America has been experiencing the longest economic increase in its history. Inco

America has been experiencing the longesteconomic 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’sskyscrapers, George Brown sits on the side-walk, cooking a lunch of rice andbits of fish over a can of cooking fuel.

Brown is homeless——one of the 2.3 millionpeople in the US who end up on the street.

During the day, Brown collects aluminumcans and sells them for five cents a piece. At night, he sleeps on the street.

“I have been on the street about eight ornine years, something like that,” said the 62-year-old former constructionworker.

Brown admits he had problems with alcoholand has smoked cocaine. But he said he still wants a more stable housingarrangement. He could afford it just with the money he earns by collecting cansand small pieces of metal, if only truly low-income housing were available.

However, he sees no hope of findingaffordable housing in New York.

With the strong economy and unemploymentdown, beautiful housing is being built to meet demand.

A US report shows rents in New York Cityrose more than 27 per cent, from ＄549 to ＄700a month.

One of the side effects of the strongeconomy is that rents have been going up.

The majority of people who experiencehomelessness really just need some affordable housing help.

But few housing companies are building forthe poor. Many small apartments in the city now rent for ＄1,500 a month or more.

Brown, the homeless New Yorker, said he hasa daughter who lives in the city but he rarely sees her. She is angry about hisdrinking and won’t allow it in her house.

Smiling, he said he also has sevengrandchildren whom he’d like to see more often. “All I’ve got to do is cleanup my act,” he said.

1.What kind of life does George Brown lead?

2. It can be inferred from this passagethat     .

3.The underlined part “clean up my act” inthe last paragraph means “   ”.

A. remove mycans               B kick my bad habits   

C. make a lot ofmoney             D.see my grandchildren

4.Which part of a newspaper is the passagepossibly taken from?

试题答案

【答案】

1.C

2.B

3.B

4.A

【解析】略