下载掌阅APP，畅读海量书库
立即打开
Your children may tell you that there's a monster under their bed，but that doesn't mean their fears are justified.
False fears are leading some employers to call for total immunity from lawsuits for the job references they give.They claim they hesitate to provide information about past employees because they fear lawsuits.But suits against employers for giving references are relatively rare.That's because in most states employers can't be successfully sued when they tell the truth or even when they give false information by mistake.Who needs more protection than that？
The New Jersey nurse accused so many deaths could have been stopped if employers had done their duty and reported his dangerous past.This conspiracy of silence based on exaggerated fears should be condemned，not rewarded.Yet these same companies that have shirked their obligations now demand complete immunity，which would give them a license to defame.
With just a little pressure，most managers break company policy and speak their mind to either help or hurt a candidate's chance at another job.Positive references can get you the job you want.Companies are very selective about hiring today.Security is of major concern to all of us.Your references will be checked and positive references or good job references can give your resume that added boost.While a bad one may put you into a difficult situation.One reason a qualified job applicant may not get the job offer is that when your prospective employers conducted a job reference check with your former employers，the former employers gave some negative job references.Their responses might be like following ones：
“We do not have this person anywhere in our records.”
“I am not allowed to say anything about this person as they were fired.”
“No comment，they could not do anything correctly in the position they held with us.”
“Basically you could rank them inadequate in all areas.”
“I cannot think of any strengths，only weaknesses.”
“I'm sure there must be some strengths but nothing jumps out at me.”
“Weaknesses seem to stick in my mind…I'd have to really think about any strengths.”
“I'd rather not comment.You can take that however you want.”
Their negative job reference might have been in the form of your previous boss：
·Badmouthing You！
·Blackballing You！
·Slandering You！
Or simply Giving You a Bad Reference！
Does this scenario sound familiar？You interview for a position that fits you perfectly.During the third meeting，you are asked for a list of your job references and told the company will be back in touch very soon.Not only does nobody call you again，but they no longer take your calls.There is a good chance a reference scared them off and，at that point，it is too late to try and resolve the situation.
Imagine a working mother who is on the receiving end of humiliating sexual harassment from the man who owns the tavern where she works.She reports him to the state's civil rights commission and then quits.While she is interviewing with a new company，the firm calls her old boss for a reference.The tavern owner lies and claims he fired her because she stole from him.The woman gets no job offers from any company that checks with the spiteful ex'boss.Sexual harassment is unlawful under both state and federal laws.Simply stated，sexual harassment is an abuse of the employer's power.If unscrupulous employers have it their way，she would be unable to hold that boss accountable for his lies.
I help workers who have been hurt by companies that break the law.Current law gives those workers their day incourt.But based on a false fear no different from children｀being afraid of imagined monsters，granting immunity to employers would close the courthouse to workers with legitimate complaints.Employers have protection enough already.
1.This text is taken from A Practical English Coursefor Journalism（1st edition），Liaoning Education Press，2006，and http：／／www.jobreferences.com.
1.exaggerate［iɡˈzædʒəreit］v.to make sth.seem longer，better，worse or more important than it really is夸张，夸大；言过其实：He tends to exaggerate the difficulties.他倾向于夸大事实。
2.justify［ˈdʒʌstifai］v.to show that sb.／sth.is right and reasonable证明……有理；为……辩护；对……做出解释：Her success had justified the faith her teachers put in her.她的成功证明她的老师对她的信任是正确的。
3.lawsuit［ˈlɔːsuːt］n.a claim or complaint against sb.that a person or an organization can make in a court oflaw诉讼；诉讼案件：He filed a lawsuit against his record company.他起诉了他的唱片公司。
4.reference［ˈrefrəns］n.a letter written by sb.who knows you，giving information about your character and abilities，especially to a new employer推荐信，介绍信：We will take up references after the interview.面试结束后我们开始受理推荐信。
5.claim［kleim］v.to say sth.is true although it has not been proved and other people may not believe it声称；索取；索赔：Scientists are claiming a major breakthrough in the fight against cancer.科学家们声称在抗癌方面取得了重大突破。
6.relatively［ˈrelətɪvlɪ］adv.to a fairly large degree，especially in comparison and to others相对地；比较地：I found the test relatively easy.我发现测试相当简单。
7.rare［reə］adj.not done，seen，happening very often罕见的，特殊的；不寻常的：It's extremely rare for it to be this hot in April.四月如此炎热是极为罕见的。
8.sue［sjuː］v.to make a claim against sb.in a court of law about sth.that they have said or done to harm you控告，控诉；起诉：They threatened to sue if the work was not completed.他们威胁道，如果任务没有完成，他们就要发起控告。
9.accuse［əˈkjuːz］v.to say that sb.has done sth.wrong or guilty of sth.指责，谴责；指控：The government was accused of incompetence.政府被指责为没有能力。
10.conspiracy［kənˈspirəsi］n.a secret plan by a group of people to do sth.harmful or illegal阴谋；反叛；共谋：They were charged with conspiracy to murder.他们因阴谋谋杀而遭到控诉。
11.condemn［kənˈdem］v.to express very strong disapproval of sb.or sth.usually for moral reasons（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责；宣判：The editor of the newspaper was condemned as lacking integrity.该报纸编辑因缺乏诚信而受到谴责。
12.reward［riˈwɔːd］v.to give sth.to sb.because you have done sth.good，worked hard，etc.酬谢，奖赏；惩罚：She was rewarded for her kindheartedness.她因心地善良受到酬谢。
13.shirk one's obligation逃避责任：It is obvious that he is shirking his obligation by abandoning his two-year-old daughter.很显然，他抛弃自己两岁的女儿是在逃避责任。
14.license［ˈlaisəns］n.an official document that shows that permission has been given to do，own or use sth许可证，执照；特许：You need a license to fish in this river.在这条河里钓鱼你需要许可证。
15.defame［dɪˈfeɪm］v.to harm sb.by saying or writing bad or false things about them诽谤，中伤：He defamed his ex'wife by every possible means.他用各种可能的方式诽谤前妻。
16.selective［sɪˈlektɪv］adj.affecting or concerned with only a small number of people or things from a larger group有选择的；认真挑选的：He seemed to have a very selective recall of past events.他似乎对过去的事情进行有选择的记忆。
17.boost［buːst］n.something that helps or encourages sb.／sth.提高；帮助；激励：The tax cuts will give a much needed boosts to the economy.税收削减会很大程度上促进经济发展。
18.prospective［prəˈspektiv］adj.expected to do sth.or to become sth.预期的；未来的；有希望的：They are worried about prospective changes in the law.他们担心法律方面可能出现的变化。
19.conduct［kənˈdʌkt］v.to organize and／or do a particular activity组织；安排；实施：The negotiations have been conducted in a positive manner.谈判顺利地组织着。
20.badmouth［'bæd' maʊθ］v.say unpleasant things about sb.especially when sb.are not there to defend themselves说坏话：Both men continually badmouthed each other.两个男子不停地说对方坏话。
21.blackball［ˈblækbɔːl］v.to prevent sb.from joining a club by voting against them投票反对，排斥：Members can blackball candidates in secret ballots.选民可以通过匿名投票的方式给候选人投反对票。
22.scenario［səˈnɑːriəʊ］n.a description of how things might happen in the future场景；情境，脚本：Try to imagine all the possible scenarios and what action you would take.试想所有可能出现的场景和你该采取的行动。
23.resolve［riˈzɒlv］v.to find a satistactory solution to a problem or difficulty解决（问题或困难）：We must find a way to resolve these problems before it's too late.我们必须趁早想出一个解决这些问题的方法。
24.humiliate［hjuːˈmilieit］v.to make sb.feel ashamed or stupid and lose the respect of other people使蒙羞，使丢脸，使出丑：I didn't want to humiliate her in front of her colleagues.我不想当着她同事的面羞辱她。
25.harassment［ˈhærəsmənt］n.behavior which is intended to trouble or annoy someone骚扰，扰乱；折磨人的东西：The party has accused the police of harassment.该党指控警方骚扰。
26.tavern［ˈtævən］n.a bar or pub小旅馆，客栈；酒馆：She worked in a small tavern where businessmen seldom visited.她在一个很少有商人下榻的旅馆工作。
27.commission［kəˈmɪʃn］n.an official group of people who have been given responsibility to control sth.usually for the government委员会，委员：The government has set up a commission of inquiry into the disturbances at the prison.该政府设立了一个调查监狱骚动的委员会。
28.spiteful［ˈspaɪtfl］adj.behaving in an unkind way in order to hurt or upset sb.恶意的，居心不良的，故意使人苦恼的：He received a stream of spiteful telephone calls last night.昨天晚上他接到了一连串恶意电话。
29.unscrupulous［ʌnˈskruːpjələs］adj.without moral principles；not honest and fair肆无忌惮的，不择手段的，无道德原则的：These kids are being exploited by very unscrupulous people.这些孩子被一些不择手段的人利用。
30.accountable［əˈkaʊntəbl］adj.responsible for your decisions or actions and expected to explain them when you are asked负有责任的，应对自己的行为做出说明的；可解释：Politicians are ultimately accountable to the voters.政治家最终对选民负责。
31.grant［ɡrɑːnt］v.to agree to give sb.what they ask for，especially formal or legal permission to do sth.准许；授予：The bank finally granted me a 500 dollar loan.银行最终准许我贷款500美元。
32.courthouse［ˈkɔːthaʊs］n.a building containing courts of law法院；（美国）县政府大楼：All the village flocked to the courthouse the next morning.第二天早上全镇的人都蜂拥到法院去。
33.legitimate［liˈdʒitimət］adj.allowed and acceptable according to the law合法的，合理的；正规的：Is his business strictly legitimate？从严格意义上说，他的生意合法吗？
34.complaint［kəmˈpleint］n.a statement that sb.makes saying that they are not satisfied控诉；抱怨，委屈：The most common complaint is about poor service.最常见的投诉就是服务差。
Answer the questions based upon text comprehension.
（1）Why do the employers hesitate to provide information about past employees？
（2）Why are the suits against employers for giving references relatively rare？
（3）Who do you think need more protection？Employer or employee？
（4）Do you agree with the author that employers’fears are exaggerated？
（5）If you were a female employee，what would you do to deal with sexual harassment from your boss？
Fill in the gaps with words and phrases given in the table.
（1）Officials of all member states receive certain privileges and___________
___________.
（2）If you fail to complete this task，you will be reckoned as ___________
___________.
（3）Who is the political leader of this country's___________
government？
（4）Lack of punishment seems to give youngsters ___________to break the law.
（5）Lack of exercise is also a risk factor for heart disease but it's ___________small when compared with the others.
（6）How can they___________ paying such huge salaries？
（7）They are undergoing a___________ to overthrow the government.
（8）The hotel was really filthy and I'm not .
___________.
Translate the sentences into Chinese.
（1）While she is interviewing with a new company，the firm calls her old boss for a reference.
（2）But suits against employers for giving references are relatively rare.
（3）Current law gives those workers their day in court.
（4）If unscrupulous employers have it their way，she would be unable to hold that boss accountable for his lies.
（5）False fears are leading some employers to call for total immunity from lawsuits for the job references they give.