题目内容

Most Americans get what money they have from their work; that is, they earn an income from wages or salaries. The richest Americans, however, get most of their money from what they own — their stocks, bonds, real estate, and other forms of property, or wealth. Although there are few accurate statistics to go by, wealth in American society appears to be concentrated in very few hands. More than 20 percent of everything that can be privately owned is held by less than one percent of the adult population and more than 75 percent of all wealth is owned by 20 percent of American adults. The plain fact is that most Americans have no wealth at all aside from their homes, automobiles, and a small amount of savings.

Income in the United States is not as highly concentrated as wealth. In 1917 the richest 10 percent of American families received 26.1 percent of all income, while the poorest 10 percent received 17 percent, mainly from Social Security and other government payments. The most striking aspect of income distribution is that it has not changed significantly since the end of World War II. Although economic growth has roughly doubled real disposable (可自由使用的) family income (the money left after taxes and adjusted for inflation) over the last generation, the size of the shares given to the rich and the poor is about the same. By any measure economic inequality is great in the United States.

The reality behind these statistics is that a large number of Americans are poor. In 1918, 14 percent of the population was living below the federal government’s poverty line, which at that time was an annual income of $ 9 287 for a nonfarm family of two adults and two children. In other words, about one out of seven Americans over 31 million people was officially considered unable to buy the basic necessities of food, clothes, and shelter. The suggested poverty line in 1981 would have been an income of about $11 200 for a family of four. By this relative definition, about 20 percent of the population or more than 45 million Americans are poor.

1. What does the majority of the Americans have in terms of wealth?

A. Their income and savings.

B. Everything they own in their homes.

C. Actually, they have no wealth at all.

D. Their house, cars and small amounts of savings.

2. What is the percentage of wealth that is in the hands of most Americans?

A. More than 25%.               B. Less than 25%.

C. More than 75%.         D. Less than 20%.

3. Why is economic inequality still great in the US in spite of the economic growth?

A. Because the proportion of income received by the rich and the poor remains almost the same as in 1917.

B. Because the economic growth has widened the gap of the family income between the rich and the poor.

C. Because income in the US is still concentrated in the hands of the richest 10% of American families.

D. Because some Americans made great fortunes during the Second World War.

4. What can we learn from comparison of the two poverty lines in the last paragraph?

A. The poverty line of 1918 is more favorable to the poor than that of 1981.

B. The 1981 line didn’t leave much to the poor.

C. There were more Americans who were officially poor by the 1981 line.

D. There were more Americans who were officially poor by the 1918 line.

5. From the last two sentences we can see that 1981 government’s poverty line _______.

A. was of no good for the poor     B. was not put into operation then

C. was officially approved           D. was not helpful to the poor

1--5        DBACB     


解析:

本文分析了美国财富的分配状况及其存在的问题。

1. D。细节题。根据文章第 1 段最后一句 …most Americans have no wealth at all aside from their homes, automobiles, and a small amount of savings 可推知此题答案为 D。

2. B。推断题。根据文章第 1 段倒数第 2 句 …more than 75 percent of all wealth is owned by 20 percent of American adults 可推知此题答案为 B。

3. A。推断题。根据文章第2段第2句 The most striking aspect of income distribution is that it has not changed significantly since the end of World War II 可推知此题答案为 A。

4. C。推断题。文章最后一段说:1981年与1918年所统计的贫困户的数量的比较。由此可知此题答案为 C。

5. B。推断题。根据文倒数第2句的虚拟语气可推知此题答案为 B。

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  Sweden's pop phenomenon, which started with ABBA in the seventies, has exploded into A large industry ranging from CD sales to concert tours. But homegrown bands And CD makers Are only A part of the success. World stars Are beating A path to Sweden's music producers whose studios And songwriters lie behind many An Ameri can And British success.

  Denis Pop— one of the greatest Swedish pop producers — put Sweden on the map, writing And producing hitA fter hit for stars As the Back street Boys, Boll Jovi And Britney Spears. French-Canadian Celine Dion, American Boy band 98 Degrees And American singer Jenni fel Lopez turn to Sweden for songs composed by music writer And producer Arnthor Birgison.

  All this has made Sweden the world's third biggest exporter of music But how did Sweden manage to spread its sound All over the globe?

  Birgison, 25, believes the traditional Swedish Approach to hard work And An unfriendly climate Are key to the music sensation (轰动). Besides, Swedes Are Also very good At speaking English, which is very. important, because very little music sung in other languages succeeds Anywhere outside its home country. Another piece in the puzzle is that Swedish children At An early stage get to try out musical instruments And learn music theory in school, At little cost to their parents.

(1)

We can learn from the Above passage that.

[  ]

A.

Sweden exports tile largest Amount of music to the outside world

B.

Swedish musical training theory is puzzling to kids of early Ages

C.

Swedish musicians have made great contribution to world music

D.

most of the western singers' success bases on the work of the Swedish Artists

(2)

What does "ABBA' in the opening paragraph most probably refer to?

[  ]

A.

a music group.

B.

A successful industrialist.

C.

A CD maker.

D.

A music producer.

(3)

Which of the following leads to the success of Swedish music And musicians?

[  ]

A.

The Artists' hard work.

B.

Poor weather conditions.

C.

The musical training system.

D.

All of the Above.

(4)

If the Swedish musical Artists couldn't speak good English,____.

[  ]

A.

they wouldn't be Able to learn the up-to-date music theories

B.

the Swedish music wouldn't have been so internationally successful

C.

they would have difficulty in communicating with foreign singers

D.

they wouldn't have children start to learn music At An early Age

Who are these people rushing by you on the street? More than 250 million people now call Amer??ica" home" , but most of them can trace their families back to other parts of the world. If you, look at the names on shop windows, you will see that Americans come from many different lands. The idea that these people, who once were strangers to the United States,have lost the customs and cultures of their original countries and have become "Americans"is really not true. In fact, what exists in Ameri??ca is - more often a kind of “ side - by - side" living in which groups of people from other countries often have kept many of their own customs and habits. They join the general American society only in certain areas of their lives such as in schools,business,and sports一but they keep many of their own native customs and manners socially and at home. This “ side - by - side" living has both advantages and disadvantages. Sometimes it may cause disagreements to develop between groups whose ways of life are very different from one another. However, there are also great advantages that come from the variety of cultures brought by settlers from other lands. There is great freedom of choice among ideas ’ dress, food, and social customs in America. Everyone can find some part of his or her own familiar world in the United States, in churches, music, food, national groups, or newspaper.

More than 250 million people call America ”home" because       .

they have their houses there

they settle there now

they want to make their home there

they like that land very much

Side - by - side living style means     .

A . to make friends with native people

B . to keep their own customs while sharing American ones in certain areas

C . that the groups of people live nearby

D . that they get closer to American society

According to the passage, people in the USA    .

A share American customs and cultures

B live in a kind of side - by - side society

C keep their own customs and habits firmly

D make no choice to accept American customs

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A They always stick to their own customs and habits.

B Side - by - side living style is not suitable.

C They face the society they are not familiar with.

D The advantages coming from the variety of cultures make life in America colorful.

Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A  Advantages and Disadvantages

B  Different Customs and Habits

C  Home for the People

D  Side - by - Side Living Style in America

Who are these people rushing by you on the street? More than 250 million people now call Amer­ica" home" , but most of them can trace their families back to other parts of the world. If you, look at the names on shop windows, you will see that Americans come from many different lands. The idea that these people, who once were strangers to the United States,have lost the customs and cultures of their original countries and have become "Americans"is really not true. In fact, what exists in Ameri­ca is - more often a kind of “ side - by - side" living in which groups of people from other countries often have kept many of their own customs and habits. They join the general American society only in certain areas of their lives such as in schools,business,and sports一but they keep many of their own native customs and manners socially and at home. This “ side - by - side" living has both advantages and disadvantages. Sometimes it may cause disagreements to develop between groups whose ways of life are very different from one another. However, there are also great advantages that come from the variety of cultures brought by settlers from other lands. There is great freedom of choice among ideas ’ dress, food, and social customs in America. Everyone can find some part of his or her own familiar world in the United States, in churches, music, food, national groups, or newspaper.
【小题1】More than 250 million people call America ”home" because    .

A.they have their houses there
B.they settle there now
C.they want to make their home there
D.they like that land very much
【小题2】Side - by - side living style means
A.to make friends with native people
B.to keep their own customs while sharing American ones in certain areas
C.that the groups of people live nearby
D.that they get closer to American society
【小题3】According to the passage, people in the USA
A.share American customs and cultures
B.live in a kind of side - by - side society
C.keep their own customs and habits firmly
D.make no choice to accept American customs
【小题4】Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A.They always stick to their own customs and habits.
B.Side - by - side living style is not suitable.
C.They face the society they are not familiar with.
D.The advantages coming from the variety of cultures make life in America colorful.
【小题5】Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A.Advantages and Disadvantages
B.Different Customs and Habits
C.Home for the People
D.Side - by - Side Living Style in America

Who are these people rushing by you on the street? More than 250 million people now call Amer­ica" home" , but most of them can trace their families back to other parts of the world. If you, look at the names on shop windows, you will see that Americans come from many different lands. The idea that these people, who once were strangers to the United States,have lost the customs and cultures of their original countries and have become "Americans"is really not true. In fact, what exists in Ameri­ca is - more often a kind of “ side - by - side" living in which groups of people from other countries often have kept many of their own customs and habits. They join the general American society only in certain areas of their lives such as in schools,business,and sports一but they keep many of their own native customs and manners socially and at home. This “ side - by - side" living has both advantages and disadvantages. Sometimes it may cause disagreements to develop between groups whose ways of life are very different from one another. However, there are also great advantages that come from the variety of cultures brought by settlers from other lands. There is great freedom of choice among ideas ’ dress, food, and social customs in America. Everyone can find some part of his or her own familiar world in the United States, in churches, music, food, national groups, or newspaper.

More than 250 million people call America ”home" because       .

they have their houses there

they settle there now

they want to make their home there

they like that land very much

1.Side - by - side living style means     .

A.to make friends with native people

B.to keep their own customs while sharing American ones in certain areas

C.that the groups of people live nearby

D.that they get closer to American society

2.According to the passage, people in the USA    .

A share American customs and cultures

B live in a kind of side - by - side society

C keep their own customs and habits firmly

D make no choice to accept American customs

3.Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A They always stick to their own customs and habits.

B Side - by - side living style is not suitable.

C They face the society they are not familiar with.

D The advantages coming from the variety of cultures make life in America colorful.

4.Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A  Advantages and Disadvantages

B  Different Customs and Habits

C  Home for the People

D  Side - by - Side Living Style in America

 

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