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.w.w.w.k.s.5.u.c.o.m
"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 w.w.w.k.s.5.u.c.o.m
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.

I’m lying on my back in my grandfather’s orchard(果园),looking up at the branches above me.It is one of the last days of summer.Already the days are shorter and the nights are cooler.Some kinds of apples are already ripe(成熟的).Others will be ready to pick soon.I think of my grandmother’s apple pie,and how I used to make it with her.She died last year,before the apple harvest,and I have not had her pie since.I really miss her.I hear bees busily humming about,visiting the late summer flowers.The gentle hum of their wings nearly sends me to sleep.

The sky is as blue as my grandfather’s eyes.Above me,big white clouds race across the sky like pieces of cotton blowing in the w ind.School starts in another week,and time seems to have slowed down.

“Sophie!”calls my  grandfather.“Is that you?”I stand up,take his hand,and tell him all about my day as we walk through the orchard.We talk about apples,and bees,and Grandma.He tells me that he misses her too.

He puts his rough,brown farmer’s hand around my shoulder and pulls me close.“You know,Sophie,”he says,“I spent the morning in the attic(阁楼),and you’ll never guess what I found.It’s the recipe(烹饪法) for Grandma’s apple pie.I used to help her make it sometimes.I can’t do it all alone,but you used to help her too.Maybe between the two of us,we ca n work it out.Want to try?”

“But it won’t be the same without Grandma,” I tell him.

“That’s true,”he says,“but nothing_is_the_same_without_Grandma.Still,I don’t think that she would want us never to have another apple pie.What do you say?” I nod yes,and we walk towards home...towards an afternoon in the farmhouse kitchen,making Grandma’s famous apple pie.

1.We learn from the passage that Sophie    .

A.likes to watch clouds in the attic

B.comes to the orchard after school

C.enjoys Grandma’s apple pie very much

D.picks many apples in the orchard

2.Sophie’s grandfather spent the morning in the attic______   .

A.looking for Grandma’s recipe for apple pie

B.helping Sophie’s grandmother make apple pie

C.trying to make apple pie all alone for Sophie

D.talking about apples,and bees,and Grandma with Sophie

3.The underlined part in the last paragraph shows

A.how much Sophie’s grandmother loved Sophie

B.how much Sophie’s grandfather likes apple pies

C.how much Sophie loves her grandfather’s orchard

D.how much Sophie’s grandfather misses Grandma

4.Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?

A.My grandfather’s orchard           B.My grandmother’s apple pie

C.A morning in the attic              D.The last days of summer

 

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