阅读理解。
The world is filled with smart, talented, educated and gifted people. We meet them every day.
A few days ago, my car was not running well. I pulled it into a garage and the young mechanic had
it fixed in just a few minutes. He knew what was wrong by simply listening to the engine. I was
amazed. The sad truth is, great talent is not enough.
I am constantly shocked at how little talented people earn. I heard the other day that less than
5 percent of Americans earn more than $100, 000 a year. A business consultant who specializes
in the medical trade was telling me how many doctors and dentists struggle financially. It was this
business consultant who gave me the phrase, "They are one skill away from great wealth."
There is an old saying that goes, "Job means' just over broke (破产)' ". And unfortunately, I
would say that the saying applies to millions of people. Because school does not think financial
intelligence is intelligence, most workers" live within their means". They work and they pay the bills.
Instead I recommend to young people to seek work for what they will learn, more than what they
will earn.
When I ask the classes I teach, "How many of you can cook a better hamburger than McDonald's?
" almost all the students raise their hands. I then ask, "So if most of you can cook a better hamburger,
how come McDonald's makes more money than you?" The answer is obvious: McDonald's is
excellent at business systems. The reason so many talented people are poor is because they focus
on bui1ding a better hamburger and know little or nothing about business systems. The world is filled
with talented poor people. They focus on perfecting their skills at building a better hamburger rather
than the skills of selling and delivering the hamburger.
l. The author mentions the mechanic in the first paragraph to show that .
A. he is just one of the talented people
B. he is ready to help others
C. he has a sharp sense of hearing
D. he knows little about car repairing
2. The underlined part in the third paragraph can be best replaced by .
A. spend more than they can afford
B. do in their own way
C. live in their own circle
D. live within what they earn
3. Why do talented people earn so little according to the author?
A. They don't work hard enough.
B. They lack financial intelligence.
C. They don't make full use of their talents.
D. They have no specialized skills.
4. The success of McDonald's lies in its .
A. skills at making hamburgers.
B. good business systems
C. talented workers
D. excellent service
5. The main purpose of the author is to tell us .
A. how young people can find a satisfactory job
B. what schools should teach students
C. why so many talented people are poor
D. how McDonald's makes much money
