XDF-31

ypngzhang

PASSAGE 31
* The number of women directors appointed to corpo- rate boards in the United States has increased dramati- cally, but the ratio of female to male directors remains
            low. Although pressure to recruit women directors,
5) unlike that to employ women in the general work force, does not derive from legislation, it is nevertheless real.
* Although small companies were the first to have women directors, large corporations currently have a higher percentage of women on their boards. When the
10)
            chairs of these large corporations began recruiting women to serve on boards, they initially sought women who were chief executive officers
CEO's) of large corpo- rations. However, such women CEO's are still rare. In addition, the ideal of six CEO's
female or male ) serving
15) on the board of each of the largest corporations is realiz- able only if every CEO serves on six boards. This raises the specter of director overcommitment and the resultant dilution of contribution. Consequently, the chairs nextsought women in business who had the equivalent of
20) CEO experience. However, since it is only recently thatlarge numbers of women have begun to rise in manage-ment, the chairs began to recruit women of high achieve-ment outside the business world. Many such women arewell known for their contributions in government,
25) education, and the nonprofit sector. The fact that thewomen from these sectors who were appointed wereoften acquaintances of the boards' chairs seems quitereasonable: chairs have always considered it importantfor directors to interact comfortably in the boardroom.
*30) Although many successful women from outside thebusiness world are unknown to corporate leaders, thesewomen are particularly qualified to serve on boardsbecause of the changing nature of corporations. Today acompany's ability to be responsive to the concerns of the
35) community and the environment can influence that company's growth and survival. Women are uniquely positioned to be responsive to some of these concerns. Although conditions have changed, it should be remem- bered that most directors of both sexes are over fifty
40)
        years old. Women of that generation were often encour- aged to direct their attention toward efforts to improve the community. This fact is reflected in the career devel- opment of most of the outstandingly successful women of the generation now in their fifties, who currently serve
45) on corporate boards: 25 percent are in education and 22 percent are in government, law, and the nonprofit sector.
* One organization of women directors is helping busi- ness become more responsive to the changing needs of
50) society by raising the level of corporate awareness about social issues, such as problems with the economy, government regulation, the aging population, and the environment. This organization also serves as a resource center of information on accomplished women who are
55)
        potential candidates for corporate boards.

有一个问题：第40行那句蓝色的话里，说“Although conditions have changed”，这里conditions 具体指什么？
        

天天灿烂

我觉得这里的condition是一个泛指，没有具体的对应。

一定要说的话就是时代不同，business的environment发生了巨大的变化之意。

一家之言，希望大家讨论啊。

ypngzhang

谢谢天天灿烂！

大家继续讨论阿