be composed of the best that both genders bring to the table ...\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 accommodation 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.