Most men and more than half of the women in North America work. In fact, many people who are lazy and don’t work for a living are looked down upon, such as people who have got a fortune from their parents, or those who receive money from the government when they are young enough to take a job.Americans usually are expected to work hard at their regular jobs. They have believed that they felt shameful if they did not work as hard and carefully as they could, and God would punish those who were careless or lazy in their work. This is called the "work ethic". Its roots are in the Bible’s teachings: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." and "Do not work to please men, but just please God." For 400 years or more, it has been a characteristic of Americans. Historians say that this "work ethic" was perhaps the single most important reason for the rapid economic growth and continuing success of the United States.For the sake of better work, now companies are much more flexible in the number of days and hours their employees work. Many offices now allow their employees to choose the time they begin in the morning, so long as they arrive before 10:00 am and work for 8 hours.In America, there are women who choose to stay home as homemakers rather than to pursue a career. This is possible if the husband’s salary is enough to support the family. These women value family over career, and are not considered lazy by any means. In America, "work ethic" refers to ().

A. inheriting fortune from parents
B. receiving the government’s help when one is young
C. no eating without working
D. working hard and carefully as he/she could