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 ' ". And unfortunately, I would say that the saying applies to millions of people. Because school does not think financial intelligence is intelligence, most workers" _ ". 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. The success of McDonald's lies in its _ . A) skills at making hamburgers. B) good business systems C) talented workers D) excellent service
B
What is funny? The short answer is: Who knows? The joke that causes a burst of laughter from one listener might be met with a puzzled look from another. In general, you should avoid jokes at any business or social gathering where there are more than two people in your conversational group. If there are only two people -- and they consist of you and your best friend -- go ahead and tell it. Admittedly, a few people possess a perfect sense of timing, appropriateness, and joke delivery. You are probably not one of them. You might be quite funny and have many great jokes. But there's a place for jokes -- over dinner with family, hiking with friends, but business or social affairs with colleagues and acquaintances are not it. It takes a whole other level of joke-telling ability to put a joke into the more formal conversations. The best jokes come into the conversation so that by the time listeners realize a joke is in progress, the punchline that produces humour is being delivered -- to their surprise and delight. Jokes don't translate well when you're in a group with mixed backgrounds: those whose first language is not English, those who might not understand a special term or an "in" expression, young people who wouldn't catch a reference to some bit of culture familiar to older people -- and vice versa . Never joke about another person in the group -- about their name, habits, hometown, profession, appearance, or past. It's not a question of whether the joke is cheery or appropriate. No one enjoys being singled out this way. When you are the subject of the joke, the laughter doesn't feel good no matter how hard you try to tell yourself they're not laughing at you. Because that's what it feels like. What do you say if you realize your joke upset someone? Apologize as briefly and as sincerely as you can, and hope that someone changes the subject. Try saying: "I'm sorry. I should have known better" or "I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking." What do you do if people don't get your joke or don't appear to find it as funny... According to the passage, it might be appropriate for you to tell a joke at a business or social gathering if _ . A) the joke is well chosen B) you have complete confidence in your listeners' sense of humor C) only you and your best friend are involved in the conversation D) the audience consists of your colleagues and acquaintances
C
Q: Nate suffered a hard blow when he lost his job.His boss had spoken rudely, "Your services are no longer needed." Nate left the building filled with disappointment.By the time he reached home, he was in a deep depression.When he entered his house, he blurted out to his wife Sophia, "I lost my job.I am a complete failure." A tense silence followed.Then a smile crept across Sophia's face."What great news!" she responded. "Now you can write the book you have always wanted to write." "But I have no job and no prospect of a job," he objected, completely without hope."If I struggle to be an author, then what will we live on? Where will the money come from?" Sophia took her husband by the hand and led him to the kitchen.Opening a drawer, she took out a box that was full of cash."Where on earth did you get this?" Nate gasped."To whom does it belong?" "It's ours!" Sophia replied."I always knew that one day you would become a great writer if only you were given the chance.From the money you gave me for housekeeping every week, I have saved as much as I could so you would have your chance.Now there is enough to last us a whole year." What a surprise! What encouragement! What a wife! The unemployed husband did concentrate on writing that year, and the novel he wrote became a literary masterpiece.The book is The Scarlet Letter.Sophia had an even greater achievement, and she turned Nathaniel Hawthorne from a poor clerk into a world famous master. Sophia saved money because _ . A) she knew her husband would lose his job one day B) she knew their life would be in difficulty C) she was very careful with money D) she was trying to help her husband in every possible way
A: D
Q: Hire charges What's included: 1)Unlimited mileage . 2)Expenses on oil , maintenance and repairs, which will be repaired on production of invoices . 3)Full insurance except personal accident (see below) and contents. What's not included: 1)Personal accident insurance. 2)Garaging, petrol, parking and traffic fines Conditions of Hire l The shortest rental period at these special low prices is three days. For prices for periods of one or two days you only see our representative at the hotel. l Car hire must be booked six weeks or more before arrival in London to guarantee a car.But if you have been unable to make a booking in advance, please see our representative at the hotel who may still be able to help you. l The car types on the sheet are examples of the types of cars in each price range, but a particular car cannot be guaranteed. l Upon delivery the driver(s) will be asked to sign the car hire company" Conditions of Hire. l If you decide to hire a car , just fill in the Booking Form and return it to us . A booking fee of PS12 as part of the car hire cost is required. l Should you be forced to cancel your car hire booking after payment in full (two weeks before the date of hire), a cancellation charge of PS12 will be made. Which of the following conditions , you have to accept when hiring a car? A) When you hire a car from the company, the driver will go together with you B) It's unnecessary for you to give invoices if you want to be repaid for repairs C) If you have paid a booking fee , you don't have to fill in the Booking Form. D) You have to accept the terms of car hire company's Conditions of Hire
A: D