Review Reading 2: Earning Power

Fluency Practice

ASR Financial Times: Special Report

Earning Power

Earning Power

Everyone wants a job that pays well. Some people stop school early because they want to start earning cash right away. Others spend years and years studying in school in order to get a better job. Which is best? Actually, studies show that in most jobs, the higher your education, the higher your earning power.

For example, in the United States, high school graduates can make about $30,400 a year. The people who do not finish high school average only $23,400 a year. Just having a document that says you finished high school means an extra $7,000!

If you stay in school,you can make more money. A person who goes to college and gets a bachelor's degree can make an average of $52,200. With a master's degree, he or she can make about $62,000. And studies show that if a person gets a PhD, he or she can make $89,000 or more a year.

Of course, people with different occupations have different salaries. The chart below shows some average salaries for different professions in the United States.

We can learn an important lesson from this information. If you want to work and make more money, spend more time in school.

Average Salaries for Common Occupations

Reading Comprehension

Choose the correct answers.

1. Why does the passage say people stop high school early?
A) They do not have a lot of money.
B) They do not like going to school.
C) They do not want to work hard.
D) They want to start making money.

2. According to the passage, how can a person earn more money?
A) by stopping high school
B) by staying in school for a long time
C) by working a part-time job in high school
D) by starting a small business

3. Which of these ideas is mentioned in the passage?
A) Everyone should get a master's degree.
B) Graduating high school is important.
C) A person should do the same job their whole life.
D) A person with a PhD will not earn a lot of money.

4. According to the chart, which job pays the most money?
A) dentist
B) high school teacher
C) photographer
D) accountant

5. Why was this passage written?
A) to make school more fun
B) to encourage people to stay in school
C) to help people who score poorly on tests
D) to teach people how to set goals