For four hundred years or more, one thing has been a characteristic of Americans. It is called their “work ethic”. Its _____ were in the teaching of the Christian Puritans who first settled in what is now the northeastern state of Massachusetts. They believed that is was their _____ duty to work as every task to please God by their diligence, honesty, _________________, skill, and attitude.To these Puritans, it was a sin to be lazy or to do less than your best in any task. They and later Americans tried to follow the Bible’s _________. “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”Therefore, Americans have for ________ believed that they were guilty of sin if they did not work as carefully and hard as they could when they did anything.God would ______ those who were careless or lazy in their work. Even as children they were taught, “If it’s worth doing at all, it’s worth doing well.”But some people have gone beyond the usual ________________. They are especially attracted to the notion of “climbing the ladder” so as to increase their status, _______________, and sense of self-worth.In English a new world has been created to describe people who work compulsively. The word “workaholic” describes an individual who is as _______________ as an alcoholic is to alcohol.There are __________ points of view about workaholics. Those concerned with problems of mental stress believe workaholics ______ themselves physically and mentally.Others hold that workaholics are valuable members of society because they are ___________________. The American culture values achievement, efficiency, and production, and a workaholic _______ these values.