Question

Nobody Benefits
NEW YORK—America has been experiencing the longest economic increase in its history．Incomes have risen, unemployment has fallen, and cities such as New York are bursting with new office buildings．
But just a short walk from Manhattan's skyscrapers, George Brown sits on the side-walk, cooking a lunch of rice and bits of fish over a can of cooking fuel．
Brown is homeless — one of the 2.3 million people in the US who end up on the street．
During the day, Brown collects aluminium cans and sells them for five cents a piece．At night, he sleeps on the street．
"I have been on the street about eight or nine years, something like that," said the 62-year-old former construction worker．
Brown admits he's had problems with alcohol and has smoked cocaine．But he said he still wants a more stable housing arrangement．He could afford it just with the money he earns by collecting cans and small pieces of metal, if only truly low-income housing were available．
However, he sees no hope of finding affordable housing in New York．
With the strong economy and unemployment down, beautiful housing is being built to meet demand．
A US report shows rents in New York city rose more than 27 percent between 1984 and 1999, from US $549 to US $700 a month．
One of the side effects of the strong economy is that rents have been going up．
The majority of people who experience homelessness really just need some affordable housing help．
But few housing companies have been built for the poor．Many small apartments in the city now rent for US $1,500 a month or more．
Brown, the homeless New Yorker, said he has a daughter who lives in the city but he rarely sees her．She is angry about his drinking and won't allow it in her house．
Smiling, he said he also has seven grandchildren whom he'd like to see more often．
"All I've got to do is clean up my act," he said．
【小题1】What kind of life does George Brown lead?

A．Homeless and dangerous

B．Homeless and childish

C．Homeless and miserable （痛苦的）

D．Homeless and sleepless

【小题2】From George Brown's life we can find that ______.

A．old Americans lead a hard life

B．old Americans want to live alone

C．American cities are crowded with poor people

D．bad habits play a role in some poor people's Life

【小题3】It can be inferred from this passage that ______.

A．America is short of housing companies

B．the poor can't benefit from the increasing economy

C．poor people in America will become rich

D．housing companies will build more houses for the poor

【小题4】If this passage comes from a paper, on which page would it be?

A．Society．

B．Science．

C．Economy．

D．Business

Answer 1

【小题1】C
【小题2】D
【小题3】B
【小题4】A

解析试题分析：文章介绍美国贫穷人的生活状态，他们的贫穷与其不良习惯有关。虽然美国经济增长很快，但是房价租金也很高，穷人不能受益。
【小题1】细节理解题。根据文章第二、三段的描述，George是一个无家可归的人，在马路上做简单的饭菜，因此我们可确定他过的生活很悲惨。选C
【小题2】细节理解题。根据文章第六段的“Brown admits he’s had problems with alcohol and has smoked cocaine”可知，布朗酗酒、吸毒，因此我们可以看出Brown 的贫穷与其不良习惯有关。选D
【小题3】细节题：从文章的句子：One of the side effects of the strong economy is that rents have been going up． The majority of people who experience homelessness really just need some affordable housing help． But few housing companies have been built for the poor．可知虽然美国经济增长很快，但是房价租金也很高，穷人不能受益。选B。
【小题4】推理判断题。本文反映了美国社会不平衡的现实，所以是报纸上的生活版，故A正确。
考点：考查社会现象类短文