Final answer:
A professional with specialized knowledge and skill defines an expert who has achieved proficiency in their specific field, often shaped by education, interests, and geography, contributing effectively to society.
Step-by-step explanation:
“An expert with specialized knowledge and skill in a significant field of human endeavor” best defines a professional who has attained a high degree of proficiency in their specific area of work. This specialization allows individuals to focus intensely on their particular sector, harnessing their skills, talents, and interests to perform at an optimal level. For example, education shapes such specialization, with medical degrees being a prerequisite for doctors, influencing the notion of who qualifies for specific roles within society's professional structure.
Geography can also play a role in specialization, making it more practical for wheat farming to be pursued in North Dakota than in Florida, while the tourist hotel industry may flourish more in Florida than in North Dakota. An expert opinion, such as that of Doris Kearns Goodwin on President Lyndon B. Johnson, exemplifies how specialized expert knowledge can provide deep insights into complex topics like the Vietnam War. The concept of comparative advantage further supports this idea, suggesting that by concentrating on areas where they have a natural advantage, individuals can contribute more effectively than by spreading their efforts across less suitable fields.