新视野大学英语第三版读写教程第二册Unit7课文语法讲解

新视野三版读写B2 U7 Text A

Woman at the management level

1 When Monica applied for a job as an administrative assistant in 1971, she was asked whether she would rather work for a male or a female attorney. "I immediately said a man," she says. "I felt that a male-boss/female-employee relationship was more natural, needing no personal accommodation whatsoever." But 20 years later, when she was

asked the same question, she said, "I was pleasantly surprised that female bosses are much more accessible to their employees; they're much more sensitive and intimate with their employees."

2 Female bosses today are stil finding they face subtle resistance. There is

stil a segment of the population, both men and, surprisingly, women who report low tolerance for female bosses. The growing presence of female bosses has also provoked two major questions that revolve around styles: Do men and women manage differently, and, if so, is that a good thing?

3 Monica is disposed to think so, on both counts. Now a 40-year-old mother of four, she is president of a public sector labor union with 45,000

members. "Relations with my employees are probably different from those of male managers preceding me," she says. "I know what it's like to have to cal and say my kid got the mumps so I won't be coming in. I have a more flexible style — not soft, just more understanding." The man who is Monica's assistant agrees, "She tends to delegate more and is always looking for a consensus. People are happy and flourish because they have an input into decisions and they are not mere bystanders; their energies are harnessed. On the other hand, consensus takes longer."

4 So, are the differences symbolic or real? Plausible studies suggest that men are typical y hierarchical, goal-oriented and feel entitled. Women, by contrast, manage diplomatical y, and share power. That point of view is often

chal enged and argued. Some proclaim that men and women of similar backgrounds, experience and aspirations basical y manage in the same

way. This view is echoed by younger women, especial y those who have encountered little gender discrimination. That was certainly the lesson for Nicole. When her father died of a heart attack, she was an employee at

a petroleum products export company. She quit and took over her family's

160-acre fruit farm in St.David's County. On her first day in the field, a worker

cal ed her "darling". "He was trying to test me. I was shaking with anger," says Nicole, now 34. "I stood erect and said, ‘You wouldn't have cal ed my father darling and you're not going to take that liberty with me. If you do, I'l fire you.'"

5 When women work for women, a different dynamic often takes over. Susan,

a cashier in a Toronto auction house, says that she has explored friendships

with some of her female bosses and feels she can rely on them more. While women may feel more at ease with a female boss, men often have to

make concessions to the new working styles. Brian, a marine biologist, says, "It took me a couple of years before I felt comfortable enough to relax around a female manager. In fact, my relations with her were much more businesslike."

6 To some extent, the male-female differences come down to conflicting styles. One female vice-president discussed the time she burst into tears

during a meeting. "Men think that tears are a nuclear weapon in a conventional war. They take exception to a woman crying, inferring that she's feeling unhappy or violated." The men failed to understand that what prompted her tears was not hurt but genuine rage. "When we cry, it's because we have al

this valid rage that has no appropriate release," she says."Women cry; men

get relief by going on with the offense or by veiling their feelings to

appear composed."

7 Deborah, president of a firm with its headquarters in Toronto, says that even

********if m en do understand, they sometimes react differently to

the identical information and to her cooperative management style.

8 Deborah says that her authority is sometimes undermined by perceptions about her gender. "It stems from the whole social context of traditional roles for men and women," she says. "Mom would tel you to do things, but perhaps you wouldn't take as much notice as when Dad told you to do things. Men also

have a stronger urge to control," she says.

9 For female bosses, the great expectation of some female employees is one more obstacle. Junior women assume a female boss wil promote them more quickly than a man would. But, they also expect female bosses to be more

self-sufficient. "They ask, ‘Why can't you scan your own stuff?' or ‘Why can't you do your own filing?'" says one senior female executive.

10 On the other hand, there is no dispute that a few decades ago they would

*********rarely have had a female boss in the workplace.Nina, a

management consultant says she's vaguely optimistic. "I'm looking forward to the day, before I die, when we recognize that the best management styles wil

be composed of the best that both genders bring to the table ..." Wel , she

pauses, maybe not before she dies, perhaps in her daughter's lifetime.

Language Points:

1 When Monica applied for a job as an administrative assistant in 1971, she was asked whether she would rather work for a male or a female attorney. (Para. 1) Meaning: Monica was asked if she would like to work for a male or a female lawyer when

she applied for a managing job at a law firm in 1971.

Sentence structure note:“would rather”句型

1 would rather 的意思是“宁愿；宁可；更；最好；还是…为好”，后接动词原形，表示优先

选择的一种方式。其否定形式是would rather not do sth., would rather 没有人称和数的变

化，所有的人称一律用would rather。例如：

*If you/he would rather be alone, we’l al leave here.如果你/他宁愿独自呆着，那我们会都

离开这儿。

2 would rather 后接从句时，从句中的谓语动词用一般过去时，表示希望或宁愿某人按某特

定的方式做某事，这个结构常常表达的是现在或将来的行为。例如：

*I’d rather you didn’t make any comment on the issue for the time being.我想目前你还是

不要对此事发表任何评论。

2 “I felt that a male-boss/female-employee relationship was more natural, needing no personal a ccommodation whatsoever.” (Para. 1)

Meaning: I felt that there was no need to compromise in a relationship between a male boss and a female employee since it was more natural.

3 But 20 years later, when she was asked the same question, she said, “I was pleasantly surprised that female bosses are much more accessible to their employees; they’re much more sensitive and intimate with their employees.” (Para. 1)

Meaning: However, when she was asked the same question 20 years later, She responded that it was a nice surprise to find out that female bosses had been much easier to approach, more understanding, and closer to their workers.

Meaning beyond words:Her answer was entirely different from what she had responded

20 years before. It can be assumed that she gained this particular feeling gradual y.

4 Female bosses today are still finding they face subtle resistance. (Para. 2) Meaning beyond words: Female bosses today are stil experiencing gender discrimination, though it may not always be obvious or noticeable.

5 There is still a segment of the population, both men and, surprisingly, women who report low tolerance for female bosses. (Para. 2)

Meaning: A portion of people, men and, unexpectedly, even women state that they can hardly bear working with female bosses.

6 The growing presence of female bosses has also provoked two major questions that revolve around styles: Do men and women manage differently, and, if so, is that a good thing? (Para. 2)

Meaning: With the number of female bosses increasing, two questions have been raised in terms of styles: Do men and women work differently? Are the differences good for management if there are any?

7 Monica is disposed to think so, on both counts. Now a 40-year-old mother of four, she is president of a public sector labor union with 45,000 members. (Para. 3) Meaning:Monica, a 40-year-old mother of four children and president of a public sector

labor union with 45,000 members, is inclined to look at these two points positively: Women do manage differently from men and that is a good thing.

Note:“A public sector labor union” (also public sector trade union) refers to a labor union

which primarily represents the interests of employees within public sector (government-owned, supported or regulated) organizations. Public sector unions have become some of the larger or more influential unions in certain areas of the world in recent times as private sector union membership has declined sharply.

8 “Relations with my employees are probably different from those of male managers preceding me,” she says. “I know what it’s like to have to call and say my kid got the mumps so I won’t be coming in. I have a more flexible style — not soft, just more understanding.” (Para. 3)

Meaning: She said that she was perhaps different form the previous male managers in relation with the employees because she knew what it meant when someone had to make a phone cal telling her that he or she wouldn’t go to work due to the il ness of their child. She added that she was more flexible and understanding but not weaker in terms of working style.

Meaning beyond words: In a broad sense, female bosses are better than male bosses in boss-employee relations because they are more understanding and tend to show more consideration to their employees.

9 The man who is Monica’s assistant agrees, “She tends to delegate more and is always looking for a consensus. People are happy and flourish because they have

an input into decisions and they are not mere bystanders; their energies are harnessed. On the other hand, consensus takes longer.” (Para. 3)

Meaning:The man who is Monica’s assistant holds the same opinion that she usually gives people more rights and is always seeking agreement. Since people have their voice heard in decision-making and are not playing the role of a witness only, they feel happy and successful. In this way, their energies are utilized. However, it takes more time to reach an agreement.

Meaning beyond words: Again, female bosses would seek more accommodation and agreement than male bosses, which helps to bring employees’ initiative into ful play.

10 So, are the differences symbolic or real? Plausible studies suggest that men are typically hierarchical, goal-oriented and feel entitled. Women, by contrast, manage diplomatically, and share power. (Para. 4)

Meaning: So, the question is whether the differences between male and female managers are representative or real? According to acceptable studies, men like to seek social status, work for goals and be given authority. On the other hand, women manage with skil and flexibility and like to share authority.

Meaning beyond words: In terms of management skil s, this part highlights the differences between male and female bosses. The plausible reasons may possibly be traced to the respective character traits of both sexes.

Note:Goal-oriented is a compound adjective. A goal-oriented person or team works hard

to achieve good results in the tasks that they have been given; a goal-oriented plan or activity is based on a number of things that must be achieved. The word oriented means giving a lot of time, effort and attention to one particular thing. It can be combined with different nouns to derive different meanings such as family-oriented and export-oriented.

11 That point of view is often challenged and argued. Some proclaim that men and women of similar backgrounds, experience and aspirations basically manage in the same way. (Para. 4)

Meaning: The real differences between male and female managers often spark arguments. Some people declare that general y speaking, men and women of similar backgrounds, experience and ambitions manage in the same way.

12 This view is echoed by younger women, especially those who have encountered little gender discrimination. That was certainly the lesson for Nicole. (Para. 4)

Meaning:This view is agreed upon by young women, especially those who have seldom

been treated unfairly. Nicole certainly learned a lesson from her experience.

Meaning beyond words: The implication is that men and women do manage differently. Only young women who have never encountered gender discrimination would assume there is no difference between male and female managers. Nicole’s personal experience would serve as a lesson for young women.

13 When her father died of a heart attack, she was an employee at a petroleum products export company. She quit and took over her family’s 160-acre fruit farm in

St. David’s County. (Para. 4)

Meaning: When her father died due to a heart attack, Nicole stopped working for an export company of petroleum products and took control of her father’s 160-acre fruit farm

in St. David’s County.

Note:This is also a figurative use of “fighting the fires”, which means “to disperse the strikes”.

14 On her first day in the field, a worker called her “darling”. “He was trying to test

me. I was shaking with anger,” says Nicole, now 34. “I stood erect and said, ‘You wouldn’t have called my father darling and you’re not going to take that liberty with

me. If you do, I’ll fire you.’” (Para. 4)

Meaning beyond words:Nicole’s personal story about how one of her workers addressed her on her first day in the field depicts gender discrimination-based disrespect: Men would instinctively think they are superior to women, so the male worker didn’t show

the appropriate respect to his boss, Nicole.

15 When women work for women, a different dynamic often takes over. (Para. 5) Meaning beyond words: When women work for their female bosses, they can always see and experience different working and communication styles from those adopted by their male bosses.

Note:Here, “dynamic” means the set of forces that exist in a situation, especially a relationship, and affect how it changes or develops. For example:

*There’s a very supportive dynamic between the members of the group.组员们之间互相支

持，互相鼓励。

16 Susan, a cashier in a Toronto auction house, says that she has explored friendships with some of her female bosses and feels she can rely on them more. (Para. 5)

Meaning beyond words: Susan has established friendships with some of her female bosses and feels she can trust them more than male bosses.

17 While women may feel more at ease with a female boss, men often have to make concessions to the new working styles. (Para. 5)

Meaning: Although women feel more comfortable and relaxed with a female boss, men often have to make changes in their behavior to adapt to the different working styles. Meaning beyond words: The fact that men have to adjust themselves when they have a female boss is probably because of some psychological reason which makes them feel somewhat hard to get along with the opposite sex.

18 Brian, a marine biologist, says, “It took me a couple of years before I felt comfortable enough to relax around a female manager. In fact, my relations with her

were much more businesslike.” (Para. 5)

Meaning: Brian, a marine biologist, says that it took him a couple of years before he felt at

ease working around a female manager. Anyway, his relations with her were of a business type only.

*businesslike: a. effective and practical in the way that you do things 处事务实的；有效率

的；讲究实际的

To teach the students good business manners, this activity was handled in a businesslike manner. 为了培养学生良好的商务礼仪，这项活动是以务实的方式进行的。Note: The word businesslike, as explained above, is different from words like childlike. Similar words for your attention: lifelike (逼真的；栩栩如生的), warlike (好战的；善武的).

19 To some extent, the male-female differences come down to conflicting styles. (Para. 6)

Meaning: To some degree, the male-female differences in management lie in contradicting working styles.

20 One female vice-president discussed the time she burst into tears during a meeting. “Men think that tears are a nuclear weapon in a conventional war. They take exception to a woman crying, inferring that she’s feeling unhappy or violated.”(Para. 6)

Meaning:One female vice-president talked about the time when she could not hold back

her tears at a meeting. She said that men considered women’s tears just as unfair

weapons. They were angry at women who were crying and thought that these women felt

unhappy or offended.

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