阅读理解
NEWYORK—Americahasbeenexperiencingthelongesteconomicincreaseinitshistory.IncomeshaverisenunemploymenthasfallenandcitiessuchasNewYorkareburstingwithnewofficebuildings.
ButjustashortwalkfromManhattan'sskyscrapersGeorgeBrownsitsonthesidewalkcookingalunchofriceandbitsoffishoveracanofcookingfuel.Brownishomeless—oneofthe2.3millionpeopleintheUSwhoenduponthestreet.
DuringthedayBrowncollectsaluminumcansandsellsthemforfivecentsapiece.Atnighthesleepsonthestreet.
“Ihavebeenonthestreetabouteightornineyearssomethinglikethat”saidthe62-year-oldformerconstructionworker.
Brownadmitshe'shadproblemswithalcoholandhassmokedcocaine.Buthesaidhestillwantsamorestable(稳定)housingarrangement.Hecouldafforditjustwiththemoneyheearnsbycollectingcansandsmallpiecesofmetalifonlytrulylow-incomehousingwereavailable.
HoweverheseesnohopeoffindingaffordablehousinginNewYork.
Withthestrongeconomyandunemploymentdownbeautifulhousingisbeingbuilttomeetdemand.
AUSreportshowsrentsinNewYorkcityrosemorethan27per-centbetween1984and1999fromUS$549tous$700amonth.
Oneofthesideeffectsofthestrongeconomyisthatrentshavebeengoingup.Themajorityofpeoplewhoexperiencehomelessnessreallyjustneedsomeaffordablehousinghelp.
Butfewhousingcompanieshavebeenbuiltforthepoor.ManysmallapartmentsinthecitynowrentforUS$1500amonthormore.
BrownthehomelessNewYorkersaidhehasadaughterwholivesinthecitybutherarelyseesher.Sheisangryabouthisdrinkingandwon'tallowitinherhouse.
Smilinghesaidhealsohassevengrandchildrenwhomhe'dliketoseemoreoften“AllI'vegottodoistocleanupmyact.”Hesaid.
1.WhatkindoflifedoesGeorgeBrownlead?
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A.Homelessanddangerous.
B.Homelessandchildish.
C.Homelessandmiserable.
D.Homelessandsleepless.
2.FromGeorgeBrown'slifewecanfindthat________.
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A.oldAmericansleadahardlife
B.oldAmericanswanttolivealone
C.Americancities