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.

　　【语篇解读】　本文分析了美国财富的分配状况及其存在的问题。

　　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.

　　D　[细节理解题。根据文章第一段最后一句"...most Americans have no wealth at all aside from their homes，automobiles，and a small amount of savings."可知此题答案为D。]

　　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%.

　　B　[推理判断题。根据文章第一段倒数第二句"...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．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