Dr Piff said rich people are more likely to break rules, not follow the law, and not care about other people. He also said wealthy people cheat more at games and are less likely to help other people. Professor Piff told the BBC that: "Wealth makes you more [worried about] your own interests, your own desires, your own welfare." He added that rich people think their own goals and needs are the most important thing in their life.
Professor Piff also found that poorer people are more generous than rich people. The poor give a higher percentage of their money to help others than the rich. He said poorer people give one-and-a-half times as much as richer people. He said: "The wealthier you are, the less generous you are. You give significantly smaller portions away to [other people]."
However, he did say that rich people could change their behavior and become nicer and more generous. He said rich people can help others more if you tell them that giving and helping is a good thing. He said: "Reminding people of the benefits of cooperation, or the advantages of community, causes wealthier individuals to be just as [giving] as poor people."
EXERCISE 1. COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
| 1. | What is the job of the person who said rich people are "bad"? |
| 2. | For how long did the man spend looking at rich people? |
| 3. | What did a doctor say rich people are more likely to break? |
| 4. | What did the man say were the most important things for rich people? |
| 5. | What did the man say wealthy people cheat more at? |
EXERCISE 2. SHARING IDEAS
| 1. | What did you think when you read the headline? |
| 2. | What springs to your mind when you hear the word 'money'? |
| 3. | Is money the root of all evil? |
| 4. | How does money change people? |
| 5. | Do you think richer people are meaner? |
Source:
Breaking News English
