Corporate Social Responsibility Reading Answers

Corporate Social Responsibility Reading Answers has been referenced from the book Cambridge 13, test 2. This is an IELTS academic reading topic and candidates are required to solve this within a time-span of 20 minutes. This IELTS reading topic; Corporate Social Responsibility Reading Answers comprises a total of 13 questions. The question types in this IELTS Reading are; Matching Headings, Summary Completion, and Matching Information. Topics relevant Corporate Social Responsibility Reading Answers can be practiced from several IELTS Reading practice papers that are available online.

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Reading Passage Questions

Broadly speaking, proponents of CSR have used four arguments to make their case: moral obligation, sustainability, license to operate, and reputation. The moral appeal—arguing that companies have a duty to be good citizens and to *do the right thing” —is prominent in the goal of Business for Social Responsibility, the leading nonprofit CSR business association in the United States. It asks that its members “achieve commercial success in ways that honor ethical values and respect people, communities, and the natural environment.” Sustainability emphasizes environmental and community stewardship.

A. An excellent definition was developed in the 1980s by Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland and used by the World Business Council for Sustainable Devebpment “Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The notion of license to operate derives from the fact that every company needs tacit or explicit permission from governments, communities, and numerous other stakeholders to do business. Finally, reputation is used by many companies to justify CSR initiatives on the grounds that they will improve a company’s image, strengthen its brand, enliven morale, and even raise the value of its stock.

B. To advance CSR, we must root it in a broad understanding of the interrelationship between a corporation and society while at the same time anchoring it in the strategies and activities of specific companies. To say broadly that business and society need each other might seem like a cliché, but it is also the basic truth that will pull companies out of the muddle that their current corporate-responsibility thinking has created Successful corporations need a healthy society. Education, health care, and equal opportunity are essential to a productive workforce. Safe products and working conditions not only attract customers but lower the internal costs of accidents. Efficient utilization of land, water, energy, and other natural resources makes business more productive. Good government, the rub of law, and property rights are essential for efficiency and innovation. Strong regulatory standards protect both consumers and competitive companies from exploitation. Ultimately, a healthy society creates expanding demand for business, as more human needs are met and aspirations grow. Any business that pursues its ends at the expense of the society in which it operates will find its success to be illusory and ultimately temporary. At the same time, a healthy society needs successful companies. No social program can rival the business sector when it comes to creating the jobs, wealth, and innovation that improve standards of living and social conditions over time.

C. A company’s impact on society also changes over time, as social standards evolve and science progresses. Asbestos, now understood as a serious health risk, was thought to be safe in the early 1900s, given the scientific knowledge then available. Evidence of its risks gradually mounted for more than 50 years before any company was held liable for the harms it can cause. Many firms that failed to anticipate the consequences of this evolving body of research have been bankrupted by the results. No longer can companies be content to monitor only the obvious social impacts of today. Without a careful process for identifying evolving social effects of tomorrow, firms may risk their very survival.

D. No business can solve all of society’s problems or bear the cost of doing so. Instead, each company must select issues that intersect with its particular business. Other social agendas are best left to those companies in other industries, NGOs, or government institutions that are better positioned to address them. The essential test that should guide CSR is not whether a cause is worthy but whether it presents an opportunity to create shared value— that is, a meaningful benefit for society that is also valuable to the business. However, Corporations are not responsible for all the world’s problems, nor do they have the resources to solve them all Each company can identify the particular set of societal problems that it is best equipped to help resolve and from which it can gain the greatest competitive benefit. Addressing social issues by creating shared value will lead to self-sustaining solutions that do not depend on private or government subsidies. When a well-run business applies its vast resources, expertise, and management talent to problems that it understands and in which it has a stake, it can have a greater impact on social good than any other institution or philanthropic organization.

E. The best corporate citizenship initiatives involve far more than writing a check: They specify clear, measurable goals and track results over time. A good example is GE’s program to adopt underperforming public high schools near several of its major u.s. facilities. The company contributes between $250,000 and $1 million over a five-year period to each school and makes in-kind donations as well GE managers and employees take an active role by working with school administrators to assess needs and mentor or tutor students. In an independent study of ten schools in the program between 1989 and 1999, nearly all showed significant improvement, while the graduation rate in four of the five worst performing schools doubled from an average of 30% to 60%. Effective corporate citizenship initiatives such as this one create goodwill and improve relations with local governments and other important constituencies. What’s more, GE’s employees feel great pride in their participation. Their effect is inherently limited, however. No matter how beneficial the program is, it remains incidental to the company’s business, and the direct effect on GE’s recruiting and retention is modest.

F. Microsoft’s Working Connections partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) is a good example of a shared-value opportunity arising from investments in context. The shortage of information technology workers is a significant constraint on Microsoft’s growth; currently, there are more than 450,000 unfilled IT positions in the United States alone. Community colleges, with an enrollment of 11.6 million students, representing 45% of all U.S. undergraduates, could be a major solution. Microsoft recognizes, however, that community colleges face special challenges: IT curricula are not standardized, technology used in classrooms is often outdated, and there are no systematic professional development programs to keep faculty up to date. Microsoft’s $50 million five-year initiative was aimed at all three problems. In addition to contributing money and products, Microsoft sent employee volunteers to colleges to assess needs, contribute to curriculum development, and create faculty development institutes. Note that in this case, volunteers and assigned staff were able to use their core professional skills to address a social need, a far cry from typical volunteer programs. Microsoft has achieved results that have benefited many communities while having a direct—and potentially significant—impact on the company.

G. At the heart of any strategy is a unique value proposition: a set of needs a company can meet for its chosen customers that others cannot. The most strategic CSR occurs when a company adds a social dimension to its value proposition, making social impact integral to the overall strategy. Consider Whole Foods Market, whose value proposition is to sell organic, natural and healthy food products to customers who are passionate about food and the environment. The company’s sourcing emphasizes purchases from local farmers through each store’s procurement process. Buyers screen out foods containing any of nearly 100 common ingredients that the company considers unhealthy or environmentally damaging. The same standards apply to products made internally. Whole Foods’ commitment to natural and environmentally friendly operating practices extends well beyond sourcing. Stores are constructed using a minimum of virgin raw materials. Recently, the company purchased renewable wind energy credits equal to 100% of its electricity use in all of its stores and facilities, the only Fortune 500 company to offset its electricity consumption entirely. Spoiled produce and biodegradable waste are trucked to regional centers for composting. Whole Foods’ vehicles are being converted to run on biofuels. Even the cleaning products used in its stores are environmentally friendly. And through its philanthropy, the company has created the Animal Compassion Foundation to develop more natural and humane ways of raising farm animals. In short, nearly every aspect of the company’s value chain reinforces the social dimensions of its value proposition, distinguishing Whole Foods from its competitors.

Solution and Explanation
Questions 1-7: The passage comprises of 7 paragraphs A-G.

Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list mentioned below.
Write down the correct number from i-viii beside the questions.

List of headings-

How CSR may help one business to expand
CSR in many aspects of a company’s business
A CSR initiative without a financial gain
Lack of action by the state of social issues
Drives or pressures motivate companies to address CSR
The past illustrates business are responsible for future outcome
Companies applying CSR should be selective
Reasons that business and society benefit each other

Paragraph A
Paragraph B
Paragraph C
Paragraph D
Paragraph E
Paragraph F
Paragraph G

(Guide: candidates need to match the list of paragraph from 1 to 7 with the correct statement from i to viii)

Question 1

Answer: v
Keyword: needs, initiatives, improve
Keyword location: Paragraph A, last line
Supporting sentences: “…..corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become a priority for business leaders around the world.”
Explanation: In order to satisfy their demands, enterprises and companies have made CSR a priority, and the activities mentioned in the concluding line of paragraph A assist to enhance the company’s reputation, emphasise its brand, and other things. Thus, option v will be an appropriate choice here.

Question 2

Answer: viii
Keyword: interrelationship, society, corporation
Keyword location: Paragraph B, line 1
Supporting sentences: “To advance CSR. we must root it in a broad understanding of the interrelationship between a corporation and society.”
Explanation: In order to improve CSR, a partnership between society and business must be built, as described in the beginning sentence of paragraph B. Successful corporations thrive in a healthy society, and a healthy society requires successful corporations. Thus, option viii is the correct answer.

Question 3

Answer: vi
Keyword: anticipate, consequences, tomorrow
Keyword location: Paragraph C, line 3-5
Supporting sentences: “Many firms that failed to anticipated the consequences of this evolving body of research have been bankrupted by the results.”
“Without a careful process for identifying evolving social effects of tomorrow, firms may risk their very survival.”
Explanation: Lines 3-5 of paragraph C explains that the conclusions of this expanding corpus of knowledge have caused the bankruptcy of several businesses that did not foresee its effects. Businesses run the risk of not existing at all without a comprehensive approach to detecting the changing societal implications of tomorrow. Thus, option vi is the right answer.

Question 4

Answer: vii
Keyword: select, essential-test, opportunity
Keyword location: Paragraph D, line 2-3
Supporting sentences: “….select issues that intersect with its particular business.”
“The essential test that should guide CSR is not whether a cause is worthy but whether it presents an opportunity….”
Explanation: In lines 2-3 of paragraph D, it is said that businesses should carry out an important criteria that should direct CSR: rather than determining if a cause is deserving, they should determine whether it gives the possibility to develop a shared value that will benefit both the business and society. So, in that case vii is the right option.

Question 5

Answer: iii
Keyword: initiatives, cheque
Keyword location: Paragraph E, line 1
Supporting sentences: “The best corporate citizenship initiatives involve far more than writing a check:….”
Explanation: According to the beginning sentence of paragraph E, the benefits of CSR programs go beyond financial gains. For example, they can foster goodwill and strengthen ties with local governments. Therefore, option iii is the correct answer.

Question 6

Answer: i
Keyword: growth, partnership, shared-value opportunity
Keyword location: Paragraph F, line 1
Supporting sentences: “Microsoft Working Connections partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) is a good example of a shared-value opportunity arising from investments in context.”
Explanation: The rise of Microsoft and its partnership with the AACC is the main topic that has been covered in the first line of paragraph F. So, option i is the correct answer.

Question 7

Answer: ii
Keyword: every, aspect, company, chain
Keyword location: Paragraph G, last line
Supporting sentences: “….nearly every aspect of the company’s value chain reinforces the social dimensions of its value proposition…”
Explanation: The claim made in the last line of paragraph G is that CSR strengthens the social components of a company’s value proposition and occurs throughout the whole value chain of the firm. Hence, option ii is an applicable answer.

Questions 8-9: Complete the summary given below by using a maximum of two words given in the passage-

The implement of CSR, HOW?

Promotion of CSR requires the understanding of interdependence between business and society. Corporation workers’ productivity generally needs health care, education, and given 8______equal opportunity _____Restrictions imposed by government and companies both protect consumers from being treated unfairly. Improvement of the safety standard can reduce the 9___internal costs ________of accidents in the workplace. Similarly, society becomes a pool of more human needs and aspirations.

(Guide: Candidates need to complete the summary by taking not more than two words from the passage)

Question 8

Answer: equal opportunity
Keyword: workforce, society, corporation
Keyword location: Paragraph B, line 1-3
Supporting sentences: “…..interrelationship between a corporation and society.”
“Education, health care, and equal opportunity are essential for a productive workforce.”
Explanation: A section regarding the promotion of CSR is outlined in the first three lines of paragraph B. Equal opportunity, education, and health care are necessary for an advantageous workforce, as was mentioned in the supporting clause. So, equal opportunity is the right answer.

Question 9

Answer: Internal costs
Keyword: safe, working conditions
Keyword location: Paragraph B, line 4
Supporting sentences: “….working conditions not only attract customers but lower the internal costs of accidents”
Explanation: A comparable section on how improved working conditions reduce internal costs of accidents is highlighted in line 4 of paragraph B. Internal costs can be reduced by using products which are safer for usage and working conditions. Therefore, Internal costs is the correct answer.

Questions 10-13: Given below are some deeds/opinions along with a list of companies mentioned in the passage. Match the same (a letter can be used more than one time)-

The disposable waste
The way company purchases as goods
Helping the undeveloped
Ensuring that people have the latest information

General Electronics
Microsoft
Whole Foods Market

(Guide: Candidates need to match the companies A to C with the correct statement from 10 to 13 )

Question 10

Answer: C
Keyword: biodegradable, waste
Keyword location: Paragraph G, line 10
Supporting sentences: “Spoiled produce and biodegradable waste are trucked to regional centers for composting.”
Explanation: Lines 10 of paragraph G explains that Produce that has gone bad and biodegradable garbage are trucked to local composting facilities. So, option C is the correct answer.

Question 11

Answer: C
Keyword: company, sourcing
Keyword location: Paragraph G, line 4
Supporting sentences: “The company’s sourcing emphasizes purchases from local farmers through each store’s procurement process.”
Explanation: The fourth line of paragraph G states that in each store’s procurement procedure, the company prioritizes buying products from regional farmers. Hence, option C is the right answer.

Question 12

Answer: A
Keyword: adopt, program, underperforming
Keyword location: Paragraph E, line 2
Supporting sentences: “A good example is General Electronics’s program to adopt underperforming public high schools near several of its major U.S. facilities.”
Explanation: Line 2 of paragraph E suggests that general Electronics’ initiative to adopt underperforming public high schools close to a number of its significant U.S. locations serves as an excellent instance. Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

Question 13

Answer: B
Keyword: outdated, initiative, contributing
Keyword location: Paragraph F, lines 4-6
Supporting sentences: “T curricula are not standardized, the technology used in classrooms is often outdated, and there are no systematic professional development programs to keep faculty up to date.”
Explanation: The Microsoft and AACC program focuses on providing community colleges with the most recent IT infrastructure, as described in lines 4-6 of paragraph F. Thus, option B is an appropriate answer.

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