environment, consumers and society.

Part II Extensive Reading

Text A Going Global

1.

主旨归纳：

The function of CSR has become more and more important in the world. Many

companies begin to focus on the establishment of CSR. We are aware of the significance that

CSR takes a part in obtaining certification and establishing the brand of a corporation. CSR

will continue to expand across the globe if the market remains to open up.

2.

结构分析

Part

I

The

rich

countries

like

Britain,

America

and

Japan

focus

on

different

aspects

of

CSR.

(Paras. 1-2)

Part II

The lead on CSR shifts from the rich world to the big emerging markets. (Paras. 3-13)

A.

India wants to improve basic services like schools and health care.

B.

China begins to redefine CSR to gain acceptability and build the brand.

C.

NGOs make great efforts to manage their reputation.

Part

III

The

conclusion:

CSR

has

influenced

the

emerging

countries,

which

will

continue

if

markets stay open. (Paras. 14-18)

3.

难句解析

(1) Such differences in priorities are bound to grow in importance as the BRIC countries

—

Brazil,

Russia, India and China

—

and other emerging markets gain in economic clout and confidence.

(Para. 3)

随着金砖四国 （巴西、俄罗斯、

印度和中国）

以及其他新兴市场的经济影响力 和自信的不断

增强，发展优先性方面的差异一定会变得越来越重要。

1

clout:

n.

影响力

e.g. An official protest could carry considerable clout.

正式的抗议可能具有相当大的影响力。

(2) From outside come the codes and inspections of foreign investors and global companies that

want to apply their ethical standards across their supply chain. (Para. 7)

国外投资商和全球公司从外引进准则和监督机制，希望这些道德标 准适用于供应链中。

ethical:

adj.

道德的

e.g. The president must have the highest ethical standards.

总统必须具备最高的道德水准。

(3)

There

is

a

convergence

of

interests

between

NGOs

trying

to

improve

lives

in

poor

communities

and

companies

keen

to

reach

consumers

in

markets

with

huge

growth

potential.

(Para. 11)

非政府组织试图提高贫困人民的生活水平，

公司则渴望赢得具有巨大增长潜力 的市场的消费

者，两者存在着利益趋同现象。

convergence:

n.

趋同现象

e.g. We need to move towards greater economic convergence.

我们有迈向更高经济趋同性的需要。

(4)

To

sign

up,

companies

need

only

commit

themselves

to

ten

broad

principles

—

such

as

promoting

environmental

responsibility

and

working

against

corruption

—

and

report

on

their

progress once a year. (Para. 17)

要签署加入

（联合国全球契约）

，公司只需承诺履行 十大主要准则，例如提高环保的责任意

识，反腐败，并且每年公开年报。

commit:

v.

承诺

e.g.

I’d

like

a

friendship

that

might

lead

to

something

deeper,

but

I

wouldn’t

want

to

commit

myself too soon.

我想要可能发展到更深层关系的友谊，但我不想太快做出承诺。

4.

词汇解析

(1) clout: [kla

?

t]

n

.

影响力；势力

(Para. 3)

(2) backlash: ['b?kl?

?

]

n

.

反冲；强烈抵制

(Para. 5)

(3) reckon: ['rek(

?

)n]

vt

.

估计；认为

(Para. 9)

(4) convergence: [k

?

< br>n'v

??d??

ns]

n

.

会聚；趋同

(Para. 11)

(5) sovereign: ['s

?

vr

?

n]

n

.

主权

(Para. 14)

Text B Sony Is Not Japan

1.

主旨归纳：

The article depicts a depressing situation where Sony has ranked near last among

Japa

n’

s top 10 brands for a year. People wander whether the new CEO Howard Stringer will

alleviate the stagnation of Sony.

2.

结构分析

2