大學(xué)英語(yǔ)下冊(cè)

(H?A.WhatIsaDecision?Adecisionisachoicemadefromamongalternativecoursesofactionthatareavailable.Thepurposeofmakingadecisionistoestablishandachieveorganizationalgoalsandobjectives.Thereasonformakingadecisionisthataproblemexists,goalsorobjectivesarewrong,orsomethingisstandinginthewayofaccomplishingthem.Thusthedecision-makingprocessisfundamentaltomanagement.Almosteverythingamanagerdoesinvolvesdecisions,indeed,somesuggestthatthemanagementprocessisdecisionmaking.Althoughmanagerscannotpredictthefuture,manyoftheirdecisionsrequirethattheyconsiderpossiblefutureevents.Oftenmanagersmustmakeabestguessatwhatthefuturewillbeandtrytoleaveaslittleaspossibletochance,hutsinceuncertaintyisalwaysthere,riskaccompaniesdecisions.Sometimestheconsequencesofapoordecisionareslight;atothertimestheyareserious.Choiceistheopportunitytoselectamongalternatives.Ifthereisnochoice,thereisnodecisiontobemade.Decisionmakingistheprocessofchoosing,andmanydecisionshaveabroadrangeofchoice.Forexample,astudentmaybeabletochooseamonganumberofdifferentcoursesinordertoimplementthedecisiontoobtainacollegedegree.Formanagers,everydecisionhasconstraintsbasedonpolicies,procedures,laws,precedents,andthelike.Theseconstraintsexistatalllevelsoftheorganization.Alternativesarethepossiblecoursesofactionfromwhichchoicescanbemade.Iftherearenoalternatives,thereisnochoiceand,therefore,nodecision.Ifnoalternativesareseen,oftenitmeansthatathoroughjobofexaminingtheproblemshasnotbeendone.Forexample,managerssometimestreatproblemsinaneither/orfashion;thisistheirwayofsimplifyingcomplexproblems.Butthetendencytosimplifyblindsthemtootheralternatives.Atthemanageriallevel,decisionmakingincludeslimitingalternativesaswellasidentifyingthem,andtherangeisfromhighlylimitedtopracticallyunlimited.Decisionmakersmusthavesomewayofdeterminingwhichofseveralalternativesisbest—thatis,whichcontributesthemosttotheachievementoforganizationalgoals.Anorganizationalgoalisanendorastateofaffairstheorganizationseekstoreach.Becauseindividuals(andorganizations)frequentlyhavedifferentideasabouthowtoattainthegoals,thebestchoicemaydependonwhomakesthedecision.Frequently,departmentsorunitswithinanorganizationmakedecisionsthataregoodforthemindividuallybutthatarelessthanoptimalforthelargerorganization.Calledsuboptimization,thisisatrade-offthatincreasesthe

advantagestooneunitorfunctionbutdecreasestheadvantagestoanotherunitorfunction.Forexample,themarketingmanagermayargueeffectivelyforanincreasedadvertisingbudget.Inthelargerschemeofthings,however,increasedfundingforresearchtoimprovetheproductsmightbemorebeneficialtotheorganization.Thesetrade-offsoccurbecausetherearemanyobjectivesthatorganizationswishtoattainsimultaneously.Someoftheseobjectivesaremoreimportantthanothers,buttheorderanddegreeofimportanceoftenvaryfrompersontopersonandfromdepartmenttodepartment.Differentmanagersdefinethesameproblemindifferentterms.Whenpresentedwithacommoncase,salesmanagerstendtoseesalesproblems,productionmanagersseeproductionproblems,andsoon.Theorderingandimportanceofmultipleobjectivesisalsobased,inpart,onthevaluesofthedecisionmaker.Suchvaluesarepersonal;theyarehardtounderstand,evenbytheindividual,becausetheyaresodynamicandcomplex.Inmanybusinesssituationsdifferentpeople'svaluesaboutacceptabledegreesofriskandprofitabilitycausedisagreementaboutthecorrectnessofdecisions.Peopleoftenassumethatadecisionisanisolatedphenomenon.Butfromasystemspointofview,problemshavemultiplecauses,anddecisionshaveintendedandunintendedconsequences.Anorganizationisanongoingentity,andadecisionmadetodaymayhaveconsequencesfarintothefuture.Thustheskilledmanagerlookstowardthefutureconsequencesofcurrentdecisions.01?B,SecretsofSuccessatanInterviewThesubjectoftoday'stalkisinterviews.Thekeywordsherearepreparationandconfidence,whichwillcarryyoufar.Doyourhomeworkfirst.Findoutallyoucanaboutthejobyouareapplyingforandtheorganizationyouhopetoworkfor.ManyoftheemployersIinterviewedmadethesamecriticismofcandidates.nTheyhavenoideawhatthedaytodayworkofthejobbringsabout.Theyhavevaguenotionsof"furtheringthecompany'sprospects,orof'servingthecommunity1,buthavenevertakenthetroubletofindouttheactualtaskstheywillberequiredtodo.”Donotletthisbesaidofyou.Itshowsanunattractiveindifferencetoyouremployerandtoyourjob.

Takethetimetoputyourselfintotheinterviewer'splace.Hewantssomebodywhoishard-workingwithapleasantpersonalityandarealinterestinthejob.Anythingthatyoufindoutabouttheprospectiveemployercanbeusedtoyouradvantageduringtheinterviewtoshowthatyouhavebotheredtomastersomefactsaboutthepeoplewhoyouhopetoworkfor.Writedown(andremember)thequestionsyouwanttoasktheinterviewer(s)sothatyouarenotspeechlesswhentheyinviteyourquestions.Makesurethatholidaysandpayarenotthefirstthingsyouaskabout.Ifallyourquestionshavebeenansweredduringtheinterview,reply:"Infact,Ididhaveseveralquestions,butyouhavealreadyansweredthemDonotbeafraidtoaskforclarificationofsomethingthathasbeensaidduringtheinterviewifyouwanttobesurewhatwasimplied,butdobepolite.Justbeforeyougototheinterview,lookagainattheoriginaladvertisementthatyouanswered,anycorrespondencefromyourprospectiveemployer,photocopiesofyourletterofapplicationorapplicationformandyourresume.Thenyouwillrememberwhatyousaidandwhattheywant.Thisisveryimportantifyouhaveappliedformanyjobsinashorttimeasitiseasytobecomeconfusedandgiveanimpressionofinefficiency.Makesureyouknowwhereandwhenyouhavetoreportfortheinterview.Gotothebuilding(butnotinsidetheoffice)adayortwobefore,ifnecessary,tofindouthowlongthejourneytakesandwhereexactlytheplaceis.Aimtoarrivefiveortenminutesearlyfortheactualinterview,thenyouwillhavealittletimeinhandandyouwillnotpanicifyouaredelayed.Youstartatadisadvantageifyouarriveworriedandtenminuteslate.Dressinclean,neat,conservativeclothes.NowisNOTthetimetoexperimentwiththepunklookor(girls)towearlow-cutdresseswithminiskirts.Makesurethatyourshoes,handsandhair(andteeth)arecleanandneat.Havetheletterinvitingyouforaninterviewreadytoshowincasethereisanydifficultyincommunication.Youmayfindyourselffacingoneinterviewerorapanel.Thelatterisfarmoreintimidating,butdonotletitworryyoutoomuch.Theinterviewerwillprobablyhaveatableinfrontofhim/her.Donotputyourthingsorarmsonit.Ifyouhaveabagoracase,putitonthefloorbesideyourchair.Donotclutchitnervouslyor,worsestill,dropit,spillingeverything.Shakehandsiftheintervieweroffershishandfirst.Thereislittlelikelihoodthatapanelof

fivewantstogothoughtheprocessofallshakinghandswithyouinturn.Soyoudonotbeupsetifnooneoffers.Shakehandsfirmly-aweakhandsuggestsaweakpersonality,andacrushinggripisobviouslypainful.Donotdropthehandassoonasyourshastoucheditasthiswillseemtoshowyoudonotliketheotherperson.Speakpolitelyandnaturallyevenifyouarefeelingshy.Thinkbeforeyouansweranyquestions.Ifyoucannotunderstand,ask:"Wouldyoumindrephrasingthequestion,please?**Thequestionwillthenberepeatedindifferentwords.Ifyouarenotdefinitelyacceptedorturneddownonthespot,ask:"WhenmayIexpecttoheartheresultsofthisinterview?'*Ifyoudoreceivealetterofferingyouthejob,youmustreplybyletter(keepaphotocopy)assoonaspossible.Goodluck!02?A.BlackHolesWhatisablackhole?Well,it*sdifficulttoanswerthisquestion,sincethetermswewouldnormallyusetodescribeascientificphenomenonareinadequatehere.Astronomersandscientiststhinkthatablackholeisaregionofspace(notathing)intowhichmatterhasfallenandfromwhichnothingcanescape?notevenlight.Sowecan*tseeablackhole.Ablackholeexertsastronggravitationalpullandyetithasnomatter.Itisonlyspace-orsowethink.Howcanthishappen?Thetheoryisthatsomestarsexplodewhentheirdensityincreasestoaparticularpoint;theycollapseandsometimesasupernovaoccurs.Fromearth,asupernovalookslikeaverybrightlightintheskywhichshineseveninthedaytime.Supemovaewerereportedbyastronomersintheseventeenthandeighteenthcenturies.SomepeoplethinkthattheStarofBethlehemcouldhavebeenasupernova.ThecollapseofastarmayproduceaWhiteDwarforaneutronstar-astar,whosematterissodensethatitcontinuallyshrinksbytheforceofitsowngravity.Butifthestarisverylarge(muchbiggerthanoursun)thisprocessofshrinkingmaybesointensethatablackholeresults.Imaginetheearthreducedtothesizeofamarble,butstillhavingthesamemassandastrongergravitationalpull,andyouhavesomeideaoftheforceofablackhole.Anymatterneartheblackholeissuckedin.Itisimpossibletosaywhathappensinsideablackhole.Scientistshavecalledtheboundaryareaaroundtheholethe"eventhorizon.n

Weknownothingabouteventswhichhappenonceobjectspassthisboundary.Butintheory,mattermustbehaveverydifferentlyinsidethehole.Forexample,ifamanfellintoablackhole,hewouldthinkthathereachedthecenterofitveryquickly.Howeveranobserverattheeventhorizonwouldthinkthatthemanneverreachedthecenteratall.Ourspaceandtimelawsdon'tseemtoapplytoobjectsintheareaofablackhole.Einstein'srelativitytheoryistheonlyonewhichcanexplainsuchphenomena.Einsteinclaimedthatmatterandenergyareinterchangeable,sothatthereisno"absolute"timeandspace.Therearenoconstantsatall,andmeasurementsoftimeandspacedependonthepositionoftheobserver.Theyarerelative.Wedonotyetfullyunderstandtheimplicationsoftherelativitytheory;butitisinterestingthatEinstein'stheoryprovidedabasisfortheideaofblackholesbeforeastronomersstartedtofindsomeevidencefortheirexistence.Itisonlyrecentlythatastronomershavebegunspecificresearchintoblackholes.InAugust1977,asatellitewaslaunchedtogatherdataaboutthe10millionblackholeswhicharethoughttobeintheMilkyWay.Andastronomersareplanninganewobservatorytostudytheindividualexplodingstarsbelievedtobeblackholes,Themostconvincingevidenceofblackholescomesfrownresearchintobinarystarsystems.Binarystars,astheirnamesuggests,aretwinstarswhosepositioninspaceaffectseachother.Insomebinarysystems,astronomershaveshownthatthereisaninvisiblecompanionstar,a"partner"totheonewhichwecanseeinthesky.Matterfromtheonewhichwecanseeisbeingpulledtowardsthecompanionstar.Couldthisinvisiblestar,whichexertssuchagreatforce,beablackhole?Astronomershaveevidenceofafewotherstarstoo,whichmighthaveblackholesascompanions.Thestoryofblackholesisjustbeginning.Speculationsaboutthem,areendless.Theremightbeamassiveblackholeatthecenterofourgalaxyswallowingupstarsataveryrapidrate.Mankindmayonedaymeetthisfate.Ontheotherhand,scientistshavesuggestedthatveryadvancedtechnologycouldonedaymakeuseoftheenergyofblackholesformankind.Thesespeculationssoundlikesciencefiction.Butthetheoryofblackholesinspaceisacceptedbymanyseriousscientistsandastronomers.Theyshowusaworldwhichoperatesinatotallydifferentwayfromourownandtheyquestionourmostbasicexperienceofspaceandtime.02?B?WorldswithinWorldsFirstofallletusconsidertheearth(thatistosay,theworld)asaplanetrevolvingroundthesun.Theearthisoneofnineplanetswhichmoveinorbitroundthesun.Thesenineplanets,

togetherwiththesun,makeupwhatiscalledoursolarsystem.Howthiswonderfulsystemstartedandwhatkeptitworkingwithsuchwonderfulaccuracyislargelyamysterybutastronomerstellusthatitisonlyoneofmillionsofsimilarsystemsinspace,andoneofthesmallest.Thestarswhichweseeglitteringintheskyonadarkandcloudlessnightarealmostcertainlythesunsofothersolarsystemsmoreorlesslikeourown,buttheyaresofarawayinspacethatitisunlikelythatweshallevergettoknowverymuchaboutthem.Aboutourownsolarsystem,however,wearelearningmoreeveryday.BeforetheAmericanandRussianastronautsmadetheirthrillingjourneysintoouterspaceitwasdifficultforustorealisewhatourearthlookedlikefromhundredsofthousandsofmilesaway,butthephotographswhichtheastronautswereabletotakeshowustheearthinspacelookingnotverydifferentfromwhatthemoonlookslikewhenwelookatitfromtheearth.Theearthis,however,verydifferentfromthemoon,whichtheAmericanastronautshavefoundtobewithoutlifeorvegetation,whereasourearthisverymuchaliveineveryrespect.Themoon,bytheway,iscalledasatellitebecauseitgoesroundourearthaswellasroundthesun.Inotherwords,itgoesroundthesunwithourearth.Thesurfaceofourearthiscoveredbymassesoflandandlargerareasofwater.Letusconsiderthewaterareasfirst.Thetotalwaterareaisaboutthreetimesaslargeasthelandarea.Theverylargeseparateareasofwaterarecalled“oceans“andthelesserareasarecalled"seas.”Inmostoftheoceansandseassomeofthewaterisfoundtobeflowinginaparticulardirection-thatistosay,fromoneparttowardsanotherpartoftheoceanorseaconcerned.Thewaterwhichisflowinginthismannerissaidtobemovingasa"current."Therearemanythousandsofcurrentsinthewatersoftheoceansandseas,butonlycertainofthestrongerandbettermarkedcurrentsarespeciallynamedandofgreatimportance.Thesecurrentsareimportantbecausetheyaffecttheclimateofthelandareasclosetowheretheyflowandalsobecausetheycarrylargequantitiesofmicroscopicanimalandvegetablelifewhichformsalargepartofthefoodforfishes.Thenatureandcharacteristicsofthesurfaceofthelandareasoftheearthvaryagreatdealfromareatoareaandfromplacetoplace.Thesurfaceofsomeareasconsistslargelyofhighmountainsanddeepvalleyswhilst,inotherareas,mostofthesurfaceconsistsofplains.IfonemadeajourneyovertheContinentsonewouldfindeverykindofsurfaceincludingmountainranges,plains,plateaux,deserts,tropicalforestlandsandemptyareascoveredpermanentlybyiceandsnow.Whenthinkingandlearningabouttheworldweshouldnotforgetthatourworldisthe

homeofaverygreatmanydifferentpeople-peopleswithdifferentcolouredskins,livingverydifferentlivesandhavingverydifferentideasaboutagreatmanyimportantthingssuchasreligion,government,educationandsocialbehaviour.Thecircumstancesunderwhichdifferentpeoplelivemakeagreatdifferencebetweenthewayinwhichtheyliveandthewayinwhichwelive,anditoughttobeourbusinesstotrytounderstandthosedifferentcircumstancessothatwecanbetterunderstandpeopleofotherlands.Aboveall,weshouldavoiddecidingwhatwethinkaboutpeopledifferentfromourselveswithoutfirsthavinglearnedagreatdealaboutthemandthekindoflivestheyhavetolive.Itistruetosaythatthemorewelearnaboutotherpeople,thebetterweunderstandtheirideasand,asarule,thebetterwelikethosepeoplethemselves.03?A,Euthanasia:ForandAgainst“Wemustn'tdelayanylonger...swallowingisdifficult...andbreathing,that'salsodifficult.Thosemusclesareweakeningtoo...wemustn'tdelayanylonger.”ThesewerethewordsofDutchmanCeesvanWendeldeJoodeaskinghisdoctortohelphimdie.Affectedwithaseriousdisease,vanWendelwasnolongerabletospeakclearlyandheknewtherewasnohopeofrecoveryandthathisconditionwasrapidlydeteriorating.VanWendeFslastthreemonthsoflifebeforebeinggivenafinal,lethalinjectionbyhisdoctorwerefilmedandfirstshownontelevisionlastyearintheNetherlands.Theprogrammehassincebeenboughtby20countriesandeachtimeitisshown,itstartsanationwidedebateonthesubject.TheNetherlandsistheonlycountryinEuropewhichpermitseuthanasia,althoughitisnottechnicallylegalthere.However,doctorswhocarryouteuthanasiaunderstrictguidelinesintroducedbytheDutchParliamenttwoyearsagoareusuallynotprosecuted.Theguidelinesdemandthatthepatientisexperiencingextremesuffering,thatthereisnochanceofacure,andthatthepatienthasmaderepeatedrequestsforeuthanasia.Inadditiontothis,aseconddoctormustconfirmthatthesecriteriahavebeenmetandthedeathmustbereportedtothepolicedepartment.Shoulddoctorsbeallowedtotakethelivesofothers?Dr.WilfredvanOijen,CeesvanWendeFsdoctor,explainshowhelooksatthequestion:“Well,ifsnotasifI'mplanningtomurderacrowdofpeoplewithamachinegun.Inthatcase,killingistheworstthingIcanimagine.Butthat'sentirelydifferentfrommyworkasadoctor.IcareforpeopleandItrytoensurethattheydon'tsuffertoomuch.That*savery

differentthing.”Manypeople,though,aretotallyagainstthepracticeofeuthanasia.Dr.AndrewFerguson,ChairmanoftheorganisationHealthcareOpposedtoEuthanasia,saysthat°inthevastmajorityofeuthanasiacases,whatthepatientisactuallyaskingforissomethingelse.Theymaywantahealthprofessionaltoopenupcommunicationforthemwiththeirlovedonesorfamily-there'snearlyalwaysanotherquestionbehindthequestion.”Britainalsohasastrongtraditionofhospices-specialhospitalswhichcareonlyforthedyingandtheirspecialneeds.CicelySaunders,PresidentoftheNationalHospiceCouncilandafoundermemberofthehospicemovement,arguesthateuthanasiadoesn'ttakeintoaccountthattherearewaysofcaringforthedying.Sheisalsoconcernedthatallowingeuthanasiawouldunderminetheneedforcareandconsiderationofawiderangeofpeople:"It'sveryeasyinsocietynowfortheelderly,thedisabledandthedependenttofeelthattheyareburdens,andthereforethattheyoughttooptout.1thinkthatanythingthatlegallyallowstheshorteningoflifedoesmakethosepeoplemorevulnerable.^Manyfindthisprohibitionofanindividuafsrighttodiepaternalistic.Althoughtheyagreethatlifeisimportantandshouldberespected,theyfeelthatthequalityoflifeshouldnotbeignored.Dr.vanOijenbelievesthatpeoplehavethefundamentalrighttochooseforthemselvesiftheywanttodie:"Whatthosepeoplewhoopposeeuthanasiaaretellingmeisthatdyingpeoplehaven'ttheright.Andthatwhenpeopleareveryill,weareallafraidoftheirdeath.Buttherearesituationswheredeathisafriend.Andinthosecases,whynot?Butnwhynot?”isaquestionwhichmightcausestrongemotion.ThefilmshowingCeesvanWendefsdeathwasbothmovingandsensitive.Hisdoctorwasclearlyafamilyfriend;hiswifehadonlyherhusband'sinterestsatheart.Some,however,wouldarguethatitwouldbedangeroustousethisparticularexampletosupportthecaseforeuthanasia.Notallpatientswouldreceivesuchahighlevelofindividualcareandattention.03?B?AdvantageUnfairAccordingtothewriterWalterEllis,authorofabookcalledtheOxbridgeConspiracy,Britainisstilldominatedbytheold-boynetwork:itisn*twhatyouknowthatmatters,butwhoyouknow.HeclaimsthatatOxfordandCambridgeUniversities(Oxbridgeforshort)afewselectpeoplestartonanescalatorridewhich,overtheyears,carriesthemtothetopsofBritishprivilegeandpower.Hisresearchrevealedthatthetopprofessionsallcontinuetobedominated,ifnot90percent,then60or65percent,byOxbridgegraduates.

Andyet,saysEllis,OxbridgegraduatesmakeuponlytwopercentofthetotalnumberofstudentswhograduatefromBritain'suniversities.OtherresearchesalsoseemtosupporthisbeliefthatOxbridgegraduatesstartwithanunfairadvantageintheemploymentmarket.Inthelaw,arecentlypublishedreportshowedthatoutof26seniorjudgesappointedtotheHighCourtlastyear,allofthemwenttoprivateschoolsand21ofthemwenttoOxbridge.Butcanthisbesaidtoamounttoaconspiracy?NotaccordingtoDr.JohnRae,aformerheadmasterofoneofBritain'sleadingprivateschools,Westminster:nIwouldacceptthattherewasabiasinsomekeyareasofBritishlife,butthatbiashasnowgone.Sometimeago-inthe60sandbefore?entrytoOxfordandCambridgewasnotentirelyonmerit.Now,there'sabsolutelynoquestioninanyobjectiveobserver'smindthat,entrytoOxfordandCambridgeisfiercelycompetitive.0However,manywoulddisagreewiththis.For,althoughoverthree-quartersofBritishpupilsareeducatedinstateschools,overhalfthestudentsthatgotoOxbridgehavebeentoprivate,or"public"schools.IsthisbecausepupilsfromBritain*sprivateschoolsaremoreintelligentthanthosefromstateschools,oraretheysimplybetterprepared?Onaverage,about$5,000ayearisspentoneachprivateschoolpupil,morethantwicetheamountspentonstateschoolpupils.Sohowcanthestateschoolsbeexpectedtocompetewiththeprivateschoolswhentheyhavefarfewerresources?AndhowcantheypreparetheirpupilsforthespecialentranceexamtoOxfordUniversity,whichrequiresextrapreparation,andforwhichmanypublicschoolpupilstraditionallystayatschoolanddoanadditionalterm?Untilrecently,manyblamedOxfordforthisbiasbecauseoftheuniversity'sspecialentranceexam(Cambridgeabolisheditsentranceexamin1986).ButlastFebruary,OxfordUniversitydecidedtoabolishtheexamtoencouragemorestateschoolapplicants.Fromautumn1996,OxfordUniversityapplicants,likeapplicantstootheruniversities,willbejudgedonlyontheirAlevelresultsandontheirperformanceatinterviews,althoughsomedepartmentsmightstillsetspecialtests.However,somearguethatthere'snothingwronginhavingeliteplacesoflearning,andthatbytheirverynature,theseplacesshouldnotbeeasilyaccessible.Mostcountriesarerunbyaneliteandhavecentresofacademicexcellencefromwhichtheelitearerecruited.WalterEllisacceptsthatthisistrue:"ButinFrance,forexample,therearesomethinglike40equivalentsofuniversity,whichprovidethiselitethroughamuchbroaderbase.InAmericayou'vegottheIvyLeague,centredonHarvardandYale,withPrincetonandStanfordandothers.Butagain,thoseuniversitiestogether-theeliteuniversities-areabouttenorfifteeninnumber,andarebeingpushedalong

frombehindbyothergreatuniversitieslike,forexample,ChicagoandBerkeley.Soyoudon'thavejustthisnarrowconcentrationoftwouniversitiesprovidingaconstantlyreplicatingelite.MWhenitcomestoOxfordandCambridgebeingelitistbecauseofthenumberofprivateschoolpupilstheyaccept,ProfessorStoneofOxfordUniversityarguesthatthereisasimplefactheandhisassociatescannotignore:"Ifcertainschoolsdobetterthanothersthenwejusthavetoacceptit.Wecannotbeaplaceforremedialeducation.It*snotwhatOxfordistheretodo.”However,sinceacademicexcellencedoesappeartoberelatedtotheamountofmoneyspentperpupil,thisdoesseemtoimplythatPrimeMinisterJohnMajor'svisionofBritainasaclasslesssocietyisstillalongwayoff.AnditmaybeworthrememberingthatwhileJohnMajordidn'thimselfgotoOxbridge,mostofhisministersdid.04?A,SlaveryonOurDoorstepThereareestimatedtobemorethan20,000overseasdomesticservantsworkinginBritain(theexactfigureisnotknownbecausetheHomeOffice,theGovernmentdepartmentthatdealswiththis,doesnotkeepstatistics).Usually,theyhavebeenbroughtoverbyforeignbusinessmen,diplomatsorBritonsreturningfromabroad.Ofthese20,000,justunder2,000arebeingexploitedandabusedbytheiremployers,accordingtoaLondon-basedcampaigninggroupwhichhelpsoverseasservantsworkinginBritain.Theabusecantakeseveralforms.Oftenthedomesticsarenotallowedtogoout,andtheydonotreceiveanypayment.Theycanbephysically,sexuallyandpsychologicallyabused.Andtheycanhavetheirpassportsremoved,makingleavingor"escaping"virtuallyimpossible.Thesadconditionofwomenworkingasdomesticsaroundtheworldreceivedmuchmediaattentionearlierthisyearinseveralhighlypublicisedcases.Inoneofthem,aFilipinomaidwasexecutedinSingaporeafterbeingconvictedofmurder,despiteprotestsfromvariousquartersthatherguilthadnotbeenadequatelyestablished.GroupslikeAnti-SlaveryInternationalsayother,lessdramatic,casesareequallydeservingofattention,suchasthatofLydiaGarcia,aFilipinomaidworkinginLondon:“IwashiredbyaSaudidiplomatdirectlyfromthePhilippinestoworkinLondonin1989.Iwassupposedtobepaid$120butIneverreceivedthatamount.Theyalwaysthreatenedthattheywouldsendmebacktomycountry.^^ThenthereisthecaseofKumarifromSriLanka.Themainbreadwinnerinherfamily,sheusedtoworkforaverylowwageatateafactoryinSriLanka.Becauseshefounditdifficultto

feedherfourchildren,sheacceptedajobworkingasadomesticinLondon.ShesaysshefeltlikeaprisonerattheLondonhousewheresheworked:"Nodaysoff—ever,nobreaksatall,noproperfood.Ididn'thavemyownroom;IsleptonashelfwithaspadOofonlythreefeetaboveme.Iwasn'tallowedtotalktoanybody.Iwasn'tevenallowedtoopenthewindow.MyemployersalwaysthreatenedtoreportmetotheHomeOfficeorthepolice.^^Attheendof1994theBritishGovernmentintroducednewmeasurestohelpprotectdomesticworkersfromabusebytheiremployers.Thisincludedincreasingtheminimumageofemployeesto18,gettingemployeestoreadand,understa