The United States economy has dipped into economic recession (經(jīng)濟衰退). This caused discomfort and hardship in every level of society; but for many of the nation’s poor, discomfort and hardship turned into misery (苦難).

An increase in homelessness is probably the worst result of a nation’s financial disaster. About 3 million Americans were homeless because of a lack of affordable housing. Experts suggest that a family should spend no more than 30 percent of its income on housing. In fact, in some families housing costs make up 50 percent or more. An unexpected event, such as losing work or illness, can quickly push a family into homelessness.

An article in Time magazine tells a story of one such family. A young couple and their three children rented a two-bedroom apartment for about $350 a month. They could hardly go on with the husband’s $920-a-month take-home pay; so when their rent was raised to $500 a month, they could no longer make ends meet.

Another woman was found dead on a street in Washington D.C., the capital, and she died at a bus-stop across the street from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

People become homeless for different reasons. Some may not be able to pay for housing, because they have lost their job and cannot find another place they can afford. Others have mental diseases, or are addicted to drugs or alcohol, many of whom do not live with their family. And what’s more, there are not enough centers for shelter as the government doesn’t pay enough attention to this social problem. 

People are making efforts to solve the problem. However, it will not be easy, because it is a personal and economical problem as well as a social problem.

1.The passage is mainly about __________ in the US.

A. ways of solving economic problems

B. homeless people being taken good care of

C. different reasons for economic recession

D. economic recession leading to social problems

2.In the passage the author supported his view by __________.

A. presenting specific figures                        B. giving examples

C. explaining in details                               D. discussing different opinions

3. One main result that economic recession has led to is __________

A. an increase of living costs                     B. more and more deaths

C. an increase of homeless people       D. less centers for poor people

4.How many reasons why people become homeless are listed in the passage?

A. 2.        B. 3.               C. 4.              D. 5.

 

【答案】

 

1.D

2.B

3.C

4.B

【解析】

試題分析:經(jīng)濟衰退造成社會各階層的不適和苦難。很多人因此無家可歸失業(yè)和疾病使一個家庭很快就沒了家。政府有沒有足夠的避難所容納那些人。解決這個問題并非易事。

1.段落大意題。根據(jù)文章的第一二行可知,美國的經(jīng)濟衰退造成社會各階層的不適和苦難。故選D。

2.文章結構題。第二、三段舉例說明人們無家可歸的原因和慘狀。選B(舉例說明)。

3.細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)An increase in homelessness is probably the worst result of a nation’s financial disaster.可知。無家可歸的數(shù)量的增加可能是一個國家經(jīng)濟災難最糟糕的結果。與經(jīng)濟衰退造成的最主要的結果導致了無家可歸的人數(shù)的增加意思一致。所以選C。

4.細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)文章最后一句話可知,無家可歸的原因有三:個人原因、經(jīng)濟原因、還有社會問題。選B。

考點:生活百味類閱讀。

 

練習冊系列答案
相關習題

科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解

I have a rule for travel: Never carry a map. I prefer to ask for directions

Foreign visitors are often puzzled in Japan because most streets there don’t have names. In Japan, people use landmarks in their directions instead of street names. For example, the Japanese will say to travelers, “Go straight down to the corner. Turn left at the big hotel and go past a fruit market. The post office is across from the bus stop.” In the countryside of the American Midwest, usually there are not many landmarks. There are no mountains, so the land is very flat. In many places there are no towns or buildings within miles. Instead of landmarks,   people will tell you directions and distances. In Kansas or Iowa, for example, people will say, “Go north two miles. Turn east, and then go another mile.”

People in Los Angeles, California, have no idea of distance on the map: they measure distance by means of time, not miles. “ How far away is the post office?”

You ask. “Oh,” they answer, “ It’s about five minutes from here.” You say, “Yes, but how many miles away is it?” They don’t know.

People in Greece sometimes do not even try to give directions because visitors seldom understand the Greek language. Instead of gibing you the direction, a Greek will often say, “ follow me.” Then he’ll lead you through the streets of the city to the post office.

Sometimes a person doesn’t know the answer to your question. What happens in this situation? A New Yorker might say, “Sorry, I have no idea.” But in Yucatan, Mexico, no one answers, “I don’t know.” People in Yucatan think that “ I don’t know” is impolite. They usually give an answer, often a wrong one. A visitor can get very, very lost in Yucatan!

One thing will help you everywhere ---- in Japan, in the United States, in Greece, in Mexico, or in any other place. You might not understand a person’s words, but maybe you can understand his body language. He or she will usually turn and then point in the correct direction. Go in that direction, and you may find the post office!

The passage mainly tells us that ______________.

       A there are not many landmarks in the American Midwest

       B never carry a map for travel

       C there are different ways to give directions in different parts of the world

       D New Yorkers often say, “I have no idea,” but people in Yucatan, Mexico, Never say this

The passage says, “ In Japan, people use landmarks in their directions.” The word “l(fā)andmark” means _______.

A street names                      

B building names

C hotels, markets and bus stops 

D buildings or places are easily recognized

In which place do people tell distance by means of time?

A Japan                             B American Midwest

C Los Angeles, California.              D Greece

Which of the following is wrong?

  A Travelers can learn about people’s customs by asking questions about directions.

B People in some places give directions in miles, but people in other places give directions by means of time.

C A person’s body language can help you understand directions.

D People in different places always give directions in the same way: They use street names.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解

Among rich countries, people in the United States work the longest hours. They work much longer than in Europe. This difference is quite surprising because productivity per hour worked is the same in the United States as it is in France, Spain and Germany, and it is growing at a similar speed.

In most countries and at most times in history, as people have become richer they have chosen to work less. In other words they have decided to “spend” a part of their extra income on a fuller personal life. Over the last fifty years Europeans have continued this pattern, and hours of work have fallen sharply. But not in the United States. We do not fully know why this is. One reason may be greatly lower taxes in America, which increase the rewards (回報) to work. Another may be more satisfying work, or less satisfying personal lives.

Longer hours do of course increase the GDP (國內(nèi)生產(chǎn)總值). So the United States has produced more per worker than, say, France. The United Sates also has more of its people at work, while in France many more mothers and older workers have decided to stay at home. The overall result is that American GDP per head is 40% higher than in France, even though productivity per hour worked is the same.

It is not clear which of the two situations is better. As we have seen, work has to be compared with other values like family life, which often get lost in its interest. It is too early to explain the

different trends (趨勢) in happiness over time in different countries. But it is a disappointing idea that in the United States happiness has made no progress since 1975, while it has risen in Europe. Could this have anything to do with trends in the work-life balance (平衡)?

 

56.From the text we know that the author ___________.

       A.believes that longer working hours is better

       B.prefers shorter working hours to longer ones

       C.says nothing certain about which pattern is better

       D.thinks neither of the patterns is good

57.Which of the following countries has more of its people at work?

       A.Spain.                                             B.France.

       C.Germany.                                        D.America.

58.In the last paragraph, the underlined word “which” refers to __________.

       A.family life                                        B.situations

       C.other values                                     D.trends

59.What message can we get from the text?

       A.The GDP of Europe is higher than that of America.

       B.Two possible reasons are given for working longer hours in the US.

       C.People all over the world choose to work less when they are richer.

       D.Americans are happier than Europeans.

60.Which of the following would be the best title for the text?

       A.Americans and Europeans.                B.Staying at Home.

       C.Work and Productivity.                     D.Work and Happiness.

 

 

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解

 

 In the city of Fujisawa, Japan, lives a woman named Atsuko Saeki When she was a teenager, she 36  of going to the United States. Most of what she knew about American 37 was from the textbooks she had read. "I had a 38  in mind: Daddy  watching TV  in  the  living  room,

Mummy  39  cakes and their teenage daughter off to the cinema with her boyfriend."

     Atsuko 40  to attend college in California. When she arrived, however, she found it was not her  41  world.' "People were struggling with problems and often seemed 42 ," she said. "I felt  very alone."

      One of her hardest  43  was physical education. "We played volleyball." she said.

    "The other students were   44  it, but I wasn't."

     One afternoon, the instructor asked Atsuko to   45   the ball to her teammates so they could knock it 46  the net- NO problem for most people, but it terrified Atsuko. She was afraid of losing face 47 she failed.

    A young man on her team 48 What she was going through." He walked up to me and  49 , 'Come on. You can do that'"

    "You will never understand how those words of 50 made me feel.. Four words: You can do that I felt like crying with happiness"

     She made it through the class. Perhaps she thanked the young man; she is not  51 .

    Six years have passed. Atsuko is back in Japan, working as a salesclerk. "I have  52  forgotten the words." she said. "When things are not going so well, I think of them."

    She is sure the young man had no idea how much his kindness   53  to her.  "He probably doesn't even remember it," she said. That may be the lesson. Whenever you say something to a person cruel or kind---you have no idea how long the words will 54. She's all the way over in Japan, but still she hears those four  55  words: You can do that.

36. A. learned               B. spoke                      C. dreamed                  D. heard

37. A. way                   B. life                          C. education                 D. spirit

38. A. photo                 B. painting                   C. picture                     D. drawing

39. A. baking                B. frying                      C. steaming                  D. boiling

40. A. hoped                 B. arranged                  C. liked                        D. attempted

41. A. described            B. imagined                  C. created                    D. discovered

42. A. tense                  B. cheerful                   C. relaxed                     D. deserted

43. A. times                  B. question                   C. classes                    D. projects.

44. A. curious about      B. good at                    C. slow at                     D. nervous about

45. A. kick                   B. pass                         C. carry                       D. hit

46. A. through               B. into                         C. over                        D. past

47. A. after                   B. if                             C. because                   D. until

48. A. believed              B. considered                C. wondered                D. sensed

49. A. warned               B. sighed                      C. ordered                   D. whispered

50. A. excitement          B. encouragement          C. persuasion               D. suggestion

51. A. interested            B. doubtful                   C. puzzled                     D. sure

52. A. never                  B. already                    C. seldom                       D. almost

53. A. happened            B. applied                      C. seemed                     D. meant

54. A. continue             B. stay                          C. exist                          D. live

55. A. merciful             B. bitter                         C. simple                       D. easy

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解

Joe Templer should have known better. After all, he works for a large auto insurance company. It won't hurt to leave the key in the truck this once, he thought, as he filled his gas tank at a self service gas station. But moments later, as he was paying the money, he saw the truck being driven away.

In 1987, 1.6 million motor vehicles were stolen in the United States one every 20 seconds. If _________________, experts predict annual vehicle thefts could exceed two million by the end of the decade.

Vehicle theft is a common phenomenon, which has a direct impact on over four million victims a year. The cost is astonishing.      

Many police officials blame professional thieves for the high volume of the thefts. It is a major money maker for organized crime. Typically, stolen cars are taken to pieces and the parts sold to individuals. But as many as 200,000 cars are smuggled out of the country every year. Most go to Latin America, the Middle East and Europe.

Only about 15 percent car thefts result in an arrest, because few police departments routinely conduct in depth auto investigations. When thieves are arrested, judges will often sentence them to probation(緩刑), not immediately put them in prison because the prisons are overcrowded with violent criminals.

One exception is a Michigan program that assigns 92 police officers to work full time on the state's 65,000 car theft cases a year. Since 1986, when the effort began, the state's auto theft rate has fallen from second in the nation to ninth.

76.  What is the best title of the passage? (Please answer within 10 words.)

___________________________________________________________________________

77  Why do you think Joe Templer should be blamed according to the writer? (Please answer within 10 words.)

___________________________________________________________________________

78  Please fill in the blank with proper words or phrases. (Please answer within 10 words.)

___________________________________________________________________________

79.  Put the underlined sentence in the passage into Chinese.

___________________________________________________________________________

80.       What suggestions would you give the car owners to prevent the car theft? (Please answer within 20 words.)

____________________________________________________________________________

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:2011屆浙江省溫州中學高三三月月考英語試卷 題型:完型填空

閱讀下面短文,掌握其大意,從下列各各題所給的四個選項(A 、B、C和D)中,選出最佳選項,并在答題卷上將該項涂黑。
These days, it is common to see 5-gallon bottles of water being sent to homes. Supermarket  21
are filled with all kinds of bottled water from simple  22  bottles containing “pure spring water” to expensive foreign types of mineral water in glass bottles. In Europe, bottled water is as  23  as soft drinks which are widely accepted in the United States. People are not only interested in the different choices of drinks, but also in the taste of bottled water and its  24  value.
All bottled water on sale must  25  the content of the water on the bottle. Some companies  26 
minerals to give the water a better taste. But the term “mineral water” is  27 , because all water, except specially purified water, contains minerals.  28  must be made to tell people clearly what kind of water people are exactly buying: spring water, mineral water, or purified water. For example, “spring water” will have to come from a(n)  29  spring.
Many people choose bottled water  30  tap water, because they  31  the safety of public drinking water. Some people worry about city water  32 . We need to pay close attention to the cleanliness of our drinking water. The government should be responsible for tap water  33 . It should be tested and checked  34 .
Keep in mind that bottled water is 35 . In many cases, you are paying for water that is not much different from tap water. If you are not sure of the safety of your tap water, have it  36 . A local health department can be of  37 . Compared with the cost of bottled water, the testing cost will be less expensive. Letting cold water  38  for a minute or so before taking a drink or using it in preparing a meal is a good way to  39  possible water pollution, especially if the water has been  40  for an hour or more.

【小題1】
A.basketsB.windowsC.shelvesD.carts
【小題2】
A.largeB.plasticC.coolD.cheap
【小題3】
A.popularB.expensiveC.freshD.good
【小題4】
A.natureB.trueC.faceD.health
【小題5】
A.studyB.stickC.listD.print
【小題6】
A.findB.a(chǎn)ddC.exploreD.mix
【小題7】
A.mistakenB.misunderstoodC.misleadingD.misreading
【小題8】
A.LawsB.NoticesC.ProductsD.Inventions
【小題9】
A.nearbyB.hotC.undergroundD.overflowing
【小題10】
A.withB.besidesC.beforeD.over
【小題11】
A.considerB.trustC.doubtD.ensure
【小題12】
A.suppliesB.pipesC.pollutionD.shortage
【小題13】
A.producersB.riskC.elementsD.quality
【小題14】
A.normallyB.regularly C.repeatedlyD.instantly
【小題15】
A.enoughB.excellentC.expensiveD.ideal
【小題16】
A.collectedB.boiledC.changedD.tested
【小題17】
A.useB.valueC.serviceD.importance
【小題18】
A.runB.flowC.fillD.boil
【小題19】
A.improveB.discoverC.limitD.solve[來源:
【小題20】
A.a(chǎn)wayB.offC.a(chǎn)longD.on

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習冊答案