1 （2010·江苏省丰县中学高三期中） One of the greatest stories of rags to riches success is that of Andrew Carnegie, who started life in poverty but became the richest man in the world.
Carnegie was born in Scotland in 1837, the son of a weaver. In 1848, the family moved to the United States and at 13 Carnegie began work in a cotton mill, earning $1.5 per week. About three years later, he found a better job as a telegraph messenger boy. At work, his superiors（上级）were impressed by his abilities and willingness to work hard. In 1853, he gained an office job at the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. This was his first big break. He continued to impress and rose rapidly through the company, gaining more and more responsibility. At the same time, Carnegie loved reading very much and made use of every opportunity to visit the library. He read widely on all subjects, particularly literature.
Carnegie now began to save a little money and, with the help of his employer, began to make some successful investments. He invested in the iron industry and eventually set up in business himself, owning several iron and steel plants. This was where he made his fortune. By the 1890s, the Carnegie Steel Company was the biggest and most profitable business in the world.
