International governments' inaction concerning sustainable development is clearly worrying but the proactive (主动出击的) approaches of some leading-edge companies are encouraging. Toyota, Wal-Mart, DuPont, M&S and General Electric have made tackling environmental wastes a key economic driver. DuPont committed itself to a 65% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the 10 years prior to 2010. By 2007, DuPont was saving $2.2 billion a year through energy efficiency, the same as its total declared profits that year. General Electric aims to reduce the energy intensity of its operations by 50% by 2015. They have invested heavily in projects designed to change the way of using and conserving energy. Companies like Toyota and Wal-Mart are not committing to environmental goals out of the goodness of their hearts. The reason for their actions is a simple yet powerful realization that the environmental and economic footprints fit well together. When M&S launched its "Plan A" sustainability programme in 2007 , it was believed that it would cost over ￡200 million in the first five years. However, the initiative had generated ￡105 million by 2011/12. When we prevent physical waste, increase energy efficiency or improve resource productivity, we save money, improve profitability and enhance competitiveness. In fact, there are often huge "quick win" opportunities, thanks to years of neglect. However, there is a considerable gap between leading-edge companies and the rest of the pack. There are far too many companies still delaying creating a lean and green business system, arguing that it will cost money or require sizable capital investments. They remain stuck in the "environment is cost" mentality. Being environmentally friendly does not have to cost money. In fact, going beyond compliance saves cost at the same time that it generates cash, provided that management adopts the new lean and green model. Lean means doing more with less. Nonetheless, in most companies, economic and environmental continuous improvement is viewed as being in conflict with each other. This is one of the biggest opportunities missed across most industries. The size of the opportunity is enormous. The 3% Report recently published by World Wildlife Fund and CDP shows that the economic prize for curbing carbon emissions in the US economy is $780 billion between now and 2020. It suggests that one of the biggest levers for delivering this opportunity is "increased efficiency through management and behavioral change" in other words, leanand green management. Some 50 studies show that companies that commit to such aspirational goals as zero waste, zero harmful emissions and zero use of non-renewable resources are financially outperforming their competitors. Conversely, it was found that climate disruption is already costing $1.2 trillion annually, cutting global GDP by 1. 6%. Unaddressed, this will double by 2030.
单选题
What does the author say about some leading-edge companies?
单选题
What motivates Toyota and Wal-Mart to make commitments to environmental protection?
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】解析：推断题。由题干中的 commitments to environmental protection 以及题文同序的原则定位到第三段。该段首句指出丰田和沃尔玛这样的公司并非出于善意而对环境目标做出承诺。接着第二句指出其真正的原因，它们认为环境和经济足迹要相适合。接着运用马莎百货的“A计划”来证明这一观点。由此可知丰田和沃尔玛这样的公司对环境目标做出承诺的原因是为了盈利，所以正确答案是C)。
单选题
Why are so many companies reluctant to create an environment-friendly business system?
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】解析：细节题。由题干中的 many companies定位到文章倒数第三段第二句。该句指出有很多公司仍然延迟创建精益和绿色的商业系统，认为这需要花费金钱或需要相当大的资本投资。由此可知许多公司不愿意建立环境友好的商业体系是因为要花钱，需要大量资本投入。选项C) 是对该句话的同义互换，costly 替换了 cost many or require sizable capital investments，所以正确答案是C)。
单选题
What is said about the lean and green model of business?
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】解析：细节题。由题干中的 the lean and green model of business 定位到文章倒数第三段。该段最后一句提到事实上，如果在管理上采用新的精益和绿色模式，超越合规要求在节省成本的同时还可以产生现金。由此可知这种类型的模式不仅能节省成本，而且会盈利，所以正确答案是A)。
单选题
What is the finding of the studies about companies committed to environmental goals?
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】解析：细节题。由题干中的 studies 定位到文章最后一段第一句。该句指出约 50 份研究表明公司承诺诸如零浪费、有害物零排放和不可再生资源零使用等理想目标的企业在经济上优于其竞争对手。由此可知正确答案是B)，它是对该句的同义互换，其中用 revenues 代替了 financially，用 do much better 代替了 outperform，用 counterparts 代替了 competitors。