题目内容
Until the 1980s, the American homeless population is mainly made up of older males. Today, homelessness strikes much younger part of society. In fact, a 25-city survey by the U. S. Conference of Mayors in 1987 found that families with children make up the fastest growing part of the homeless population. Many homeless children gather in inner cities; this transient(变化无常的) and frequently frightened student population creates additional problems — both legal and educational — for already overburdened urban school administrators and teachers.
Estimates of the number of homeless Americans range from 350,000 to three million. Likewise, estimates of the number of homeless school children vary radically. A U.S. Department of Education report, based on state estimates, states that there are 220,000 homeless school-age children, about a third of whom do not attend school on a regular basis. But the National Coalition for the Homeless estimates that there are at least two times as many homeless children, and that less than half of them attend school regularly.
One part of the homeless population that is particularly difficult to count consists of the “throwaway” youths who have been cast of their homes. The Elementary School Center in New York City estimates that there are 1.5 million of them, many of whom are not treated as children because they do not stay in family shelters and tend to live by themselves on the streets.
Federal law, the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, includes a section that addresses the educational needs of homeless children. The educational provisions(规定) of the McKinney Act are based on the belief that all homeless children have the right to a free, appropriate education.
1.It is implied in the first paragraph that ____.
A.the writer himself is homeless, even in his eighties
B.many older homeless residents are going on strike in 25 cities
C.there is a serious shortage of academic facilities
D.homeless children are denied the opportunity of receiving free education
2.The National Coalition for the homeless believes that the number of homeless children is _____.
A.350,000? B.1,500,000? C.440,000? D.110,000
3.One part of the homeless population is difficult to estimate. The reason might well be ____.
A.the homeless children are too young to be treated as children
B.the homeless population is growing rapidly
C.the homeless children usually stay outside school
D.some homeless children are deserted by their families
4.The McKinney Act is mentioned in this passage in order to show that ___.
A.the educational problems of homeless children are being recognized
B.the estimates on homeless children are hard to determine
C.the address of grade-school children should be located
D.all homeless people should have free education
1.C
2.C
3.D
4.A
【解析】
试题分析:美国无家可归的人口主要包括的还是年龄较大的男性。现在,社会上年龄较小的一些人也面临无家可归的威胁。这主要是因为教学设施严重短缺,很多孩子被家庭遗弃,政府意识到无家可归的孩子也有权利获得教育。
1.推理题:从第一段的句子:this transient(变化无常的) and frequently frightened student population creates additional problems — both legal and educational — for already overburdened urban school administrators and teachers. 可知其中学龄儿童四处流浪,饱受惊吓。这给已经负担考试大过重的城市教学和教学管理带来了许多额的外的麻烦,其中既涉及法律问题又涉及教育问题。可以推断出教学设施严重短缺,选C
2.计算题:从第二段的句子:A U.S. Department of Education report, based on state estimates, states that there are 220,000 homeless school-age children, about a third of whom do not attend school on a regular basis. But the National Coalition for the Homeless estimates that there are at least two times as many homeless children,有22万无家可归的学龄儿童,其中约有三分之一没有按规定上学。然而国家关于无家可归人员的联盟会却估计,这样的儿童人数至少还应该多一倍,可知无家可归的孩子的数量是440,000,选C
3.细节题:从第三段的句子:One part of the homeless population that is particularly difficult to count consists of the “throwaway” youths who have been cast of their homes. 有一部分无家可归的人口尤其难以统计,就是那些遭家庭遗弃的“浪荡”少年。可知无家可归的人口很难估计我是因为一些孩子被家庭遗弃,选D
4.细节题:从最后一段的句子:The educational provisions(规定) of the McKinney Act are based on the belief that all homeless children have the right to a free, appropriate education. 可知文章提到The McKinney Act 是说明无家可归的孩子的教育问题正在被认识,选A
考点:考查社会现象类短文