Writing for unit 3 4
The first sentence in the 8th paragraph enumerates some examples as a kind of proof when employees, investors and consumers judge companies. There are how to deal with ethnic diversity (differences between different nations), harassment (behavior which is intended to trouble or annoy someone repeatedly), hiring and firing, profit sharing and other labor/management policies. In the second sentence, the expression “all too” is used to emphasize that something happens to a greater extent or degree than is pleasant or desirable and similarly we can use “only too” this way. The phrase “a number of companies recently in the news” refers to companies who attracted the attention of the media—in this case, for negative reasons. The phrase “internal decisions” refers to decision made inside the company by management. The whole sentence means: a number of companies have learned by experience that bad decisions on the part of management can create a negative impression on the public. The next two sentences both are the typical examples. From the sentences, I acquire the praise “cite the example”. And the “lay off” means “stop”, the expression “a year of profits” refers to a year during which the company mad a profit. In the sentence which is the second example cited by the author “within its own ranks” means within the company. The whole sentence means: The public will remember for a long time that Texaco failed to stop racial discrimination within its own organization. From the last two sentences, I know as a company cannot treat its people badly or it will have no employees.
In the first sentence of the paragraph 9, here “celebrate” means to praise someone or something. It appears to me that the reason why more and more companies are celebrating differences among people is that different people live in different background, so they have different originalities, they can bring different efficacy to the companies. In the next sentence the expression “printing presses” refer to machines used for printing. The expression “high-profile”, which comes from the compound noun “high profile”, means “exposed to publicity or attracting attention”. There is a praise “call for” in this paragraph. Suddenly, I find I can’t remember the meaning of that clearly. I look it up on the dictionary, and get the meanings: 1.To appear, as on someone else's premises, in order to get. 2. To be an appropriate occasion for. 3. To require; demand. Then I review the praises which have “call”.
call back
1. To communicate the need for (someone) to return from one situation or location to a previous one.
2. To telephone or radio (a person) who has called previously.
3. To recall (a defective product) for repair.
call down
1. To find fault with; reprimand.
2. To invoke, as from heaven.
call forth
To evoke; elicit.
call in
1. To take out of circulation.
2. To summon for assistance or consultation.
3. To communicate with another by telephone.
call off
1. To CANCEL or postpone.
2. To restrain or recall.
call on
To order or request to undertake a particular activity.
call out
1. To cause to assemble; summon.
2. To challenge to a duel.
call up
1. To summon to active military service.
2. To cause one to remember; bring to mind.
3. To bring forth for action or discussion; raise.
call upon
1. To order; require.
2. To make a demand or a series of demands on.
