In the United States during 1992, any family of four with an annual cash income of less than $ 14, 335 (before taxes) was considered poor. The dollar amount was called the poverty line, an economic measuring rod devised in 1964. The line was set at three times the amount needed to provide the cheapest nutritionally balanced diet. The poverty line is adjusted annually for inflation.
While the poverty line in the United States was more than $ 14, 000, the average annual per-person income in Bangladesh was $ 200, in Ethiopia $ 130, in Haiti $340, and In Mali 4 265. Anyone in those nations with an income of $ 14, 000 would be considered wealthy. During the Great Depression in the United States, when half the population was considered poor, a family with an income at the 1992 poverty line could afford to buy a house, a car, clothing and food.
The reality of poverty varies with location and social and political conditions. Poverty basically means a lack of, or an insufficient amount of, the three primary physical needs--- food, clothing, and shelter. But for poverty to be recognized, it must exist alongside prosperity. Before the discovery of the New World, the American Indians would not have considered themselves poor, though they lived with only the bare necessities and a few handmade artifacts(人工制品).
The severity of poverty varies, depending on the economic vitality of the nation in which it occurs. In the modern industrialized societies of Western Europe, North America, and Japan, there are many government services provided to ease poverty --- including free medical care and subsidized housing. The homeless of New York City and Los Angeles can usually find some shelter and a mission offering free meals.
46. You would be considered poor in America if ____.
A.You are out of a job.
B.You earn less than three times the amount needed to provide the cheapest diet.
C.You earn less than $ 14, 335 (before taxes) per year.
D. The amount of money you earn is below the current poverty line.
47. The average annual cash income per person before taxes in the USA in 1992 was ____.
A. more than $ 14, 000
B. $200
C.$14,335
D. about $3,580
48. The purpose of the example of the American Indians given in the 3rd paragraph is to show that poverty is ____.
A. absolute
B. non-existent
C.relative
D. never recognized
49. Free medical care and subsidized housing most probably exist in ___ to relieve the poor and the needy.
A. Bangladesh
B. Haiti
C.Canada
D. India
50. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A. From 1929 to 1933, 50% of the American population lived in poverty.
B. Where there is prosperity, there is poverty.
C.Poverty basically refers to a lack of clothing, housing and food.
D. Anyone with an annual income around the 1992 American poverty line would be considered wealthy.
内容提示与分析：
本文主要讲述不同国家不同时期的贫困状况。由于科技水平以及生活水平高低不同，不同的国家，甚至同一个国家，不同时期经济状况不同，贫困线也不一样。
答案及分析：
46. A
分析：根据短文第一段的最后两句可知选项C太局限了。因为题目问的是“如果…，在美国你可能被认为是贫穷的”，所以14，335美金并不是唯一的衡量标准，只有D符合题意.
47. A
分析：根据第一段第一句的文意，只有C才符合题目的要求，故答案为C。
48. B
分析：根据文章第三段第一句，“贫穷随着当地的社会和政治条件的不同而不同”，只有relative符合题意，故答案为B。
49. C
分析：根据文章最后一段中的In the modern industrialized societies of Western Europe, North America, and Japan, there are many government services provided to ease poverty --- including free medical care and subsidized housing.，只有Western Europe(西欧)，North America(北美)和Japan(日本)才提供免费的医疗和补助住房，加拿大在北美，故答案为C。
50. D
分析：从文章第二段中的During the Great Depression in the United States, when half the population was considered poor, a family with an income at the 1992 poverty line could afford to buy a house, a car, clothing and food.可以知道A不对。从文章第三段中的But for poverty to be recognized, it must exist alongside prosperity.，可以知道B不对，从文章第三段中的Poverty basically means a lack of, or an insufficient amount of, the three primary physical needs--- food, clothing, and shelter.可以知道C不对，故答案为D。
