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 ...
